June 25, 2008 @ 11:20 am

Preview: The Game's New Album

by: N'neka Hite

Rapper plays select cuts from LAX

The Game, his baby mama, Cool & Dre, and what had to be all of Compton, gathered at Santa Monica’s Thom Thom Club yesterday for a preview of his third studio release LAX, which is now pushed back to an August 28 release date.

With secret service-like security manning the entry, anyone blessed to wander beyond the velvet ropes joined a party that played out like a 1996 backyard-boogie.  Plastic cups and dodie smoke filled the room. Black Wall Street soldiers rocked their BWS t-shirts and crowded around the stage in anticipation and reverence of one Jaceyon “The Game” Taylor, who by track one, was on his third Cadillac Margarita speaking reckless yet compassionate at the same time.

“They take this album and put it on the Internet next to Young Buck, niggas cry,” Game said, as he started the intro; a prayer by DMX. “He embraced me, and didn’t know me from Adam, I asked him to do a prayer for me because I need prayer sometimes.”

DMX spits a sincere prayer closing it out repeating, “devil, we rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” From there, one might argue, that indeed prayer does work.

Well thought-out guest appearances from Ice Cube, Lil Wayne and Raekwon season the album and classic production by Kanye West and Cool & Dre complete the recipe for a timeless piece of work. Lyrically, showing bipolarity and suicidal thoughts sum up to genius for Game on LAX.

“State of Emergency” featuring Ice Cube, takes the 1995 hit “Ghetto Bird” beat and brilliantly brings life back into a West Coast classic. Showing more love to his hometown on “California Sunshine” featuring Bilal, Game spits; “We can’t find Biggies killer/so we gave Puff a star.”

With the SoundScan buzz in the air, Game explained why he’d chosen Weezy for the superior Cool & Dre produced track “Red Magic.” “The nigga sold a million on his first week out,” Game laughed. “Fa sho I went to get that nigga on my album.” This is by far one of the hottest sets. Heavy bass and that signature Cool & Dre melody, Game uses his full-grown lyricism spitting, “If they get money/we will paper chase them.”

Others featured on the album are Ludacris on “Ya Heard” and Common on the Kanye produced “Angel”, where Game took a minute to dance with his grandmother on stage. The two collaborations show more than growth, the production and lyrics leave promise for an expanded audience outside of the hard-core enthusiasts.

Keeping it current Game says he’s the new Suge Knight, minus the KO on the track “Nice”. He made “Gentleman’s Affair” featuring Ne-Yo for the ladies. “When Ne-Yo come on you gotta go freak yo bitch,” Game said and he pushed his way through the crowd to VIP to dance with his girl.

Controversy, check, hot production, check, but most of all, LAX has quality and is a far more superior listen than the prior two multi-platinum albums under the Game’s belt. It’s just too bad the album has been pushed back once again. LAX does not need another delay.

Check out a new track from LAX: "Dopeboyz" featuring Travis Barker

Article tags: Common, Cool And Dre, Dmx, Ice Cube, Kanye West, Keyshia Cole, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, The Game 

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