Artist – The Game
Album – The Documentary 2 (2015)
Check it out – https://open.spotify.com/album/7dPov48AdQJPI5jvTNnzcX
The Game (Jayceon Terrell Taylor) is a rapper/hip hop artist from California, USA. Game was brought up mainly in the West Coast Hip Hop scene, mentored by fellow hip hop star Dr Dre, as he did with Snoop, Eminem etc. Game rose to fame with his debut album ‘The Documentary’, which with the help of guests such as Eminem, 50 Cent and Nate Dogg (as well as great songs) the album managed to reach number 1 on the Billboard charts and in 2005 went double platinum. After four more albums, a few films and video game appearances The Game is revisiting his debut album by releasing its follow up ‘The Documentary 2’.
‘The Documentary 2’ as with ‘The Documentary’ features a range of high class guest spots, on this release featuring Snoop, Dr Dre, Ice Cube, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar (including many more). ‘The Documentary 2’ is definitely a tribute/call back to The Game’s beginnings and what it was that inspired him. From the inclusion of his peers (Snoop, Dre, Cube) to the inclusion of (like himself) Compton artists (Kendrick) to the lyrical focus being on Compton, ‘The Chronic’ album, lyrics from ‘Doggystyle’, this album is a culmination of what moulded The Game into what he is today. The tone of each songs and beat produced with them ranges quite broadly, but still captures The Games style, flowing from grooving ‘Don’t Trip’ to the chilled out tone of Drake featured ‘100’ to the more concept related ‘Circles’ featuring a two way argument of sorts between a cheating couple. The beats as a whole are well produced, featuring the off beat drums and catchy basslines in Dre/Cube/Snoop related tracks, but then the ping pong melodies and repetitive high hat rhythms that we hear so often today, mainly featured in the Drake/Kanye tracks.The Game’s flow and delivery of each word is as powerful and aggressive as ever, certainly not feeling like an old tired rehash of his word play in ‘The Documentary’.
‘The Documentary 2’ is a fantastic call back to The Games seminal album, reminding me of the very recent release of Eminem’s follow up to ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’. I would highly recommend this album to any hip hop lover.
8/10
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