The Game - LAX

Now I like to think that I listen to a wide variety of music... but I haven't really been into commercial rap in a while. I always kind of bunched The Game in with the whole G-Unit/Lil Wayne style of trying to be hardcore and gangster when they arent and their music isn't all that good anyways. I downloaded the "Dope Boys" music video because I like Travis Barker, who is featured on the track, and I thought the track was catchy and actually sounded pretty good. So when I was bored the other day, I downloaded the new album from The Game, LAX. I was wrong about him. I'm listening to the album as I type this right now for probably the fourth or fifth time in two days.

It's definitely a great album. I mean, I don't think its like revolutionary or classic or anything, and it probably wont make my top 10 albums of the year because its not really my style, but seriously it was good. I didn't skip any tracks like I thought I would end up doing. The production is all perfect, the features are awesome (Common, Nas, Ice Cube, Raekwon, etc), and the album has that tied-together feel that I love about good albums. I might actually go back and get The Game's first 2 albums and see if they're more of the same. I think he's really the closest thing I've heard to "gangsta rap" in a long time... it was really refreshing to hear music that gritty and raw again, NWA style. I love NWA, and wouldn't put Game anywhere near their level, but he's better than anyone else trying to make gangsta rap right now.

To be honest, I think my favorite song on the album, at least one of them, is "My Life" featuring Lil Wayne. That's right, Lil Wayne. I HATE that guy... like with an undying passion... but somehow he fits the song. It works. Not to mention that he does the chorus, not an actual verse (thank god). "Dope Boys" is great and is going to help Travis Barker become the next big feature on a lot of rap songs. Overall, I was just really surprised by how much I liked the album. Its definitely worth checking out if you miss the NWA gangsta rap days.