Music Review: The Game - Doctor's Advocate
Published November 13, 2006
I can't believe it's the middle of November already. Wasn't it just Labor Day? For that matter, the Fourth of July feels like just yesterday. Kind of depressing, really. However, while the early darkness and dropping temperatures are a bummer, November is a huge month for hip-hop, with a plethora of big releases looming. I couldn't be more excited for Jay-Z's Kingdom Come (even if the first three leaked tracks were a bit disappointing). Nas has a new one. So does Snoop. The Clipse finally get to release Hell Hath No Fury. It's an exciting time.
However, there might not be a more riveting album release than the Game's Doctor's Advocate, which is hitting shelves this Tuesday. Given all the controversy surrounding this guy, people have been eager to find out what happens after, well, Aftermath. The Terrell Owens of rap music has been a whirling dervish of anger and self-destruction over the past nine months, but through it all, he's actually made some big strides as an artist. Sometimes we lose sight of creative growth in hip-hop since actions can often speak louder than words, but this has been a case of a guy getting better at his craft through sheer drive, practice, and effort.
That said, the Game is going at this alone. There's no Dr. Dre on an album named after him, which strikes me as both ironic and pathetic. There's no 50 Cent, no Eminem, and really no sign of Aftermath at all, short of a Busta Rhymes appearance.
So what kind of album can we expect? Is the Game ready to carry the load as the face of West Coast hip-hop? There might not be a more polarizing artist out there right now, as it seems that for every person who wants to see him succeed, there is another rooting for his complete and utter failure. As the Game himself expressed on his debut album, The Documentary (on a song 50 Cent wrote, interestingly enough), you can "Hate it or Love it."
I've been getting ready to break this all down on the November 14 release, but much to my surprise, the wait might just be over. While Doctor's Advocate is still a few days away from official release, it had its "Internet debut" last week when the album was leaked by Game himself onto the web. At first, it seemed five tracks had been released, but within a day, it was clear the whole thing was out there. How this affects record sales remains to be seen, but it has given us the chance to come up with some answers ahead of schedule. Of course, there is always the chance the leaked version could be incomplete or different from the final album. The available tracks seem to match those on official track lists, but there are also rumors swirling that some Cool and Dre cuts are being stashed away for the "real" Doctor's Advocate. I've heard that as many as seven songs could be "lying in wait," so to speak. We shall see.
- Music Review: The Game - Doctor's Advocate
- Published: November 13, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Books: Suspense, Music: Rap
- Writer: Adam Hoff
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Comments
yo the dr's advocate would've been a classic but round the world and cali vacation kinda skrewed it up hopefully game puts new traks on there but he didn't fukk oh well the cd is sik but not a classic its the beginning of hip hop's revival
This album is down.My fav track from dis tite ass album is Scream On Em
If it weren't for those strange instrumentals and vocals that appear out of nowhere, especially in the middle of Game(or someone else) "spit hot fire, mon", I would give the CD/album a better grade than B+. I swear that sh*t had me reaching for the system to see if another song had started up.....
great review, i listened while reading track by track, very well done
may there be more game albums to come
i agree the track was hot and that was not his "drunk voice" The game him just like in Start From Strach that is what he sounds like when he is emotional... he cryed during both thoses tracks
he disappointed me and half his songs seem all the same. i rate the game played it safe a#nd tried to make the album the same as the documentary! i dont think he's going to do as well as last album in terms of sales as it it just going to please peeps from the West Coast and his name dropping is getting old. it doesnt have replay value so i guess i'll have to wait for the games next album! If he fails, 50 will have a field day!
i have to settle a few things one he says in "doctors advocate" that he was drunk during start from scratch ya just gotta listen 2 its different from "the documentary" cause "the doctors advocate" was about the westcoast and all of whats happened since "the doc" whereas "the doc" was about his life upto "the doc" anyways great review but dont agree with axeing "bang!" and "lets ride"
I believe this is a better album than the documentary, this is the rebirth of game not the west coast. he's always done that. but california vacation and his song to dre. also compton with will.I.am these are all crazy at 150db. this is a classic and he is the spawn of gangsters.
Yo,Yo,Yo, as a loyal G-Unit fan, I struggled to find the heart to listen to dudes new joint, but I can't lie, sh*& is dope! Old school Cali style, dude got his history together, and the tracks are allll bangin! 50 or not, this is one talented young man, and it's almost frightening that this kid is only 24 years old! Hot!
I am in Zimbabwe, AFrica yo! I was kind of pissed by Game starting trouble all around and after watching him on youtube, I had decided not to buy this CD, coz Game is an immature big baby. But I have to say this is the best Cd since bow down from Westside Connection. This is better than the new Cube, DPG, Snoop, Kurrupt (but not all put together). Game, respect, from AFrica. Just grow up man, find something to write about besides bragging, and you will be one of the best.
Umm dats just ur opinion i really didnt care too much for your little review i like most of the songs on the cd and what u had to say was just dat your opinio
Wow i can beleave it this cd sux,,,,,I am a Loyal Game Fan But Like Come on,,,, Like This
$#!+.....It sunds all the same and he cant rap ,,,,,,,He had a flow,,,,and when he beefs He flows like crazy!!!!! BUt im sorry its crap, and sumwun gunna expose him
game is the best !!!!!!!!!!!!1111
This s**t is hot im tellin' you the first time i heard it i was dissappointed but when i really listened to it i was happy. Alot better than jay-z's kingdom come and im trying so hard to like that sh*t!!!100
This is westcoast to the fullest I guess Im just a westcoast ridar born and raised in Inglewood CA
This is the hottest s**t out ! I gotta say I can listen to the entire album without skipping a track much love to the west !!!
yo dre? do it like the dre, me n dre dre dre dre dre dre dre dre dre on every track except 1 maybe....coulda been a classic its a safe album...good luck buddy,haha tantrum tv dvd magazine d.johns
Games A Problem, and he proved that he dont need 50 or Dre. He went gold in One Week. My man Game a problem. For Real. THE ALBUM IS CRACK
Yo!!! I just wanna say...The "Wouldn't get far" track is stolen shit from Jadakiss' "By your side"... Call me crazy, but you just can't deny it,right? Other than that,I really like this album...I've been totally crazy about Game over the past year...The whole G-Unot stuff (crazy)...This is the first albim since All Eyez On Me that has every dope song...Rootin' 4 my man GAME...P.S. Some songs from his latest mixtapes are better than certain songs on this album, but...P.P.S. Good review
whut up nigroyz and nigrets?
im here 2 give my piece on the the new game records
and lemme tell u ive been a game fan since my homies bro was like lemme show u the face of westcoast, since day1 man
im feelin this album, but i gotta admitt i did xpect more, this is a killah review made me stop and think...
i didnt like scream onem, lets ride, and expected more from bang
man i was pumpin doggfood the other day(smooth, i dont wanna dream about getten paid, lets play house,bomb azz pussy,respect!!) man those were sum bangen traxx Kurupt and Daz are sic plus game this was guarenteed success the track aint bad but fuck man no hook, sum lame ass pianos, and a change jingle in the background, this isnt DPG this isnt game? not what i expected
scream onem aint that bad it gets me pumped, but that coulda bin a sicc song im talken like D12's Pour a 40' Out shit off D12 World that trakk boy shit gets me goin wild,the south has bin big in 2006, im all about my westcoast shit but Swizz beats got the tlaent and money 2 match and excell that especially with gmae on the lyrics yo
let's ride was a horrible single for the Album, i mean one blood wasnt krazee but thats a sicc track, this is like...game wtf are u doing? even comparison in the videos man, this aint shit 2 this is how we do, not even mentioning 50, the blowen chronic smoke with dre and him in the beginning, the club scenes, like that shit was releaseing an album, the song and video for lets ride is like the nothing but a g thang video just done badly, its like a backyard party in compton with no one but game.. maybe thats what he was goin for still not impressed thought he's spice things up and make the first real single off docs advocate 2 hott 2 touch
i also disagree with the albums title track, the drunk voice again, my homie whose a game-hater fucken told me he thought lil bitch game was crying when he heard this
when hes more or less doing a confesion to dre, but trying 2 sound all crunk in the process i just thought shit didnt i hear this on... oh right the documentry..another thing i noticed about start from scratch the first 2 versus of the song games drunk as shit, in the third verse hes rappen like any other track? its like man that song was deep @ first but that just proves it wasnt recorded @ the same time as the first two choruses..ahh game it is just a rap game and it is just money, all justa struggle none the less i still like the track, the end line..The Game-lets go 2 the studio *hiccup* Busta-hahaha go 2 sleep nigga, i laughed 2
my fav. tracks are too much ive always been a sucker for a nate hook, especially when im tired and i just wana kik back and blaze 1, so 2 have that flow, with those bells and bassline just creepin along nsynce with game lyrical shitt..light it up, ol english is the single i woulda gone with instead of lets ride, i mean no one knows how great this albums gunna be so i doubt any other producers or artists featured wanna be the FIRST SINGLE off Games album or maybe they do who knowz, but he's all alone on this one no other hooks no other shout outs just him and sum nigga on the chorus, and i dunno bout ya'll but u got a tatty in ol english, i drank ol english when i was young cuz they were cheap, i still had money for bud, and they got me drunk as shit, and i duno about u but ive poured out plenty 40's for homies not there or missed can totally relate 2 this one, the beatz sic, the hookz sic, wouldnt get far fuck dreamz this shits pimpin that songs deep and all this one just makes me bounce, i like the fact we have no alvin and the chipmunks on this track and i luv how game does what he did in the down and out diss how he lets the beat finishes his sentence like when i see loyd banks hes goin DOWN DOWN, if u the car withem u betta duck DOWN DOWN this one he's all wouldnt get u that FAR, couldnt get that FAR, its just pimpin' i luv it one of my fav's 2 and fucken remedy FUCK U review guy i wanted one old skool sounding track, and this delivered made me wanna buy a lowrider just so i couldnt pump it up my block, bounce, and throw up WESTSIDE myself damnn ill admitt some of this shit makes me wonder, game coulda done this better, everyone knows but the shits still good its just dissapointing u kno the potential hes got i remember when everyone was all man 50's the next pac, thats bullshit, but if game put his mind 2 it he could never be pac, but damn he could be close
antoher thing i didnt like is a Knew aftermath and interscope wouldnt be scene on the back of the album but! dre shoulda been courtious enough to hook game up with ONE beat and maybe even featured on it i mean fuck he called the aldum the DOCTROS advocate and gives the fucken guy propz through out the whole thing, one track, one beat, wouldnt have given the guy a heart attack its not like detox is commin out neytime soon
and if theres not aftermath, no interscope, no fagget gunit on the back of his album what is left but Geffen fagget ass Geffen, u aint got much choice but i remember reading in a XXL issue that the BLACK WALL STREET emblum will be guarenteed on the back of my album check ur cd, cuz mine doesnt have a hint of the black wall logo on it and thats probably the most dissapointing fact of this whole album
all n all good album, great review, games still got game and for now keep it commin while u got it homie nothing but love
2 stay in the game, keep it real, and stick 2 ur roots, remember where u cam from and how u woulda wanted ureself 2 sound when u were young bumpin gin and juice im sure it woulda been close but better then this noise
I agree with some of your comments, but I believe you got it wrong on "Lets ride (Strip Club. There is no 50 needed there. The song song is a straight club anthem. It is one of my favourate songs on the album. The Game is proving to all that he's got steel. Dr Dre is my favourite producer but I miss him less in this album.
stepped up his flow....one more great song and it coulda been a classic....other than that its fuckin tight......the third verse in "too much" is the best piece of the album.....good shit
The album is cool lyrically but the production is porous and poor.
A waste of lyrics without any backups he should go back to the Doc and beg for mercy...
good review, but i just cant understand why you don't like "Remedy" and "California Vacation"
those are two of my favorite tracks on the album
you must not be from the west coast
I just read alot of hate & comments made maybe w/ out hearing the album enough. To set the recors straight The Game is 1 of the top 5 rappers out right now along w/ Jay Z. Lil Wayne, Rick Ross & T.I., and now that he has dropped his 2nd CD he is 2 for 2 ! 2 classics in a row who else has ever donr that ? lookin @ u a great intro track, Da S**T ina work HOT, #3 1 blood man u already know, Compton he hooked up w/ Will I Am helping 2 introduce him as a producer t 2 those that did'nt know of his many talents not 2 mention how he ripped the track, the remedy i read hate on the choosen track, OK sounds like an old PE track, but also sounds exactly like a track Dre made back in da day 4 NWA, let's ride u know da deal w/ that 1 already also, Too much besides Scott Storch it's classic west coast, but he did fit in nicely, would'nt get far Kanye & Game 1 word "banger", Scream on em come on it son't get any better than Game & Da monster not 2 mention how he murdered the track, 1 nite is about hate in da hood like hate in da industry like hate i just read...nuff said ol' english may be the only track i don't like that much, but is hotter then alot of other stuff i hear, title track doctors advocate hott say what u want it's hott the track is hott & Busta ripped it also, the rest of the album is sick helped 2 puch it 2 classic status California Vacation listen Snoop & Xzibit nuff said, Bang classic west coast again when u add in Daz & Kurupt it's a wrap, Around the World....2 much hate on this track 50 wish he had a trach this hot on The Massacre, game & jamie, hot lyrics & hooks deal w/ it haters, why u hate the game ft. Nas who ripped it while introducing hiself back 2 hip hop as 1 of the top lyricist ! Alot of hate on the game the album is hot another classic, sounds like a classic west coast album that dre did, but w/ out a dre track hate all u want u'll when he goes multi again !
Hey Y'all,
Just thought i'd put my 2 cents in on the new Game Album. First up, I love all the BAPE bashing. Not that i hate BAPE, but it seems every damn hip-hop stars is wearing one of them hoodies. It's strange, the Bathing Ape name refers to the fact most teenagers in Japan are happy to live a relaxed / shallow life. Too quickly taking the advantages they were blessed with in life for granted, which is exactly the opposite of the way The Game has reached the level he has achieved, so I'm suprised a lil bit, but it's good to see Game not afraid to attack anything (Fuck he kills hypnotic)
Been alotta talk about no 50 and no Dre, but honestly, I ain't counting down the days to 50's new album. Seriously. The No-Dre show took me a bit by suprise (Especially since it's named after him) but after a listen I got over that. Didn't totally agree on "Bang" being left out, personnally i loved the line "We don't put stars on our shoes bitch, we put the whole car on our shoes" and the "Dribble rock like Wade and Bounce like Shaq", but I am a heat fan so.. what'd you expect? Anyways I've dribbled enough shit and its time to get to business.
Loved the album 4.5 / 5 Stars
(I agree the album is maybe about 2 tracks too long)
Best album since Busta's new joint. Nuff Said.
These reviews are confusing. It just seems that you guys bag on the track and than give it a 9 outta 10. Doesn't make much sense. I get no hint of 50 snitch on this album. All of the tracks are good, there aren't any bad tracks. I don't like the absence of black wallstreet shout outs in any of the tracks except for one. Where is the pride? This album is still amazing. West coast is back.
Very good site.
Lyrics ain't great. But Game isn't a lyricist, he's an anthem maker. If the production sucked, the ablum would, but it doesn't. Production is great; gave me the feeling of listening to a one man nwa. Classic
the game is truest since pac left,that nigga have the spirit of a true g and he is the soul of westcoast rap,he is bringin back what most of the westcoast rappers forgot,he got luv for the hood and he expresses his luv on his albums,50 saw that game is the saviour of the wescoast that's why he is hating,the doctor's advocate is dope EVERY TRACK ROCKS if u stop hating u'll see the truth




Despite what you the review says: The Doctor's Advocate may be the hottest track on the cd. But I do agree Busta's outtro could have been editted out of the track but will probably serve a purpose in the video.