Music Review: The Game: LAX

9/10



Whether it be the escalating nature of rap beef, or the declining record sales in the music industry, The Game has proven to be one of Hip Hop's most resilient if not unbalanced figures. His short yet illustrious three year career has seen him trade barbs with the likes of Joe Budden to 50 Cent (and Jay-Z if you want to get technical), though in the midst of that he has risen awareness to the West Coast.

Now The Game returns with the much anticipated "LAX", though this album is not highlighted by the now dead G Unit beef (which is beaten to death at this point, though there are still shots thrown in the album), but the threat that this may be his last album. The feeling of a finite ending is strewn throughout the album, which is preceded and ended with a prayer by DMX, who has been considered misunderstood as well throughout his career.

The one thing that stands out about the album is the more aggressive tone of The Game, especially when standing next to Raekwon on the surprisingly concise "Bulletproof Diaries". When he isnt standing toe to toe to the Chef, he sits the listener right next to him in the car on "House Of Pain" the DJ Toomp produced next single. Game has declared war on his doubters, and is set to prove that he belongs on the "Top 10" next to Kanye and Lil' Wayne (who appear on the album as a producer and a feature respectively). While his snubbing on the list is questionable, the album has the dubious honor of being Game's best album to date, and that should surely net him a spot soon.

"LAX" also features the Triple A production known from The Game, featuring Cool & Dre, Nottz, Hi-Tek and a sizable contribution by Jonathan "J.R." Rotem. Just Blaze and of course Dr. Dre are missing here however.

It's also interesting to mention the awesome "Let Us Live". Produced by Scott Storch (where is he?) Game does his best Nasir Jones impression (Nas makes an appearance here as well) with rapid fire delivery mixed with Westcoast brutality. I'd go out on a limb and say its one of the Game's best songs ever.

That's not to say that the album doesnt have any rough patches. There is obvious filler here, such as the utterly boring Ludacris featured "Ya Heard" or the Ne-yo assisted "Gentlemen's Affair", both of which scream cutting room floor additions.

"LAX" doesnt stray too far from Game's formula of albums as far as production and content goes, though as an MC he has improved, and whether he is leaving the game or not he shows the growth of an artist that is still on the verge of a breakthrough.