The Game - L.A.X.
[Geffen]

After being pushed back four or five times, The Game's new album, 'L.A.X.' has finally been released. Originally titled 'D.O.C.' but later changed, 'L.A.X.' is rumoured to be his last studio album. After this, he intends to promote his Black Wall Street label and concentrate on producing music, following the route of his great mentor, Dr. Dre. It's his 3rd album to be released, his last being 'Doctor's Advocate' back in 2006. With many rumours surrounding 'L.A.X.' about who would be producing and featuring on the album, it was hard to keep up with what was true and what was complete nonsense. iTunes released some information, revealing the standard edition will be 14 tracks with one bonus and the special edition would be 18 plus a bonus.

Featured guests on the album include: Ice Cube, Raekwon, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Bilal, Ne-Yo, Chrisette Michele, Travis Barker, Keyshia Cole, Nas, Common, Raheem DeVaughn and LaToya Williams. As well as all these, DMX will also do the intro and outro to the album. Producers include: Cool & Dre, Jelly Roll, J. R. Rotem, Nottz, DJ Toomp, Kanye West, Scott Storch, Ervin "E.P." Pope, Hi-Tek, Knobody & Dahoud Darien and 1500 or Nothin'.

The first single to be released was 'Game's Pain'. The track, produced by Knobody & Dahoud Darien, makes a reference to just about everybody, including, Biggy, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Naughty By Nature, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas and Ice Cube. It starts with Keyshia Cole opening up with the chorus and telling us that the song is to pay homage, with the lyrics, "I just want the world to know I'm paying my due's, and I got the utmost, I just wanna let you know I'm paying homage 'cause you've paved the way for me."

Then The Game comes in to explain what all the greats mean and what they've done for him: "My n***a Nas told me money make the world go round and Uncle Luke showed me how to make my girl go down, I've been around Hip Hop since '85, She had her ups and downs but she stayed alive". In the 2nd verse he continues with, "Ice Cube my favourite rapper, y'all n****z can't tell me nothin'." Finally the track ends with Keyshia Cole giving Mary J. Blige respect for paving the way for her. This just works, the beats are catchy and is something you would hear being played in clubs throughout the summer.

The second single to be released, 'Dope Boys', features Travis Barker playing drums and is produced by 1500 or Nothin' with additional production by DJ Quik. The Game makes refrence in the 2nd verse to 'Curtis' saying "And I take ya boy Curtis b***h with my tongue". At the end of the track he tells us that "The King is Back". It's hard to say much about the track, it's certainly not the best on the album but people will either love it or hate it.

Then we come to the 3rd single to be released, 'My Life'. Produced by Cool & Dre and featuring Lil Wayne, this track has sure had some controversy behind it. Many thought The Game was taking a diss at Eminem because of the lyrics " You see them 24's spinning? I earned 'em and all the pictures of me and Em, I burned 'em, So there ain't no proof that I ever walked through 8 Mile". On his website he later apologised if anyone had misunderstood what he was trying to say and explained that it was not about Eminem and was completely to do with Proof. He said that he was close to Proof, who died in April 2006 and now he finds it hard thinking of going to Detroit as he gets depressed. He did also say that he understood how the lyrics could be taken as a diss at Eminem but they were not meant in that way. In the explicit versions however, the lyrics are changed to: "You see them 24's spinnin'? I earned 'em and I ain't no preacher, but here's my Erick Sermon, So eat this black music and tell me how it taste now? And f**k Jesse Jackson 'cause it ain't about race now".

He also talks about Kanye West and the death of his mother, Donda West, saying, "Sometimes I think about my life with my face down, Then I see my sons and I put on that Kanye smile, Damn I know his momma proud and since you helped me sell my dream - we can share my momma now." This is another must; some may hate it but, it really gets you thinking. The beats are good again and the whole song talks about how many people have been taken out the world with the chorus asking "I'm just wonderin' why you haven't taken my life?, Like what the hell am I doing right?"

That brings us to the 4th single released - 'House of Pain', produced by DJ Toomp. This one is debatable; some could say it's a missed opportunity for a great hit due to the rhymes, while the beats are sound, where others will say it's the other way around. This is one of those tracks that could end up spliting you down the middle; people might want to listen it over just for the beats or lyrics alone, while others will give it a complete miss.

The fifth single due to be released after the album is, 'LAX Files'. It is produced by J. R. Rotem and has a really nice beat with piano. It starts with The Game talking and telling us he wants us to feel how he did when he was in his coma. The chorus then follows, which is a catchy tune sang in a way that just makes you want to mellow out. The Game then goes on to talk about being shot and the scars on his face. It goes on about how the hood is not a movie, it's real life and not something to mess about with. This is definitely one of those tracks that people will love because of the beats - the tune is one of the best but it is let down by the lyrics. It's worth listening to just because of the tune though.

Overall, the album is simply The Game; it's no better or worse than his last ones. It is a good album and there are a few tracks which you can really see working in the clubs, especially the ones that feature people like Ne-Yo and Keyshia Cole. Credit where it's due, The Game always seems to put more time and effort into his lyrics and choosing his beats than his 'best buddie' 50 Cent. For the die hard fans it's a definite, otherwise it's nothing we haven't heard before. If you want something different then I would have to recommend the new album by Nas, Untitled, GZA's Pro Tools or Raw Footage, by The Game's favourite rapper, Ice Cube.