Coming straight out of Compton, CA, The Game, certainly has the street credibility needed for a successful rap career. Having grown up in the birthplace of gangster rap, this latest phenomenon was a member of the Blood Street gang in an area dominated by rival Crips. After losing a brother to gang violence and surviving being shot with five hollow-tipped bullets in a 2001 drug-related robbery, he resolved to take a new path, and the resulting album, "The Documentary," has debuted at number one on the Billboard charts.
Hip-hop heads have taken notice of the 25-year-old rapper, born Jayceon Taylor, whose album has been hyped as the beginning of the West's revival. The Game does appear to have all the elements of a successful rap career in a shiny new package.
In only a few years, The Game has honed his skills, and his smooth flow is a testament to his background in the mix tape circuits with DJs like Whoo Kid and Clue.
What's more, he has the necessary backing, having garnered the support of the rap powerhouse Aftermath Records. He was signed by Dr. Dre, embraced by G-Unit, and mentored by Eminem. On top of that, the featured artists and producers for this album constitute an extensive rap A-list.
Publicity sells records, but does Game live up to the high expectations of his promoters?
"Dreams" is the first standout track on "The Documentary." Game and his backers brought Kanye West to lace the beat. This track drips soul, and will have listeners everywhere swaying their heads once it hits radio. The Game rounds it out with strong lyrics and allusions to his rap predecessors - everyone from Jam Master Jay to Marvin Gaye. He also drops one of the most amusing (and unprintable) lines of the year when he confirms 50 Cent's relationship with actress Vivica Fox.
The Game is a versatile rapper who listens for the feel of a track before laying down vocals. He sounds "East Coast" sometimes, but "Higher" and later tracks featuring Nate Dogg have a strong "West Coast" feel. In them, Game spits stories over ambling, rhythmic beats. His voice demands attention while infusing the music with emotion.
More R&B-oriented listeners should look to songs that feature Faith Evans and Mary J. Blige singing background vocals. Both beautiful and talented, these women add integrity to rap tracks about love.
50 Cent jumps in to deliver a verse on "Hate It or Love It." 50 also delivers the hook on this track and two others, including the club hit "This is How We Do." All three are well-produced and catchy, but they belong on another G-Unit compilation, not on a solo album.
In fact, the Game gets a lot of help on this 17-track album. People should appreciate that there are no skits or interludes. It's all music, but Game only carries half of that weight. Game is a good artist, but a better one would have created an album on his own.
"The Documentary" is Game's commercial debut, but "Untold Story" was independently released (reportedly unauthorized) in late 2004. That forgettable record raised early questions about the Game's skills. "Documentary" should silence the doubters, but Game's material isn't quite ready for the big time. He's a talented rapper with an ear for beats who infuses his music with intense emotion (check out "Start from Scratch" and "Father/Son,") but he doesn't have a message yet. Until he can find one and deliver it on his own, he can continue to be successful but not special.
"Documentary" is a very straight album, which will blow up on radio. Pick it up, and get in on it early. It'll hold you down until the new 50 Cent drops in March.
