Review: The Game - L.A.X. (CRAVEONLINE.COM)

reeuQ A sI emyaG · 08-26-2008, 03:34 PM

The Game's ego is his biggest downfall.

Sure, he's got the cash to enlist a top-shelf dream team of producers – Kanye West, Cool & Dre, DJ Hi-Tek and Scott Storch among them – Game's always been beat-focused, so a wide range of big beats is mando. But this time all the cameos and producers in the world won't save a weak rhyme. L.A.X. simply serves as further evidence that Mr. Jayceon Taylor can't carry a record on his own. The guy simply refuses to evolve beyond lyrical self-fellation.

Don't get me wrong - L.A.X. has its moments in the sun. How could it not? I can't remember a more star-studded hip-hop album. Kanye turns a production page in his portfolio with "Angel," stepping outside the glow-in-the-dark theatrics and laying the groundwork for one of the best tracks on the album, while Raekwon puts things back in motion with one of his best verses in years on “Bulletproof Diaries." The Game actually holds his own on this one, too. Best album track? Well, it aint an embarrassment - that's a start, right?

But let's step back to track one, when it's clear that we're in trouble right out of the gate. The first voice we hear on L.A.X. isn't Jayceon Taylor's, but rather the man who redefined self-destruction, the year's most felonious celebrity, Earl Simmons aka DMX. In between carjackings and police impersonations, X found the time to rebuke Satan in the name of Jesus in an increasingly maniacal voice that ends up a scream. That's one hell of a way to open a record.

"L.A.X. Files" is a play-by-play of Taylor's past leading up to now, as he paints a picture of his tough upbringing: “Come to my ‘hood-‘hood/ look at my block-block/ that’s that project building, yeah that’s where I got shot-shot/ cause I was more ‘hood than Suge/ and had more rocks than Jay/ more scars on my face than the original Scarface/ or the homeboy Scarface.” Cue shuddering and awe.

Ice Cube drops the chorus on the snappy “State of Emergency,” but let's not get too crazy about calling this a passing of the West-Coast torch; in terms of popularity and geographical face tattoos, The Game is in his prime, sure, but where's the substance? Where's the tracks we're going to remember in five years? Cause I don't see any.

Nevertheless, the Ludacris cameo on the impressive “Ya Heard” is great, and re-sparked my interest in the MC. Despite rhyming about his gun having abortions, Luda shines brighter than anything Jayceon spits on the entire record. Side by side, he just puts the Game to shame.

"Money"'s a standard vapid club track, a Betty Wright voice sample endlessly repeating the title while Taylor once again talks all kinds of shit and bites the hands that feed. He takes aim at his former boss with“I was through flippin’ quarters when I made my first meal/I’m about a dollar, 50 Cent ain’t real.” Real enough to give you a career and get your to cover up that stupid butterfly tattoo on your face, big guy. But hey, it's your party. I just wouldn't call it a coincidence that Dre didn't show up.

Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker provides live percussion for “Dope Boys," a whoopdefuckindoo detail if live drums didn't sound so damn good on a hip-hop jam. Then again, the chorus is fucking retarded, so we're back to square one.

Am I the only one on earth who wants to scream every time I hear synthesized vocals? "My Life" had some potential without Lil' Wayne's talents being completely wasted on the robotic hook.

Game sure as hell knows how to pick a beat. The overall tone of the album is his usual shade of menacing self-absorption. His tactic has always been to rely on ferocity rather than actually move his lyrical ability beyond the most laughably stupid, so it's clear from the start that the beats need to put in some overtime. A certain Mr. Curtis Jackson can undoubtedly relate.

Ultimately, despite the knob-twisting superstar lineup, “L.A.X.” isn't as well-produced as The Documentary and doesn't pack nearly the punch that The Doctor’s Advocate does. It's not a bad album - it simply proves that Game is an extremely inconsistent artist who needs to get the fuck over whatever daddy issues he's got and drop the scowl. It's an old pigeonhole schtick that most of us have outgrown. He should take a few cues from the hip-hop rolodex on his album and focus on the art instead of the thuggery. More than a decade after the East/West coast battles hit their climax, people are still cashing in on useless conflict. Ridiculous.

Jesus, DMX preaching again in the outro. Can you hire this guy to work funerals? If I die anytime soon, somebody pay this guy to give my eulogy.

CraveOnline Rating: 6.7 out of 10

SPDemon420 · 08-26-2008, 04:05 PM

LOL

good review, I agree with most of it.

Its not horrible, but its definitely not good.

CoCoX · 08-26-2008, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reeuQ A sI emyaG

"Money"'s a standard vapid club track, a Betty Wright voice sample endlessly repeating the title while Taylor once again talks all kinds of shit and bites the hands that feed. He takes aim at his former boss with“I was through flippin’ quarters when I made my first meal/I’m about a dollar, 50 Cent ain’t real.” Real enough to give you a career and get your to cover up that stupid butterfly tattoo on your face, big guy. But hey, it's your party. I just wouldn't call it a coincidence that Dre didn't show up.

Now c'mon ... wtf is this, i thought a professional album review, not a hater writing his opinions

mikeyballer · 08-26-2008, 11:38 PM

funny he posts one of the worse ratings of the album since he hates game

Tha Unit On Top · 08-26-2008, 11:55 PM

Agree with some of it, that last paragraph is dead on though, and the shit about Money, Fif giving him a career, thats dead on right too, dont have to be a hater to understand that, the fact that Game still crying about that shit is whats pretty sad.

suss3it · 08-27-2008, 12:34 AM

I was reading it but then it said "waste of Lil' Wayne's Talent" he throws everything out the window saying such a thing.

LadyValentine · 08-28-2008, 08:04 AM

Yeah...he does need to lighten up...he's got two little boys, millions in the bank and endorsements..he's good..fuck is his problem? Your Daddy needed the needle? Get over it...

08-26-2008, 03:34 PM	#1
reeuQ A sI emyaG Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: MUTHA FUCKA IM AS BIG AS BEING BIG GETS! Posts: 1,376 Repped: 161 Repped 4,114 Times in 495 Posts Neg Reps: 52 Neg Repped at 108 Times in 47 Posts	Review: The Game - L.A.X. (CRAVEONLINE.COM) Review: The Game - L.A.X. (CRAVEONLINE.COM) The Game's ego is his biggest downfall. Sure, he's got the cash to enlist a top-shelf dream team of producers – Kanye West, Cool & Dre, DJ Hi-Tek and Scott Storch among them – Game's always been beat-focused, so a wide range of big beats is mando. But this time all the cameos and producers in the world won't save a weak rhyme. L.A.X. simply serves as further evidence that Mr. Jayceon Taylor can't carry a record on his own. The guy simply refuses to evolve beyond lyrical self-fellation. Don't get me wrong - L.A.X. has its moments in the sun. How could it not? I can't remember a more star-studded hip-hop album. Kanye turns a production page in his portfolio with "Angel," stepping outside the glow-in-the-dark theatrics and laying the groundwork for one of the best tracks on the album, while Raekwon puts things back in motion with one of his best verses in years on “Bulletproof Diaries." The Game actually holds his own on this one, too. Best album track? Well, it aint an embarrassment - that's a start, right? But let's step back to track one, when it's clear that we're in trouble right out of the gate. The first voice we hear on L.A.X. isn't Jayceon Taylor's, but rather the man who redefined self-destruction, the year's most felonious celebrity, Earl Simmons aka DMX. In between carjackings and police impersonations, X found the time to rebuke Satan in the name of Jesus in an increasingly maniacal voice that ends up a scream. That's one hell of a way to open a record. "L.A.X. Files" is a play-by-play of Taylor's past leading up to now, as he paints a picture of his tough upbringing: “Come to my ‘hood-‘hood/ look at my block-block/ that’s that project building, yeah that’s where I got shot-shot/ cause I was more ‘hood than Suge/ and had more rocks than Jay/ more scars on my face than the original Scarface/ or the homeboy Scarface.” Cue shuddering and awe. Ice Cube drops the chorus on the snappy “State of Emergency,” but let's not get too crazy about calling this a passing of the West-Coast torch; in terms of popularity and geographical face tattoos, The Game is in his prime, sure, but where's the substance? Where's the tracks we're going to remember in five years? Cause I don't see any. Nevertheless, the Ludacris cameo on the impressive “Ya Heard” is great, and re-sparked my interest in the MC. Despite rhyming about his gun having abortions, Luda shines brighter than anything Jayceon spits on the entire record. Side by side, he just puts the Game to shame. "Money"'s a standard vapid club track, a Betty Wright voice sample endlessly repeating the title while Taylor once again talks all kinds of shit and bites the hands that feed. He takes aim at his former boss with“I was through flippin’ quarters when I made my first meal/I’m about a dollar, 50 Cent ain’t real.” Real enough to give you a career and get your to cover up that stupid butterfly tattoo on your face, big guy. But hey, it's your party. I just wouldn't call it a coincidence that Dre didn't show up. Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker provides live percussion for “Dope Boys," a whoopdefuckindoo detail if live drums didn't sound so damn good on a hip-hop jam. Then again, the chorus is fucking retarded, so we're back to square one. Am I the only one on earth who wants to scream every time I hear synthesized vocals? "My Life" had some potential without Lil' Wayne's talents being completely wasted on the robotic hook. Game sure as hell knows how to pick a beat. The overall tone of the album is his usual shade of menacing self-absorption. His tactic has always been to rely on ferocity rather than actually move his lyrical ability beyond the most laughably stupid, so it's clear from the start that the beats need to put in some overtime. A certain Mr. Curtis Jackson can undoubtedly relate. Ultimately, despite the knob-twisting superstar lineup, “L.A.X.” isn't as well-produced as The Documentary and doesn't pack nearly the punch that The Doctor’s Advocate does. It's not a bad album - it simply proves that Game is an extremely inconsistent artist who needs to get the fuck over whatever daddy issues he's got and drop the scowl. It's an old pigeonhole schtick that most of us have outgrown. He should take a few cues from the hip-hop rolodex on his album and focus on the art instead of the thuggery. More than a decade after the East/West coast battles hit their climax, people are still cashing in on useless conflict. Ridiculous. Jesus, DMX preaching again in the outro. Can you hire this guy to work funerals? If I die anytime soon, somebody pay this guy to give my eulogy. CraveOnline Rating: 6.7 out of 10

08-26-2008, 04:05 PM	#2
SPDemon420 Veteran Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Maine, USA Posts: 2,521 Repped: 571 Repped 300 Times in 58 Posts Neg Reps: 4 Neg Repped at 21 Times in 7 Posts	LOL good review, I agree with most of it. Its not horrible, but its definitely not good. __________________ Official DJ TREYPOUND/STRONG ARM FAMILY

08-28-2008, 08:04 AM	#7
LadyValentine Veteran Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Throw A TV At You Crazy Posts: 3,948 Repped: 82 Repped 1,918 Times in 381 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 36 Times in 31 Posts	Yeah...he does need to lighten up...he's got two little boys, millions in the bank and endorsements..he's good..fuck is his problem? Your Daddy needed the needle? Get over it... __________________ Why In The Hell Would You Let Your Fingers Type Such Absurdity? - Me

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08-26-2008, 11:38 PM	#4
mikeyballer Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 216 Repped: 8 Repped 25 Times in 9 Posts Neg Reps: 3 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	funny he posts one of the worse ratings of the album since he hates game

08-26-2008, 11:55 PM	#5
Tha Unit On Top BISD November 23rd Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,190 Repped: 639 Repped 2,454 Times in 351 Posts Neg Reps: 78 Neg Repped at 123 Times in 85 Posts	Agree with some of it, that last paragraph is dead on though, and the shit about Money, Fif giving him a career, thats dead on right too, dont have to be a hater to understand that, the fact that Game still crying about that shit is whats pretty sad.

08-27-2008, 12:34 AM	#6
suss3it Veteran Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,032 Repped: 234 Repped 7 Times in 3 Posts Neg Reps: 5 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	I was reading it but then it said "waste of Lil' Wayne's Talent" he throws everything out the window saying such a thing.