The Game L.A.X. Listening Session. 6.23.08. LA.
Events By LC Weber on June 25, 2008 at 8:30 pm
“I’m here today because Dr. Dre gave me a chance to be somebody,” said The Game when he took the mic at his listening party in Santa Monica. “Who’s Game? It’s me… I’m here, I’m naked, I’m real as shit, I’m rich, I got my album.”
An hour earlier, Game had pulled up to The Thom Thom Club for the first industry listening of his forthcoming L.A.X. album in a midnight Bentley with a crimson logo and matching rims. Through the grandeur of an uber-exclusive list at a door surrounded by secret-service-like security, Game’s entrance was lined with a touch of welcome humility from behind the wheel of his whip. He wasn’t just some Hollywood goods being carted around, Maybach-style.
The air in the club was kinetic with artists and industry stiffs milling about with drinks, and pressing each other, “So, where are you going after this?” With BET Award weekend in full swing, the early portion of the night was a palpable networking web.
Then Game took the stage, and the room fell silent.
“I’m here today because Dr. Dre gave me a chance to be somebody,” he addressed the crowd. “And 50… I appreciate homie. We had our beef, but we both alive. We ain’t no Biggie and Pac.”
Game talked about his early days in the studio with Dre and what it felt like to earn his first $1-million, adding he wished that euphoria was lasting. Now, with two wildly successful albums under his belt in The Documentary and Doctor’s Advocate, Game is preparing for a summer release of L.A.X.
“I don’t care if you don’t like [the album,]” he said. “I spent every day in 2008 working on it. Super Bowl, Finals… I was in the studio.”
With that warning, the DJ launched the record with a rough DMX intro entwined with mournful keys and heavy bass – a throwback heater indicative of what was to come. The next cut, “State Of Emergency,” was tempered-steel synth, featuring Ice Cube on a reminiscent hook “Fuck the 5-0/ They wanna see you D-O-A/ in L.A.” and Game spitting on swap meets, white tees, palm trees, crack heads, Tec-9s and jheri curls. With further tracks titled ” California Sunshine” and “Red Magic” and production from the likes of Jelly Roll, this album is firmly rooted in the West.
Game seemed to deviate from his habit of dropping more names in his lyrics than “the,” “and,” or “it,” but saturated most every song with guest appearances beyond necessity. Along with DMX and Cube, Bilal croons his guts out, Luda assists on a Southern gem, and Weezy appears twice – once with a verse, once with his Auto-tuner. And that’s just at the top of the album.
The chief reason all the featured artists felt like overkill was because Game raps on this record like his life depends on it. He’s spitting so hard he doesn’t need all the extras and, indeed, they seem to weaken him in their lack of continuity.
Of course, it’s hard to judge an album on one spin in a crowded lounge, but L.A.X. appeared to be thick with screw-face magma, yet in danger of riding a single note. One thing is clear though – Game is staying completely true to himself, both as an artist and as a man.
“I always try and keep it 100 – I’m not like these other rappers,” he said. “Other people go to the BET Awards, I watch the BET Awards. I’m from Compton. I been shot. I taught my sons to walk… the only thing that matters to me are my sons, my momma, my girl and my PS3.”
L.A.X. will be releasing on 8.26.08.
Visit The Game’s page on imeem, http://wwwimeem.com/tattoothegame, where he invites fans to design his next tattoo inspired by the album’s title.
Previously Posted — The Game Feat. Travis Barker - Dope Boyz | TSS Presents Fifteen Minutes With The Game
Posted in Events — Tags: 50 Cent, Black Wall Street, LAX, Preview, The Game
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55 Comments
it woulda been fun to try & count how many times he dropped anotha rappers name while listening…then again, it prolly woulda been hard to keep count.
ok original comment dirk… thanks we never knew chuck taylor dropped countless names…..
“the only thing that matters to me are my sons, my momma, my girl and my PS3.”
=========================================
Replace “sons” with “daughter” & Me & The Game have more in common then I thought.
This post (What up, LC!!) along with “Dope Boyz” has officially put L.A.X. back on My most anticipated list…
“It’s Game Time!”
Every once-in-a-while you get to watch an artist grow up. Its rare to find someone in the spotlight willing, open enough, to share with you their risings and their downfalls. Both good and bad, Game has showed his true colors, which at the end of the day only says he stayed true to himself. I mean, i’ve questioned Game’s decision many times, but hell who am i…..
i think the kid is growing up.
I fucks with L.A.X.
Jim Jones & Byrdgang- M.O.B. (Full Album)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/2dmfux
^ Kinda weak.
Jim Jones needs to beg Max B to come back.
This shit ain’t wavy.
T-Wayne- Can’t Believe It (Tagged)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/1421127833088323/
I usually don’t feel anything “The Game” does
but this go round I was hooked in by the 1st single “Pain”
I give him his props for actually maintaining his position even after 50 & the G-Unot Revue try to ruin his career
cause now he’s got a good shot with this album, and their wack album ain’t even worth dissin’
A good shot at what?
i dunno why people feel the need to address me like i was even speakin to them….
@ AmpBuck: What’s the word on the Byrd Gang album? I heard a few bangaz off it the other day, how about you? I’m anticipating the new Hell Rell album more though; his new joints are flames!!!
^ It’s called the comments section, Fam. If You make a comment sombody ain’t feeling, they have all the right in the world to comment on it, hence the name.
I know right. Albums are critically acclaimed and they sell well…so I don’t see what needs to be fixed..
M.O.B. is S.H.I.T.
^^^
hehehe….
I’m waitin’ for this, sounds like it’s gonna be good.
aint nothing like a brooklyn girl
Ummm, I don’t know what to say…whateva you think TC, im all for it
i have faith that game will release a good album. clearly, i’m in the minority, but that “big dreams” goes hard at the crib.
it’s nothing like a lil westcoast g-shit to really get you amped to go to work and deal with white folks.
i’m just saying…but i ain’t.
Big Dreams was alright…for a mixtape. Game set the bar pretty high with The Documentary & raised it with The Doctor’s Advocate. I just expect high quality shit from Dude & that joint was a poor choice for a single & a mediocre album cut at best.
Game always keeps me curious as what he’s gonna come with next. You always think he’s gonna slip up and put out some wack shit, but it hasn’t happened yet and it doesn’t like he’s about to either.
Yo.
Big Dreams goes HARD.
Pain didn’t really get me as bad as Big Dreams did.
The beat is so fucking hard, i don’t see how you don’t like it, but then again, opinions are like assholes…lol
Yeah Rich…
I’m glad “Big Dreams” isn’t on the album. I mean he did the song straight outta prison so it wasn’t neccesarily the greatest joint.
why wouldn’t Big Dreams be on the album?.. it was good enough to be thrown on.. even as a bonus track… IMO
A Corbellic sighting!
Is someone bout to pick the mic back up?
he only did a few days in the pen…I cant imagine in that time he lost his swag.
@petey
Uhhh… dude, when you’re locked up… you think and feel all kinds of shit you’ve never thought or felt before… it ain’t about swag, it’s about raw survival… I’d much rather hear somebody spit that shit than some “swag” rap…
*worms so hard he’s got scoliosis*
“Big Dreams” has one of the best beats I’ve heard, besides “American Dreamin’” in a few years.
Glad someone agrees^
lol
i can’t get that beat to wales artistic integrity outta my head……………………………
what I speak is funky like halitosis
ive been waiting for this
pain got me excited
y’all sleepin’ on Terrace Martin…
dude’s makin’ some real good music
shit you aint gotta tell me what its like to be locked up…Im all to accustomed to that shit and aint proud of it…games shit was a publicity stunt.
he came out trying to act like he was shynes cellmate or someshit.
*worms like his life depended on it*
next-level shit:
2-steppin’ AND wormin’ AT THE SAME TIME
try that dance mash-up
i just came up with that idea listening to this 50 Cent Sincerely Yours mix
those 2 dances might work together, unlike my BlackBerry Curve & MacBook Pro
I really don’t get why people call Game out all the time for his “name dropping.” Shit is in his lines and it makes sense, it’s not random yellin or anything, I don’t know, shit doesn’t bother me at all.
I thought this shit dropped in July? So much for it being a CD to maybe set the summer, means August 28th summer is over in my book!
Still can’t wait, I have a good feeling about this CD.
Name-Dropping 101:
“…I stay Coogi down to the socks
Rings and watch filled with rocks
And my jam knock in your Mitsubishi…”
“…I’m clockin ya, Versace shades watchin ya…”
“…You ringin bells with bags from Chanel
Baby Benz, traded in your Hyundai Excel…”
“…I got the pack of Rough Riders in the back of the Pathfinder…”
“…Fuck the past let’s dwell on the 500 SL, the E&J and ginger ale…”
lol @ dick-riders & their double standards
foh
y’all sleepin’ on Terrace Martin…
dude’s makin’ some real good music
===========
Incorrect. I’ve been waitin on a specific tape w/him & Drama to drop and the shit still ain’t took place.
the dr dre chronic 2oo1 cover but (with hologramme?) …some1 have …
I’m looking forward to this album…. LC, you’ve put this one on my watchlist as well. Most appreciated.
Terrace “my daddy+my mamy=me” Martin
Free mixtape on his myspace (with just one click)
features snoop, the game, … and … !
Definitely looking out for this one.
LC, I’m mad jealous.
Thanks for this.
TSS stays winning with great articles like this.
best unreleased tracks or underground tracks
http://www.megaupload.com/fr/?d=GZRVZFLH
the game - compton king (bootleg)
@ Estelle’s Teef:
biggie didn’t drop other niggas names ALL THE TIME! i’m sry biggie didn’t sign your t-shirt all those years ago, but let that shit slide.
name droppin labels and name droppin otha rappers is 2 totally different things.
^ co-sizzle, Dirk
Not to discredit Game’s albums (dude simply has excellent taste in beats), but continuous name-dropping is less like paying homage and more like male groupie-ism after awhile.
ain’t cool.
I was at this listening session. Good time…..Game was very Honest……And got a chance to break break with him. What was even more crazy is that I had a chance to meet his mom’s Grandmom’s, sister and cousin. Great Night…Great Album…..Pick it up!
Game is the true essence of his moniker…I don’t care how many rap artist he pays homage to…what’s his name? Go figure. Dude reminds me of Pac in a sense that he never fails for recognize his place in this fucked industry we call hip-hop music. With all his turbulent trials and tribulations, homie is still grounded and trying to find his peace. At least that’s why I fucks with him hard. Who cares? Game is Game.
Do the math…
Wes West yall. What’s with the trend of putting your kids on the cover?
Jesse as is.