The Game- The Documentary 16 years later.

The Game drops his debut, The Documentary in 2005

The Game (Born Jayson Taylor) came into the rap game as an elite up and coming West Coast Rapper… Signed in 2002 by legendary producer, Dr. Dre who saw something special in him… I enjoyed his music because of his story telling, based knowledge on the ghetto, but is also hilarious with his word play but also captivates his audience, even with a whack verse.

To the audience reading this, how many times have you wondered how many times has he dissed G-Unit. Matter of fact without the beef, how many hip hop heads out there wondered how many bars he had. Long before the infamous 300 Bars, The Game been doing long run bars.. Look up 100 Bars where he boastfully showcases his talent across the Jay-Z “Always be my Sunshine" Instrumental Feat. Foxy Brown & Babyface. To the people who talk to me about hip hop and those young bull’s coming up to me saying he blew up when he dissed 50… NO!!!! GAME BEEN DELIVERING BARS..

The Game signed on Aftermath in 2001

First time I heard The Game, he was on Eminem’s & DJ Green Lantern 2002 hosted Mixtape, “Shady Times Invasion". The mixtape was so memorable, I had 3 copies. One for my house I stay on the weekdays, one I had for the weekends, and the mp3 version. He (The Game) traded bars with Joe Beast (Former NBA Star, Joe Smith) over the silly Just Blaze Produced Instrumental; Erick Sermon Feat. Redman “React”. The Game came into the rap scene rapping like a vet but coming into the league as a rookie to the world.. Listening to him in 2002 is like watching Le’Bron James highlights from his high school days.. He was meant for the game he is in because he is that skilled… If you listen to his diss on Spider Love in 2006 where he raps over the “I Know that you love me" by Tony Tayo instrumental, he spills beans about out rapping everyone on the Aaliyah “I Miss You" video shoot.

Listening to the Documentary 16 years later, This is the soundtrack to Compton in the summer of 2005. Khaki pants, white tee’s, and chucks was being worn across the block while this LP was being played.. here is a track by track description of how these tracks made an audio movie.

1. Intro- Dr. Dre introduces us to his new prodigy as he shows off his G-Unit/Aftermath debut. The intro to this has the dopest bass. All that is missing is The Game coming onto the intro dropping bars.
2. Westside story Feat. 50 Cent - The Game starts the song off perfect and 50' perfect melodic voice made this a dope track that can have a person throwing up gang sign’s. Even the most preppiest person that grew up in the suburbs with a hair cut like Zach Morris with Donald Trump money will be mean mugging at you like a rival gang member.
3. Dreams- This Kanye produced track is a self-reflection of how he came up during tough times of a struggling gang member.. From Compton Blood to mainstream Hip-hop star, The Game has made tales and takes on his road to his legacy.
4. Hate It Or Love Feat. 50 Cent- A catchy tune with 50 and The Game trading bars with one another. The track starts off with 50 telling his story of Get Rich or Die Trying all in 16 bars while The Game drops success stories.. Two underdogs on this song… No wonder they can’t get along.
5. Higher- *Breaking 4th wall My favorite track on this song… People only knows this as a Dr. Dre Detox tease but he is comical as he rhyme’s very carefully over a hard Dr. Dre and Scott Storch beat.. He went from talking about he doesn’t mess with woman like Mariah because she got a forehead like Tyra is funny and boastful at the same time.
6. How We Do Feat. 50 Cent-Dope Song Dope music video. Even though it is The Game’s song, I felt 50 murdered the song with his effortless delivery with efficient cadence, I am happy Game put this song out.
7. Don’t need your love Feat. Faith Evans. To be honest, this is the only Faith Evans song I liked in life. The Game gave testimonials about labels that passed him(Def Jam, Murder Inc, & Rocafella) and made them regret how they made the biggest mistake of their lives
8. Church For Thugs- Just Blaze is like the Teddy Riley for gangsta rappers. The hard hitting synth and with the Game telling engineers to turn the beat down so they can hear him for split seconds, you hear him trampling over the bear like Godzilla over the city.
9. Put You In The Game- This is a club banger in which I was happy when Timbaland played this for the Verzuz rematch between him and Swizz Beatz. The Game spitting gangster shit over Timbaland produced beats, who can go wrong with it?
10. Start From Scratch Feat. Marsha Ambrosios- The best hip hop memoir or at least one of them. Kids, drinking during a recording session is not fun and it is dangerous but The Game made it look acceptable for his fans.
11. The Documentary- Listen to the hook, he is already naming The Documentary a classic and it really is.
12. Runnin Feat. Dion & Tony Yayo- This is a true Compton sounding beat in which Tony did his thing when he got out. At the time before the beef, Tony was prepping his album and The Documentary displayed some talent but Yayo is actually a great MC.
13. No More Fun & Games- Just Blaze produced another banger and this soulful sample made The Game talk his shit. The NWA Gangsta Gangsta sample brought us down to Compton.
14. We Ain’t Feat. Eminem- The Game did his best The Way I Am flow from Eminem’s 2000 hit and he convinced Dre Shady killed him on his own song. The Game is always paying homage, that is why I respect him so much.
15. Where I’m From Feat. Nate Dogg- Game spells it out in the beginning of the song. The Game continued that same Compton cadence with Nate Dogg singing the hook.
16. So Special Feat. Nate Dogg- The Game mentions Gangstas need love so he let Nate Dogg sing the hook for you
17. Don’t Worry Feat. Mary J. Blige- Mary singing to Game about patience and willing to sacrifice for her man, this is gangster soul written all over the song.
18. Like Father, Like Son Feat. Busta Rhymes- Before Don Trip Letter to my son was Like Father, Like Son. The Game was telling a story about his son being born before he getting his rap deal. This ends the CD well because this outro shows his fans his historic adventure.

Overall

The Game’s debut is one of those people will look back and study. Not every Gangster is a rapper like every rapper is not gangster but The Game managed to multi-task both roles. He defines a person who came from nothing and made something out of his career. He put on a theatrical experience with The Documentary and he showcases his plans and displays his talent for the world to see. The Documentary has a display of gangster, grimey, streets, and talent all wrapped in one. The Game has grew and expanded his career with making more albums and even leaving Aftermath Records after the 50 Cent feud. The Game has made hip hop history by creating a masterpiece that you can call art.

Live From The Stove Top,

Andrew Kenekham AKA Druski Dru