Rap-Up.com || Review Roundup: The Game

The Game’s third album L.A.X. is available now. Find out what the critics are saying…

The New York Times: On L.A.X., his third album, for the first time he’s a joyless name checker; it’s as if the letters of his album title were all in lowercase. Almost everything here, from the boasting (“Money”) to the baiting (“L.A.X. Files,” “Cali Sunshine”), is pro forma. Worse, the Game, never a fluid rapper, sounds positively lumpy, as if he were delivering verses while running up a steep flight of stairs, or as if the last few years of pugnacity have finally left him winded.

Los Angeles Times: The Compton-raised rapper’s conservative inclination to stick to the gangsta tropes of money, drugs and guns feels limiting at times, as does the album’s bloated 1-hour-and-16-minute running time. While L.A.X. boasts several tracks too many, few remain outright duds, with the album heavily boosted by The Game’s all-star squad of guest performers.

The Boston Globe: L.A.X. spins beautifully at first, but, like a ‘64 Chevy with chrome rims that hasn’t paid a visit to the mechanic in 20 years, it doesn’t take long before the wheels come off entirely.

Newsday: When The Game is on—in the mournful “My Life” with Lil Wayne, where he says, “My life used to be empty like a Glock without a round,” and in the old-school tribute to civil-rights leaders “Letter to the King,” in which he’s smart enough to let Nas shine as well—he proves himself to be one of hip-hop’s best. B

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7 Comments

Galil ( PINOY Baby)
August 27th, 2008 at 10:50 am
LAX album is cool fuck what those negativ critics are saying. When I bought this album, I never expected anything like this from Game.
The only thing that was missing (if anything was missing) was that Dr.Dre wasn\’t there for his protegé.
BASS_MAN
August 27th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I still have yet to sample it. I never really let critics into my head before I do anything.
Catie
August 27th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I bought it yesterday and it’s not bad. It’s not as good as “The Documentary” but i would say that it is competition for “The Doctor’s Advocate”. Right now, “Let Us Live” and “Touchdown” are my favorites.
munni
August 28th, 2008 at 6:47 am
yo, universal lets you listen to all his songs right now…http://www.universalmusic.com/firstplay/party?listeningPartyId=8&hostId=3
David
August 29th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I find the state of predictability for these negative critics so laughable. Their sole purpose in their profession is simply to formulate controversial opinions in hopes of bringing attention and publicity to themselves. I mean, I understand to a certain degree. A critic must always be tough on whomever they are criticizing, but I am thoroughly convinced that these guys are listening to another album if they take their very own opinions seriously.
The primary objective of LAX is to depict inner-city living in Los Angeles, and The Game accomplished this extremely effectively. Gang violence, hardships growing up in the ghetto, and even the SoCal weather are all well represented in this magnificent composition (tracks # 2,3,7, 10, and 12), and all of this is presented to the listener in an entertaining and artistic format. I shouldn\’t even acknowledge the NY Times writer who claims The Game lacks fluidity because that couldn\’t be further from the truth.
For those who find The Game to be a low-level rapper who only knows how to allude to red rags, and whatnot, I vehemently recommend that you listen a bit closer to his lyrics. Tracks # 5, 12, 14, 15, 17, and 18 serve as a testament to how intelligent Mr. Taylor is(all the other tracks are fantastic as well, but I wanted to single out these in particular). If you are a fan of hip-hop, old or new school, \
chris
September 1st, 2008 at 11:26 am
I bought the album the day it came out.the critics can go suck a dick cause the cd is better than tha carter 3 and maybe one of the best alums of the year.i recommened any game fan to pick this up,his last cd, and he made me wanting to hear more.
vadblock
September 4th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
David,

First of all, My name is David. And what you wrote sounded exactly what I was about to write. WHAT ARE THESE CRITICS LISTENING TO? The Game has more lyrical talent and can put together a better song than almost anybody. I think that the media has become so accustomed to East Coast rap and now down south rap that they don\’t even know how to judge this form of rap anymore. It blows my mind reading this stuff because this cd IS better than the Carter 3. I guess only real hip hop artists know what good rap is anymore. It\’s really a shame. Hip hop is dying