I've always been a fan of The Game, I thought "The Documentary" was classic, and "Doctor's Advocate" and "LAX" were both really strong records; in fact, one of my favorite Game songs comes from his "LAX" record "My Life". I also liked his mixtapes, his "You Know What it Is Vol. 3" was hilarious, for those unaware, it was about 20 tracks of him making fun of G-Unit, including a 15 minutes diss track aimed at 50 Cent and Jay-Z called "300 Bars and Running" a song that I always thought was so good and funny that when it came time to name this amazing blog my first thought was that it had to have something to do with that song...so now we have 300 Thoughts and Running. I was a fan for sure, but I was a casual fan, I certainly didn't think he was a Top 5 MC off All-Time or even currently, I mean there is Kanye, Andre 3000, Lil Wayne, Nas, Lil B, Tyler the Creator, Drake, even though I don't care for him Eminem, there are a lot of great rappers around right now, and certainly through the history of Hip-Hop. Game was always that under the radar artist, I knew his songs, I liked them, but for the most part compared to other artist, he was somewhat forgettable. Then something happened just over a year ago, Game released his "Break Lights" mixtape also known as "RED Files" (RED Files was the same thing as the official Break Lights mixtape, just a few more additional songs, and no DJ Skee screaming throughout) and that tape was Brilliant, while it still sounded like a Game record, it was different, there wasn't any filler, every track was great, and it left a lasting impression. It was the best Game I had heard up to that point, and from then on, I was officially on board the Game bandwagon. "RED Files" was so good that when I made a Top 10 list last year of my favorite things from Pop Culture in 2010, Game's mixtape was one of only two music related things on it the other was Kanye's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"
While "RED Files" may have been the reason I got on the Game bandwagon, it was his "Purp & Patron" mixtape that came out earlier this year that made want to ride shotgun on the bandwagon, the 2-Disc mixtape was the best Hip-Hop album or mixtape I had heard in a long time, for me it was easily the best I've heard since Kanye's "Late Registration". In a time when rappers are trying so many different things, they want to sing, they want to do rock albums, massive amounts of auto-tune, it was refreshing to hear a mixtape that sounded like real Hip-Hop, instead of a cross-genre album aimed at the absoulte largest possible audience. It was pure West Coast Hip-Hop at its best and finest, and not only brought back the found memories of Dre and Snoop in their prime, but built on what they did. Just a week later Game followed "Purp & Patron" with "The Hangover" the songs that didn't make it to the mixtape he released a week before, and it was every bit as good as "Purp" and better than most of the Hip-Hop out there.
Soon after Game finally announced a release date for his long delayed "RED Album", before that he would release another brilliant mixtape entitled "HoodMorning" (which you can read that review by clicking here).
So, the big question is, after one outstanding mixtape after another, and four years of waiting, is the "RED Album" even worth it? Absolutely it is! This is by Far, the Best Album of the Year (if someone tops it in my eyes, I will be pleasantly surprised) and it is by Far, Game's best and most complete album. It's an amazing album, it has a very familiar sound (think 1992 West Coast Rap) a very current sound, a futuristic sound, and most importantly a sound its very own. While "Watch The Throne" may have been one of the most uniquely produced albums I've heard this year, "The RED Album" is the best produced, there were times during Watch the Throne were I felt like the production and beats almost overshadowed the lyrical content, on this album, the production and vocals work in perfect harmony.
Like "Watch the Throne" and "HoodMorning" I'll be doing a track by track review. I apologize in advance if the reviews of the songs get a little boring, its entertaining to read negative criticism, and maybe not as much to read nothing but positives, the thing is there really isn't anything negative to say, anything I have is nitpicking at best. The Album has 21 tracks, there is an Intro, an Outro and two skits during the album done by Dr. Dre. Those, I won't be reviewing, because there skits. As I've already said, the album has a Past meets, Present meets Future feel to it, part of the past feel is that there are some references to "Boyz In The Hood" including a song dedicated to Morris Chesnut's memorable character.
1. "The City" featuring Kendrick Lamar (produced by Cool & Dre)
When you combine the opening intro from Dr. Dre with this track you get a perfect opening song to the album, which perfectly sets the tone for the entire thing. Kendrick Lamar's guest appearance is really strong, and the production from Cool & Dre is really cool, simple but haunting. I like the way the song ends, both Kendrick Lamar rapping without a beat, and the warning about visiting LA...which flows right in to the next track.
2. "Drug Test" featuring Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg (produced by DJ Khalil)
This is the only song to make it from the "HoodMorning" mixtape, and for good reason. Dre and Snoop on the same track again? Just that is a good enough reason to listen to this track, throw in some strong verses (with a unique flow from Game on this track) and a crazy beat from DJ Khalil, this is another great track.
3. "Martians vs. Goblins" featuring Tyler the Creator and Lil Wayne (produced by NO Id and 1500 or Nothin')
This song is so wildly creative, its unlike anything else. It could be the best song on the album (but the album is so good its hard to choose just one favorite) but one thing for sure, its an insane song, first off, it has a G-Funk sound to it, its about Martians vs. Goblins, Game is dissing Marvel characters, Tyler the Creator's verse is clever and hilarious he even disses Game in his own song about his tendency to name-drop and has a hilarious diss aimed at Bruno Mars and Tyler Perry in the same sentence, the Lil Wayne hook is great. This song is so interesting and imaginative I have a feeling Tim Burton is going to try and turn it into a movie.
4. "Red Nation" featuring Lil Wayne (produced by Cool & Dre)
This was the first single off of the album. The song and video came under heavy controversy because of it's gang affiliation, but controversy aside, this is another great song, Game's verse's are really strong, the Lil Wayne hook is again great, and the beat from Cool & Dre is energetic.
5. "Good Girls Go Bad" featuring Drake (produced by Cool & Dre)
One thing Game makes clear on this album is that he recently had a daughter, and this is song aimed at the ladies, as Game says, wether they be a 2 or a 10, and it features seemingly every woman's favorite rapper Drake. However, just because this is a song aimed at women doesn't mean this isn't a great song for the fellas too. Game and Drake's verse's are great, and the production by Cool & Dre is really strong, the beat has almost an early 2000 Kanye sound to it.
6. "Ricky" (produced by DJ Khalil)
This is the song I spoke of early, using a sample from the theme from "Boyz in the Hood" the song is about Ricky, who's scene where he gets shot down is the most memorable scene in the movie. He makes an interesting comparison about how 2Pac was the real life Ricky. The beat by DJ Khalil is great, just hearing the Boyz in the Hood sample sets the tone for the song.
7. "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly" (featuring Hit-Boy)
This is Game in story-teller mode. Game's flow is real nice on this track and the production is strong.
8. "Heavy Artillery" featuring Rick Ross and Beanie Sigel (produced by StreetRunner)
Another great track, Game's verse is strong, Rick Ross is really solid, as is Beanie Sigel. The production from StreetRunner has a modern feel to it, which wouldn't normally stand out, but so much of the production has a past or future of Hip-Hop sound.
9. "Paramedics" featuring Young Jeezy (produced by Maestro)
This song just gets me amped, between the guitar-fueled beat, to Jeezy's verse (Jeezy can always get some folks amped) and Game's energetic verse.
10. "Speakers on Blast" featuring Big Boi and E-40 (produced by Mars)
Kind of like "F*cked Up" from the HoodMorning mixtape, this song has a southern Hip-Hop feel to it, which once again is really cool to hear Game rap over, Big Boi only adds to the Southern Hip-Hop validity, as he shows up and delivers a remarkably strong verse. E-40 is also featured and he's really strong as well, Big Boi and Game kill this song though.
11. "Hello" featuring Lloyd (produced by Mars)
I don't think you could have two more opposite sounding voices on a track. Lloyd's falsetto works well against Game's voice. Another strong song.
12. "All the Way Gone" featuring Mario and Wale (produced by Mars)
I really like this song, Game is strong as is Wale's guest appearance, Mario's hook is great. The smooth production from Mars has an R&B feel to it.
13. "Pot of Gold" featuring Chris Brown (produced by The Futuristics)
The second single from the album, I love this song. The hook from Chris Brown is just great, his voice and the beat work so well together. Game's verse's are incredibly strong, and the lyrical content is deep and thought provoking. The beat on the song is mellow and cool.
14. "All I Know" featuring Lu Breeze (produced by Boi-1da)
Another really good song, nothing much else to say at this point. I told you this track review might get boring, you can only read so many positives before it becomes boring, don't blame me, blame The Game for making such an Awesome album. If your bored of reading nothing but positives just go out and buy "The RED Album" immediately if not sooner.
15. "Born in the Trap" (produced by DJ Premier)
I love this song if for no other reason than Game is once again going after Jay-Z, and now even Beyounce. The second verse on this song is hilarious, this is classic Game.
16. "Mama Knows" featuring Nelly Furtado (produced by The Neptunes)
Hey another stand-out track. A song dedicated to Game's mom, this song has a laid back feel, from Game's flow to the Nelly Furtado hook, (a bit of a surprise for her to show up on the album, but great none the less) to the laid back beat from The Neptunes.
17. "California Dream" (produced by Mars)
Game once again in story telling mode, if this were any other rapper other than Game you would accuse them of being to sweet. One this track Game talks about the birth of his first daughter, what makes this song so good I think is the difference from what Game was to what he is now, and how he has no problem admiting he's a different person. There is a vast difference from the Game reminiscing his gang relations on "The City" to where he is on this song, and unlike a movie mentioned several times Boyz in the Hood which didn't end so well at least this story (The RED Album) has a happy ending. This song provides perfect symmetry to the album.
Game has promised many times that "The RED Album" was going to be worth the wait, and he wasn't kidding. This isn't just Game's best album to date, its one of the best and most complete Hip-Hop records of the last 10 years. It walks a fine line between being wildly creative and a throwback to the glory days of West Coast Hip Hop, and it works extremely well. I'm all for artist trying to change there style up and try something new, when it works, in the case of Game, this is a departure at times and it works, but at its core "The RED Album" is a Hip-Hop album, and with so many artist trying to please everyone all at the same time, its nice to hear a Real Hip-Hop album.
Rating: 5/5
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