The Game’s third and final album, L.A.X., is an iconic dosage of gangsta rap that marks a throwback to some of the genre’s classic records.
After nearly abandoning everyone that helped him make his way to his debut record, The Documentary, The Game has run the risk of turning in one hell of a short career. His sophomore album, The Doctor’s Advocate, sold several million copies fewer than his debut and his foray into film (Waist Deep) was ludicrous.
Yet something about The Game remains believable and on L.A.X. he lets us know that our faith is well-placed, even if he has appeared to be batshit crazy more than a few times.
L.A.X. is what happens when batshit crazy meets high-end talent.
The Game’s story of the streets rips through tracks with his proficient flow and throng of guests, leaving no stone unturned. With a career that had him feuding before he was recording, it’s interesting to see The Game surrounded by so many big-ticket talents.
After an odd intro “prayer” featuring the always peculiar DMX, the record flies into one of its best tracks with “L.A.X. Files.” Sparked with a satisfying late-'90s feel and The Game’s attempt at double-time spitting, the track is a rough-sounding honour to the hood. He name-drops all over the place (“me and Snoop Dogg just make this look easy”), but his verses are still efficient.
More '90s hip-hop tempers things with “State Of Emergency,” a track that shines with hard verses and an absolutely lethal appearance by the one and only Ice Cube. The winding synth surroundings and the minimalistic production make the track sturdy enough for a contemporary N.W.A. album.
It is the guts of The Game that really makes L.A.X. glow. Not only does he try to do a Westside Connection-style blueprint with Cube, but he also tests his grit against some of the strongest rappers in the trade. The Game hangs convincingly with Raekwon (“Bulletproof Diaries”), Nas (“Letter to the King”), and Common (“Angel”) and takes concrete production from Kanye, Scott Storch, Cool & Dre, and J.R. Rotem and works it agreeably.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Jasper
I have got L.A.X since August the 22th. I must say that the album makes me realy happy! If you love real hip hop you must buy L.A.X it will be worth your money.
2 - luda
gettin it in the morning, cant wait
3 - Brian
The "We are not the same, I am a Martian" line he is quoting from Lil Wayne's album. If you had done any research, or listened even once to the top-selling album of the year (Tha Charter III), before writing your review you would have known that.
4 - Jordan Richardson
I know where the line comes from, Brian. It's still a weird line.
5 - Jordan Richardson
By the way, the correct title for the Lil Wayne album is Tha Carter III. No worries, everyone makes mistakes.
6 - FRANCHISE
yo man the game is dope . he inspires me to do great things , i wish more people were like that...
7 - Aaron187
Hahah... You clearly don't or the line wouldn't be wierd.... It makes perfect sense considering.... hmmmm who is on the track? Lil? WHO? Lil Wayne? lol.... That song is so pimp... hence the fuckin reference.... damn dood no reviews allowed for you.
8 - Jordan Richardson
The line sounds good on "Phone Hom'" but it doesn't sound good on "My Life." It sounds weird and out of place, in my opinion. I know why the line is on the track, dude, but after hearing it on the Lil Wayne track AND on The Game's track, it sounds out of place and hackneyed. The discussion isn't about whether it "makes sense" or not, but thanks for your brilliant input.
9 - kp
The game is the best rapper in the Game period...theres going to be alot of haters saying else..but this is a great album...and i hope it isnt the last...bcz i cant wait till the 4th
10 - lex
great album. intro to outro. dnt neva mind prayer befo and afta sumthin. to me itz classic album. u can play yrs from now. he put n werk. i doubt itz his last album but he said he still gon do da underground thang. but go cop LAX. itz refreshin. album of da yr
11 - WC203
You pretty much nailed it on the head with this review. The only tracks I weren't feeling was the one with Weezy on it and the one with Ne-Yo. Not a lot of new singers can really bring that something extra to their songs that many names of the past could. And Lil Wayne, overrated in every sense of the word. Other than that, Game goes hard on this album like I've never heard from him before, classic.
12 - TREYMOND
We are not the same, I am a Martian
So approach my Phantom doors with caution
- Game ties in the wild outlandish lyrics of Weezy F with the dont f with me LA NWA shit which pretty much sums up the Games career of giving props to the rap GAME.
13 - Connor
We are not the same you are an idiot...for thinking that line doesn't make sense.
14 - RAW ONESTER
yo this albulm is defeatly the greatest with out a doubt again the game prove g unit wrong
15 - Ginger
Just gotta say by reading the review, the reviewer definitely sounds like he doesn't know where that line came from. You'd think the reviewer would at least mention that it's a nod to Lil Wayne. For example, my parents listening to those lyrics would say, "That's a weird line" but to anyone who knows about hip hop, the only thing they'd say is, "Aw yeah, a shout out to Weezey".
AND, the line does fit in with what he's saying in that verse. Maybe the reviewer should try and be honest about his lack of knowledge instead of trying to cover it up and insulting the people that call him out on it. I'm sure Brian knows the name of Tha Carter III, he just typed it wrong, dumbass. You know that too, yet you still need to make yourself feel big.
16 - tan
I like the "My life" track. I think weezy brings emotion to the piece. However, I do agree that the martian line sounds out of place for the game.
17 - YES
The game is alright but still not anything close to real hip hop.......nas is the only main stream rapper that is hip hop......everything else is beat driven.....lil wayne is garbage.....he doesnt make sense and again it is all beat driven......lil wayne can never or will never come close to biggie,pac, big l, wu.......his songs dont even flow......LIL WAYNE SUCKSSSS
18 - dat rel goon niggaz
the game cd hard i dont care what hatas got ta say
19 - toby
To the last few comments i'd say The GAME does have a hiphop sound and lyrics. but id agree on the fact that lil wayne isnt hiphop. Tha carter III is a real good album dont get me wrong, but it is NOT hiphop.
I also think The GAME should come in line with biggie, Pac and Big L...
Just if one of the greats were still alive i'd really like to see them colab with The GAME, nahhh that would be some gooooood shit!
20 - Nem
Game is da shit. His best album yet by far. My fav song is lax files n when he disses 50 by sayin Al Pacino n Robert Deniro arnt gangsters but actors just like 50 especially now with their new movie.
21 - Thomas
This shit is fireE!!!!
i cannot stop listening to
this fuckin album dag,
big up to game
22 - Rick
The album is undoubtably the best hip-hop album of 2008 (in my opinion). I enjoyed it from the intro to the outro. the 1 song that annoys me a lil bit is the 1 he does with robin thike but I would only pick that track if i was being picky. The game can't quit! he is the best rapper around at the moment. He isn't a tupac or a biggie but time does move on. He realy is an excellent lyrisist and hip-hop artist in general.
My favorate song on the album is either 'Angel' or 'Can never say goodbye'
23 - Rick
Oh yer.... 50 cent is shit.... his only good album is 'Get Rich or Die tryin'... sory curtis but the game is 100% better
24 - Aadil
The Game came on point with this album, but still needed a Dr Dre beat to turn it into a classic, he shuda dropped songs like 'Gentleman's Affair', and 'Touchdown', and replaced them with 'Through My Eyes', and 'Laugh'.
25 - prosper
the nigga is talented. he got the west on lock. 50 i feel for you snitch