Jayceon Taylor’s a polarizing figure. Either you appreciate the idea that he’s actually a talented artist with a distinctive delivery and voice…or you loathe the fact that a majority of his rhymes hinge on running through more names than a phone book. Game plays it safe by recruiting a cast of well-known feature players for “Bottles & Rockin’ J’s” for the The R.E.D. Album’s second single. But will it be enough to increase anticipation for the August 23rd release of R.E.D., which has already suffered its share of pushbacks?

While focusing more on celebrating life and Jordans, Game’s name-calling is cut down to minimum by his usual standards, Busta comes through with a lightning verse worthy of highlighting makes it listenable enough and Fab’s verse will illicit sly smiles with lines like “nigga said put the weed out, BBM you buggin face”. Wayne’s been on point post-prison but there’s not much to his verse and the addition of Khaled, Ross and Luger additions do zilch since we hear them so frequently.

It’s that extra, unnecessary weight that seems to hold the song back and making it look like Game seems to be stuck in the middle of the road creatively, neither pushing the envelope nor trusting himself to keep listeners’ attention while riding solo. Instead of assuming the status quo, he should consider going back to the partisan rap he started with and do it by himself.

Game Feat. DJ Khaled, Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross, Fabolous & Lil Wayne – “Bottles & Rockin’ J’s” (Prod. By Lex Luger)