Rap-Up.com || Review Roundup: Game – ‘The R.E.D. Album’

There’s never a dull moment when it comes to Game. Whether he’s calling out his peers on his fiery record “Uncle Otis” or crashing the L.A. Sheriff’s phone lines with a tweet, he never fails to entertain. But the Compton MC puts aside the shenanigans and drops his fourth LP The R.E.D. Album in stores this week. The long-delayed effort features heavy hitters including Dr. Dre, Lil Wayne, Drake, Chris Brown, Young Jeezy, and Nelly Furtado. Did Game represent for the West Coast? Find out what the critics are saying.

USA Today: Assisted by heavyweight cohorts (Dr. Dre, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg), Game invigorates West Coast rap with grit, ferocity, vivid rhymes, crushing beats, and even a hilarious and vicious sci-fi romp in “Martians vs. Goblins.” 3/4

Los Angeles Times: In stark contrast with such charm merchants as Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, Game’s low likability is no impediment to his art; indeed, The R.E.D. Album, his fourth studio set, succeeds not in spite of his character flaws but because of them. 3.5/4

The Washington Post: He raps with an all-out relentlessness and simply wills many tracks to success. “Ricky” and “Born in the Trap” have no guest spots, but Game as gangland storyteller is enough to make them album highlights. Next time, he should spend more time reminding listeners who he is, as opposed to who he’s not.

The Boston Globe: The Compton MC’s fourth album has been delayed more than a Terrence Malick film, but it reestablishes The Game’s relevance with torched-earth verses and his ability to work with diverse superstars to make a supremely coherent and well-executed set.

The Village Voice: When there is a firm hand reining him in, Game can still make good rap music. Left to his own devices, however, he produces a dismaying mess.

The Associated Press: In all, R.E.D. is one of Game’s most balanced albums since his debut in 2005. After four albums, he continues to prove that he is a dominating force from the West Coast.

Rap-Up’s Favorite Tracks: “The City,” “Martians vs. Goblins,” “Good Girls Go Bad,” “Mama Knows”

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38 Comments

Genesis
August 25th, 2011 at 8:12 am
The best track is “08 – RICKY” RED ALBUM album of the year!!!!!!!

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booobooo Reply:
August 25th, 2011 at 11:53 am
@Genesis, yeah man ricky is tha shieet!! errthang khalil produces is dope !

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SoCal Reply:
April 27th, 2012 at 5:45 am
@booobooo, Cool & Dre produced it.

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Cassive
August 25th, 2011 at 8:34 am
I prefer Doctor’s Advocate.

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RED Nation Reply:
October 10th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
@Cassive, I prefer RED

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THE R.E.D ALBUM
August 25th, 2011 at 9:54 am
the r.e.d album best albums this years my favorite song in red is martians vs goblins and good girl go bad !

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SoCal Reply:
April 27th, 2012 at 5:47 am
@THE R.E.D ALBUM, i agree 100% but i don’t have a favorite song because the entire album was fire. i didn’t even skip a track and that’s a good thing.

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Jake
August 25th, 2011 at 10:17 am
This album is amazing. GTame is on another level.

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YUNG Reezy
August 25th, 2011 at 10:20 am
I thought this would disappoint me but the R.E.D. album was phenomenal. this album is definitely better than doctor’s advocate and LAX. kind of reminds me a lot of the documentary. good job GAME

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SoCal Reply:
April 27th, 2012 at 5:48 am
@YUNG Reezy, AMEN BRUTHUH!!!

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WestSideStory
August 25th, 2011 at 10:27 am
“Blood game kill them all”. lmao game kill me on this Martians vs Goblins who says better?!

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brrr
August 25th, 2011 at 10:37 am
why “Rough” track is not on the album this song was better than some.

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dntwrry
August 25th, 2011 at 10:42 am
lil wayne will definetally outsell this guy, and he was talkin bout “my album gonna be album of the year” notice how he gone kinda quiet after his album pretty much FAILED?

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SoCal Reply:
April 27th, 2012 at 5:50 am
@dntwrry, you failed for even trolling on here you troll

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Woldwilde Times Press
August 25th, 2011 at 10:48 am
Awesome! 4/4

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stevon
August 25th, 2011 at 10:59 am
“The city” “Martians vs Goblins” “Ricky”

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booobooo
August 25th, 2011 at 11:55 am
good bad and ugly is dope too, he’s storytelling is perfect, almoust u can see the visuals to the song.
Great album

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MaxMillion
August 25th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
CLASSIC … & I’m not even really a Game fan !
I just Love music & Respect Artist for the time & work it takes to put out a good album …
I’m buy this tomorrow on Payday …
Better then every Album that has came out so far & thats a lot to say …
Jay-Z … Eat your heart out !

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tj
August 25th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Game album has 2 many features like the lax album over crowding album is taking away from game showing his lyrical onslaught next time 12 tracks no features .

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Bizzle
August 25th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
first week sales, between 70-60..fail! aftermath & interscope wll drop him after tis album sales cumout, terrible!

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stfu Reply:
August 25th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
this album is dope a lot of collabos but lets not take anything away from the album. Kendrick Lamar is an absolute beast.

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Southsidecolumbus
August 25th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Mann R.E.D. Album Hard As Fucc Documentary Shit Better Than Lax And Doctor’s Advocate But Doctor’s Advocate Was Still Hard As Fucc

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Drizzy
August 25th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
This album had a buncha collabos, but it didn’t take away from Game’s genius lyrics. I thought the best tracks were “The City”, “Ricky”, “Hello” and “All The Way Gone”. But this album was one of 2011′s best albums so far. A good listen from beginning to end.

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SoCal Reply:
April 27th, 2012 at 6:00 am
@Drizzy, know wut’im tawkn’bout!!!

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DmIzzlE3000
August 25th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
Game painted the game red nigga! My album of the year, fuck errbody. “Yea that’s ma FO-5 but it ain’t got no body” Game

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mixsolo
August 25th, 2011 at 8:05 pm
intro of ricky is taken from which movie please I already forget ?

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DamianCash Reply:
August 25th, 2011 at 10:37 pm
@mixsolo, Boyz ‘n the hood

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Blast
August 25th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
when to start the concert ?

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chris
August 25th, 2011 at 10:15 pm
REEEEEEEDDDDDDD!!!!!!

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brian4OG
August 25th, 2011 at 10:26 pm
Big album my songs : 2,4,5,8,15

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igorswag
August 25th, 2011 at 10:37 pm
the only good song is Basic bitch
AND ALL SINGLES everything else shity

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Hugh
August 26th, 2011 at 6:28 am
Its a great album.

I didnt like much after Hello. If it was shorter it could have been a classic

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Now
August 28th, 2011 at 12:56 am
This album is crazy.

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P1rUsCiDaRbLocC
August 28th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
TheRedAlbum!!! Just killed them all. Drug Test was sick. Notice a subliminal shot at 50. Haha. This album is WEST COAST music made for WEST COAST people. all else critics can kiss a**. Like it or not GAME reps for us. He the one. WEST COAST GET UP!!! WE IN THE HOUSE!!! SOWOO!!! U KNOW WHAT WE REPPN!!! P.I.-RU!!!

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SoCal Reply:
April 27th, 2012 at 6:05 am
@P1rUsCiDaRbLocC, WESTSIDE REPPER CALI4NIA RESIDER over here and couldn’t agree more.

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Chism
September 1st, 2011 at 9:28 pm
I don’t know why people are hatin on da album. When did features bcome a bad thing. He has mcs from both coast bringing swag! But any way, the game is a storyteller! And he definately showed that on the good, the bad, the ugly. No rappers rap great anymore, it’s all about putting words together that rhyme. The game paints pictures! Good shit Game! It’s a classic bruh!

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Ryan
October 22nd, 2011 at 5:39 pm
Rap album of the year hands down best songs are red nation pot of gold martains vs goblins. Drug test and good girls gone bad also heavy artillery and the city are good

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SoCal
April 27th, 2012 at 6:12 am
FUCK AALLL HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS THIS SHITT BANGZ!!! INSTANT CLASSIC. #1 ALBUM of 20011 so FUCK the SALES man it’s ALL ABOUT the MUSIC nd if yo MUSIC ain’t GOOD then FUCK yo SALES. BITCH!!!

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