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.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - King Street Gypsy
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.
2 - laron
Wow...hell of a review. Great job!
3 - moe
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
4 - THE PIMP IN DA L.B.C
This album is down.My fav track from dis tite ass album is Scream On Em
5 - whitegaze
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.....
6 - Dano
great review, i listened while reading track by track, very well done
may there be more game albums to come
7 - Kiel
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
8 - the doctor's advocate
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!
9 - the doctor
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"
10 - Rick
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.
11 - Darko
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!
12 - ninja
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.
13 - Cai Cai
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
14 - Brandon
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
15 - mike
game is the best !!!!!!!!!!!!1111
16 - hoodbred
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
17 - jay
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 !!!
18 - d.johns
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
19 - Mickell
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
20 - ManofTrouble
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
21 - DJ-Kheaven
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
22 - Mbili
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.
23 - Mike
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
24 - Kay
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...
25 - Mike
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