Review: The Game – The Documentary 2

With the release of The Documentary 2, The Game has declared himself the King of California. This, you can imagine, is a tall order considering whose names tend to come up when talking about the throne of West Coast rap and who is positioned to take over. Fact is, most names you may throw out are actually featured on this latest studio album of The Game, which is pretty dope. Of course we’re talking Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and Kendrick Lamar, three of whom have released critically acclaimed albums in 2015. But with The Documentary 2 and a decade in this rap hustle, The Game has definitely cemented himself as an official OG contender for that title, given the caliber of the album itself and the line-up of special guests and producers he collaborates with. When you really get down to it, The Game has brought together a who’s who of hip-hop from west to east coast for the love of the music, which feels like one big family affair that includes artists he’s appreciated and respected from day one. And, given that he’s so often known for beefs and drama, this is really a defining moment for The Game to facilitate a body of work that represents unity and love in a completely understated way. Don’t get me wrong, though, The Documentary 2 is as hardcore, cold-blooded and ruthless as you’d expect any gangsta rap album by an affiliated gang member out of Compton to be.

From the Intro and throughout the entire 19 tracks, The Game makes it clear that he’s about representing that hood life where drive-bys, drug dealing, babymama/sidechick drama, and rival gang territories as the norm are recurring themes, not to mention smoking chronic and chilling in the same Compton neighborhood with the same homies where he was raised. Yet, once you pull the trigger on track one, you can’t help but get into the stories and memories that he reflects on in a way that makes listeners genuinely interested in this lifestyle he reps so hard. Like his four times platinum-certified debut, The Documentary, this sequel is a deeply personal, often vulnerable look into The Game’s actual life over the years which reads like an open book, and love it or hate it, he keeps it “eight more than ninety-two” on every single song.

Out the gate, the first two tracks “On Me” featuring Kendrick Lamar and “Step Up” featuring Dej Loaf and Sha Sha, sample two of the 90s biggest R&B hits from Erykah Badu and Brandy, “On & On” and “I Wanna Be Down”. These two songs actually set the precedence for the rest of album which feels like an ode to the music The Game was raised on with other samples from 90s hip-hop classics like The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Kick In The Door” heard on “Standing On Ferraris” featuring Diddy, and Naughty By Nature’s “Uptown Anthem” on “Don’t Trip” featuring Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Will.I.Am. However, with a handful of hit-making producers, including veteran DJ Premier and lesser known Bongo The Drum Gahd, it’s easy to press play and let the whole cinematic story unfold as you listen from start to finish. It’s really hard to pick out favorites from the line-up of songs because each one really stands on its own. You might go for “Dollar And A Dream” featuring AB Soul with its soulful throwback vibe where The Game reminisces about the start of his career, or you might choose “Hashtag” featuring Nashville rapper Jelly Roll who sounds a lot like Lil Jon hollering “…you could be a hashtag!” Then there’s “Dedicated” featuring Future and Sonyae, The Game’s version of a love song of commitment, “100” featuring Drake, and “New York, New York” dedicated to victims of police, street gang and domestic violence.

Lyrically, The Game comes through in full force weaving together verse after verse of his best work in years. Granted, he shouts out his city of Compton more times than you can actually count, and makes the obligatory money, cars and couture label mentions. You may chuckle when he references Uber rides and drive bys in the same verse on “Mula” featuring Kanye West, or cringe when you hear the utterly relentless “Bitch You Ain’t Shit”, on which Nate Dogg would have been featured if he were still alive. The album ends with the ultimate ode to LA with Uncle Snoop D. O. Double G, Will.I.Am and Fergie which fits in well with the hometown theme of Snoop Dogg’s latest album.

With The Documentary 2.5, the next installment of the album, being released a week later, fans will get even more of what The Game is slangin’ with collaborations that may prove to be even more legendary. On The Documentary 2.5 you can expect tracks with Nas, DJ Quik, Scarface, Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes, and E-40, as well as Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, Sevyn Streeter, Anderson .Paak, Ty Dolla $ign, YG, and many more. If you don’t think The Game is the King of California after The Documentary 2 & 2.5, then you’ll at least have to admit that he’s definitely come through with another classic.

 
Written by Mai Perkins

Originally from Los Angeles, Mai Perkins is living a genuine bona fide love affair with NYC and the music that keeps its spirit moving. While spending the majority of the last decade in Brooklyn, many of her adventures around the globe are documented on her blog: Mai On The Move! www.MaiOnTheMove.com

 
Author’s rating for The Documentary 2

Pop Magazine’s official rating for The Documentary 2

Rating key
MASTERPIECE a must-have
SUPERB for heavy rotation
EXCELLENT a great achievement
VERY GOOD a respectable result
GOOD worth checking out
FAIR an average outcome
WEAK not convincing stuff
BAD an underwhelming effort
VERY BAD quite a waste
FAIL a total failure