Still in the Game... The Game - Doctor's Advocate

ARTIST: The Game
TITLE: Doctor's Advocate
LABEL: Geffen
GENRE: Rap


Its been nearly 2 years since Chuck Taylor a.k.a The Game let the world know that Compton is alive and well and still on the map with his Aftermath debut The Documentary. The Compton native (something he states with pride at least once in every other track), brought with him a believeable gangsta persona, energy and flow that was much needed. The arrival of Game into the industry also brought along some red in the seeming sea of blue in the west - Besides DJ Quik what other known artists bang Blood? Bringing gang affiliation into the music obviously works for image and shipping units, and oddly enough it can also bring positivity to something generally considered negative. Looking at Games collaborations past and present, despite representing the opposite side to many of the artists on the West right now and repping it with pride, Game rides together with Crips, a positive statement to the listener and a step closer towards unity. An example is the killer remix of One Blood featuring an unprecedented number of mc's smashing the infectious beat, including Snoop and WC who show Crip pride over Blood's beat. Besides different sets, all coasts East, West, South are also represented here with heavy hitting artists including Nas, Twista, Fabolous, Snoop, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, WC, T.I, Jadakiss , Kurupt, the list goes on, theres even an appearence from 'thought you were dead' Ja Rule.

Its clear to see Game has alot of love in the game, though we all know it hasnt been all love. The beef with 50 appears to be over judging from his latest album Doctors Advocate, however he's not without scars, the biggest being his move from Aftermath to Geffen. Although comments have been made otherwise, it seems the move wasn't exactly mutual, rather it was a decision made by the powers that be at Aftermath. So has Game got what it takes to stay in the game despite his departure from the Infamous A and mentor Dr Dre?

Doctors Advocate should have dropped earlier, with so many heads open off Game who clearly had rhymes in abduence judging from mixtape after mixtape and the infamous 100 bars etc collection, a new album could have been released at the start of the year, even summer just gone. Anyway, the eagerly awaited Doctors Advocate drops this month, sometimes if the expectation for something goes on for too long, dissapointment is natural - therein lies maybe the only tarnishing mark on the album.




Tracklisting:

1. Lookin at you
2. Da s***
3. It's okay (one blood)
4. Compton (feat. Will.I.Am)
5. Remedy
6. Let's ride
7. Too much (feat. Nate Dogg)
8. Wouldn't get far (feat. Kayne West)
9. Scream on em (feat. Swizz Beats)
10. One night
11. Doctor's advocate (feat. Busta Rhymes)
12. Ol' english
13. California vacation (feat. Snoop Dogg & Xzibit)
14. Bang (feat. Kurupt & Daz)
15. Around the world (feat. Jamie Foxx)
16. Why you hate the game (feat. Nas & Marsha)

So as not to spoil the suprise when the album drops 14/11/2006 (current release date), let me just say the album IS hot. Besides the current single One Blood, tracks such as Compton featuring and produced by Will.I.Am (wow), Wouldn't Get Far (produced by and featuring Kayne West) and Ol' English really shine with outstanding production. 'Da Shit' explodes out of your speakers, even if on low volume letting you know Game is one gangsta ass dude from the CPT, a powerful start to the album. A look into the trials and tribulations of Games life over the last year are delivered on 'One Night' which tells a story of how friendship can and was betrayed and how homies turn when its your turn to shine. The title track 'Doctors Advocate' is an emotional account of Game's admiration for Dre and his feelings on his coming and going from Aftermath.

Despite more than a handful of gems the album isnt a complete success, the Swiss Beats produced Scream On 'Em just doesnt seem to fit or quite simply work. Another area of slight critism is we all know Game is tight, there is no doubt, he has clever rhymes and a tight flow. Why then the repetition Game? Rep your city and set, let us know you smoke the good green and sit on them hundred spokes, but not in every other track - listening to the first few tracks, all you seem to hear is the same stuff rapped over different beats, some of you may say well thats gangsta rap, I say gangsta rap can and has been about much more. With such a wait for the album some broader variation of content would have been nice. All in all 4 stars for young Game, who has survived the beef and trauma thrown his way and remains standing strong ready for whatever comes next.

4 out of 5 - Cop it !