Customer Reviews

The Documentary (Compton Collectors Edition CD+ DVD)

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(30)

 

 

I have to give credit where credit is due. Game had an uphill battle from day one. I'm sure any star will testify that the problem with starting at the top is that almost everybody is waiting for you to fall instantly to the bottom. With Dre underscoring his credibility, Game's inherent buzz quickly became a "hype" and raised the pressing question of NOT wether he could meet our expectations but rather if he could EXCEED them. Let's face it. That's what the critics, and perhaps some buyers, are all waiting for: To have their expectations blown out of the water.

Well...here's one vote that he did it. And this is coming from one wary and reluctant buyer. To be quite honest, my radar was honing more on Dre and his label than the Game himself. As the mastermind behind everything that leaves the Aftermath, I was scared that maybe Aftermath was on it's way to becoming an After Thought (like DeathRow). I think many will agree that rap has become painfully redundant, uncreative and unoriginal. Outside of the actual CD was an overwhelming amount of evidence that Game was doomed to the same tired pseudo-thug content of so many other rappers - many of whom represent Dre's label.

Of course, Game does in fact deliver the same old West Coast Game of low-riders, chronics, loose women, sneakers, guns yada, yada, yada. It wouldn't be Game without it. But where I have to give him mad credit is that the tone of his lyrics seems to give the Gangster Lifestyle a 3-Dimensional view and he masterfully gives us a glimpse of all angles. Some of the songs on here have a regretful tone that is probably more accurate of real gangsters than the pro-violent atitude exemplified by our vinyl thugs of past. No doubt, this more complex position is borrowed more so from Ice Cube and 2Pac (who borrowed from Cube and Ren) than any of the other legends that Game acknowledges as his primary source of inspiration. And while Gangster Rap initially was morally cluastrophobic and grimmy like the NWA Straight Outta Compton Album, Game manages to maintain this feeling (as promised) as well as give us more uplifting and maybe even hopeful tracks. One track involves Game's voice cracking as if he's fighting back painful thoughts and regrets - a very clever delivery since the song itself is about all the things he would change, if he could change them.

And then there's the beats. The beats are just incredible on this Album and stop just short of overshadowing Game's delivery. The Documentary is the best title for this album because so many of the tracks on this Album are cinematic in tone. "Dream", produced by Kayne West, is nothing short of a masterpiece. And "Church for Thugs", produced by Just Blaze is possibly the strongest production on this whole album.

And I can't end this without giving a nod to the man who blueprinted this album. I must say that I was a little sad that Dre covers less than half of the musical output of this album. I was a little more sad when I had to admit to myself that many of the Guest Producer beats top some of Dre's beats. But if anything it only further underscores Dre's immaculant ear for amazing material and his maturity for allowing that material to come before his own (no doubt he produced several tracks that he himself edited out from the final album). And as Executive Producer of this Album, Dre has orchestrated a CD that is even better than 50's "Get Rich..." and far better than Eminem's Encore - both great albums in their own right. And where Drei is a true genius is that he seems to have added sounds for every listener from every corner of America, just to make sure that this West Coast Ressurection isn't exclusive to just the West Coast. And finally, "Higher" and "Start from Scratch" are among the most memorable tracks on this CD. "Higher" is just downright infectious and so full of adreniline that it almost promotes violence without any lyrics laced on top of it.

Without a doubt, Aftermath is still on track and if they continue to put out this level of rap, they might possibly dominate the airwaves of 2005. If nothing else, it could breathe some much needed life into rap.

Consider this one a classic.

Please tell me why anybody who was not looking forward to this CD would even review it? If you weren't looking forward to it, of course you are going to say only bad things about it. "I want some heavy metal rock." Then why the hell were you listening to "The Documentary?" You don't even have to be necesarilly looking forward to it, but at least go into it with an open minded attitude. It's stupid for people to bad mouth these albums when they know nothing about it. The Game's debut CD is awesome, and "Hate It or Love It" is incredible.
You have to appreciate the things The Game said about his past life, about how he only did what he did because it was a last resort. I give him mad respect for that, because while all of these other Ja Rule's and whoever else are out glorifying the thug life, The Game is being real: nobody wants to live that way, and if they say they do, it's just to look hard. The Game isn't putting up a front, and he's just being honest. Plus, you gotta give him some love for the line about Mariah Carey...

Game is strictly aftermath now, and has been kicked out of the G Unit clique. 50 said Game didn't fit in, in the fist place.

Anyway, COMPTON IS BACK! The second the bell rang on the day of release, and school was let out, I was on the bus, getting myself to the mall. I got the CD, and instead of wandering the through mall, I went straight home to listen to this long anticipated CD.

After listening to the CD from beginning to end, it occurred to me that The Game has exceeded all expectations for his first release. His lyrics touch many different aspects, and the DVD was even worth watching.

I wasen't really following his underground scene, but I heard some mixtapes, and built the hype. This CD is something special and shows you the true essence of Hip-Hop. He was able to get big names for this project. He had 50 on 3 tracks, Nate Dogg on 2 tracks, Faith Evans, Marsha of Floetry, Tony Yayo, Mary J. Blige and Aftermath labelmate, Busta Rhymes. And he even got big-name producers like, Kanye, Just Blaze, Timbaland and of course Dre and Em.

There are no stand out songs on this CD, because all the songs are fire. Probablly the best tracks are "Hate It ir Love It", "Dreams", "Starting from Scratch" and "Like Father, Like Son".

"Hate it or Love It" (feat. 50) talks about the struggle of growning up in a tough neighbourhood where almost every road you cross is potentially the wrong one. "Dreams" (produced by Kanye West) is about the event-filled road he has taken to get this far and his inner thoughts about his future. "Starting from Stractch" (feat. Marsha) is when Game opens up and expresses his feelings to this point in his life, while reflecting on the past. He asks many "what if" questions and this is proablly the deepest song on the CD. "Like Father, Like Son" (feat. Busta) is about the birth of his son and he gives you an in-depth look on his perspective and feelings during the situation.

Even the DVD is hype. The DVD is on the REAL. The Game is a gangsta. This DVD shows you what Game had to deal with when he grew up in a crip/ blood neighbourhood. On one chapter is shows his boy Billboard rappin' beside him. Then on the next chapter, it shows Billboards funeral. That just goes to show you how real the streets are. A lot of people can relate to loosing someone close. R.I.P Billboard.

The Game constantly refers to artists wh inspired him. He always talks about Easy E. (and NWA), Biggie, 2Pac and Jay-Z and how they affect his career. The Game's lyrics are thought out and intelligent. They make you feel that you relate to his point of view in certain situations and he incorperates a realness to his rhymes.

Overall this is an amazing CD. If you don't have this CD then you don't have sense. If you don't have it by now COPP IT NOW!!!


*.ps. ... Peace to Jay-Z. I know Game didn't mean it, Jay should let it go. Jay is the GREATEST to do it!.. Welcome Back!

The Game - The Documentary (Aftermath, 2005)

For every couple of persons who give high praise to a new artist and his/her record, there's always one person who seemingly ruins everything by saying, "S/he ain't that great." I hope I'm not viewed as that person because I actually think The Game is a good rapper. However, I didn't think his career would last long because he started beefing with various rappers before he even dropped a single album. But after squashing those beefs, he now drops the most anticipated album of the year this far. "Most anticipated" also means "most hyped", therefore everyone will stop what they're doing and put The Game and his album, The Documentary, under a microscope to see if it lives up to the hype or is it all just a game (no pun intended). And unfortunately, most may lean to the latter response.

If there is one word that I can use to describe the album, it's "formulaic". Don't get me wrong, all of the elements for making a hip-hop classic are here: A Who's Who list of producers (Dr. Dre, Havoc, Just Blaze, Kanye West, Timbaland, Scott Storch, Needlz, Cool & Dre), famous guest stars of the day (Busta Rhymes, Eminem, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Marsha of Floetry), and an impressive flow by The Game himself. The beats are never stale, the choruses are addictive (especially on the title track), and it'll be hard to pick a favorite song out of the bunch.

But there's something that I haven't mentioned yet: LYRICS. Within minutes, you will learn that The Game raps about his Nike Airs, his N.W.A. piece, his Jesus piece, and his rims an awful lot. But that don't mean he doesn't talk about his life in the streets, it's just that either he doesn't talk about it enough or that he doesn't give it that kind of twist to make it feel like it hasn't been told before.

You'll also learn that he does an enormous amount of name-dropping (especially those of 2Pac, Biggie and Dr. Dre). And although all rappers do that from time to time (remember 2Pac shouting-out all of his new Death Row labelmates on All Eyez on Me), at least they had enough skills to back all of that up. This is The Game's first album and he should first show us what makes him tick and then tell us about all of the famous people he know and the places he's been. We bought the album to hear HIM. If he keeps name-dropping like that, some people may look at it as a way of disguising his lack of skill and judging from songs like "Dreams" and "Hate It or Love It", you can tell The Game got some. Alas, the album is called The Documentary, but it's not necessarily on his own life.

Before I close, I'll give you some high points and some low points. Hot songs: the two Just Blaze-produced ones ("Church for Thugs", "No More Fun and Games"). Low points: "Start from Scratch" featuring Marsha and "We Ain't" produced by and featuring Eminem (by the way, it's not cool to say that a guest star outshined you on your own track if this is your first album, joking or not).

The Game does show a lot of promise. Although he claims that he's only been rapping for 1 1/2 years, if Dr. Dre (the guy behind N.W.A., Snoop Doggy Dogg, The Chronic, etc.) picked him up, then The Game must've been doing something right. However, maybe Q-Tip was right when he said in '96, "Just because you rhymed for a couple of weeks/Doesn't mean that you reached the MC's peak." Because I really haven't heard The Game craft a tight song without relying on cultural references so much. And the guest stars that he's paired with further make it hard to see who The Game really is. For his next album he should rap straight from the heart and cut down on the name-brand shout outs, the famous guest stars (and even famous producers), and have it so that we can just focus on his rhymes and beats. If he doesn't, people will soon be saying, "Game over". -EJR

this is one of the best cd's iv'e heard in a while probably the best since 50's "get rich or die tryin" all you people talkin down about the game are just haters. you just mad cuz he made it wit no effort cuz he is that nasty. and most of you prolly love commercial rap and can't handle that real gangsta ish.

What makes me laugh is that most of these reviewers probably aren't even old enough to remember when N.W.A.'s first record (Yes I said record, for you young bucks that's what we listened to before CD's) came out, yet they want to talk about "Gangsta Rap". I had NWA's (Eazy-E's)first single "We Want Eazy" on record. Snoop, as good as he is, didn't come close to starting gangsta rap. His first song was with Dre called "Deep Cover" in 1992, 4 years after NWA's first and after Dre & Cube had left the group. NWA and Ice-T started gangsta rap.

Now on to "The Game". This is by far one of the best CD's out now. Game has taken us back to the roots of hard core west coast rap. He's not talking about his "bling", he's telling the story of the problems that he faced growing up in LA. Dre has continued to show why he is the best producer and talent scout out there. Beats are great, lyrics hit home and show that the West is indeed back on top!

Look, people I know that this is the first real album this guy has put out. But I was really suprised. I will tell you this, if you downloaded this album to check it out it is worth the money.

1. Intro: It was cool but not great 3.5/5
2. Westside Story: Was a song I heard on mixtapes and mainstream tv and I am glad it was the first song. (5/5)
3. Dreams: Kayne West did a pretty good job. This is a song that you have to really listen to to like. But I think that the boost moblie track was better interms of production and rapping. (4/5)
4. Hate it or Love it: Cool and dre of fat joe fame deliver maybe the best sounding songs on the album. With 50 and game on this track this maybe the next video if the label has something to do to it. MVP (5/5)
5. Higher: This was the one song I could not get out of my head. And that was the funny thing, the beat was and game play off each other well. This is my pick as the next video. Please Aftermath, I will offer to direct it for free. The ending of the song is classic. (5/5)
6. How We Do: No need to review. And if you haven't seen or hard the song 50 kills it!!!!!. (5/5)
7. Don't Need Your Love: I like the production on this but it was not what I though. (4/5)
8. Church for Thugs: JUST BLAZE!!! This is a beat that makes me think of old wu-tang. This was hot.(5/5)
9. Put You on the Game: It was a alright track but I expected more from tim. (3.5/5)
10. Start From Scratch: The beat was hot. A classic dre and scott storch track. This track is hot because it sound like they just left him in a room to drink his pain away and #*$*% around with freestyles. And Marsha is as good as advertised. Englands best singer, hands down. Sorry joss stone. Haaaaa (5/5)
11. The Documentary: The Title track, what more can i say. I don;t know where the game found jeff bhasker ( the producer of the track) And no it's not the neptunes because the beat has layers like the song. (5/5)
12. Runnin: This will be the song to drive to this summer. From east to west. Very laid back and old school (5/5)
13. No More Fun and Games: HHOOOOOTTTTT, JUST BLAZE!!!!!!!(5/5)
14. We Ain't: This the lone track that I didn't like at the begining but it wasn't bad. It average. (3.5/5)
15. Where I'm From: Nate Dogg and focus are amazing. (5/5)
16. Special: This is the next single for the ladies. It maybe the song video on the album and i am glad it's almost at the end. (3/5)
17. Don't Worry: I liked the beat but I don;t like the song. It songs like a mary song instead of the game. (3/5)
18: Like Father Like Son: Why is buckwild at the end of almost every aftermath album ( see chronic 2000) . (4/5)

Lyrics: 5/5
Production: 5/5
Top 5: Higher, Westside Story, Hate it or Love It,Chruch of thugs , Tie: How We Do/Runnin
comment:
This one of those albums that you will love if you are into dre, 50 and Gunit. If has a little of everything. The only problem that I had with the album is that they had the formula of hot tracks and the token ladies track like 50's album and Gunit's. But those are minor problems that any fan of west coast rap will overlook or fast forward. The album is strong. I am from T-Dot ( if you are not that smart to understand, it's toronto) and we are exposed to every types of rap ( regional or state to state: Old school, Sothern, West Coast to experimental and East Cost; Alasaka to Nevada) but this was like a trip all over. If you want a good album that was well thoughtout interms of production and writing. DRE and game are great together. This is one album that you can just play and listen to.

5/5 - Game is on

To answer my own question, I'd say yes. The Game already has a hip hop sized chip on his shoulder, being from the west coast in an East Coast/Down South dominated hip hop scene. With the genuis work of 50 Cent, and Dr Dre, The Game picks up exactly where 50 Cent's commercial debut "Get Rich Or Die Trying" left off. With bicoastal appeal, and smooth yet unique production, sucks you into the song, and The Game jus feeds us his everythought on everything ranging from Gangbanging in the streets of Los Angeles, to running through the hospital to witness the birth of his first son.
The artistic creativity ranges much farther from the music, by purchasing the Limited Edition Collectors Version you will witness an album cover that looks similar to the Notorious BIG's debut album, Ready To Die. The irony of that is BIG was supposed to be the savior of east coast rap in 94 and the album cover formed many questions of what his true intentions were, but after the album was heard all the questions soon answered themselves. The Game is in a similar circumstance, because since the death of Tupac Shakur, and the crumble of Death Row Records, the west coast has yet to find a heir to the "throne". So The album cover illustrates not only the birth of his son, or the beggining of a career, but the rebirth of West Coast hip hop.
In the days of getting shot and being locked up, then returning to the mic, The Game's life would look something like a cliche', but that is only if you are looking from the outside in. Shedding light on subjects that are almost completely absent from modern hip hop records Game spits inspirational lines "The dream of Huey Newton, thats what I'm living through/ The dream of Eric Wright, thats what I'm giving you", on the Kanye West produced "Dreams". On "Higher" Game takes some pointers from 50 Cent and creates a hardore, yet light hearted party jam. From Start to finish the album continues to impress, but the jewel comes from an unlikely source, DITC Producer Buckwild known for his distinctive east coast sound lends a violin inspired beat that fits Game's flow perfectly as he depicts in chronilogical order the birth of his son on "Like Father, Like Son".
Overall the album as a whole may just be the best debut album since Jay Z dropped Reasonable doubt in 1996, if this is just the beggining for Game he can look foward to a bright future in the music world, or as he would say it "I'ma be here for 10 more summers". If Game stays true to his word, and goes on a Jay Z esqe run, it would be a well desrved gift to hip hop first and formost, and also to the birthplace of "Gangster Rap" Compton, California.

Listened to the album. From a non-biased perspective from a person who grew up listening to rap from 1986-1990 the new york era to the 1991- 1996 west coast era up to now 1999-2005 commercialized era, this new album by "The Game" is better than any of the current rap albums out now, but make no mistake, if it were 1994 when gangsta rap was at the forefront with people like spice one, biggie, tupac, scarface, he would be just average and ok. The beats are great and the lyrics are a little above average, but nothing to get you sprung or say woowww!!! like pac used to do. overall a good album but not mindboggling. songs that are noteworthy, "documentary, higher, like father, westside," all the others are ok.

Sorry, everybody, but five stars? Ain't happenin'. I'm not saying that the Game doesn't have talent because he DOES know how to spit fire when he wants to. What he actually says, though, is what brings things down.

The main problem with this album The Documentary is, well, do you remember that song from Da Youngsta's called "Hip Hop Ride"? Whoever rapped the first verse (I don't know or care what their names are) did nothing but quote other rappers and verses from their songs. And Game follows that same example. As other reviewers have mentioned, Game spends a great deal of time naming artists from everyone from the Shady/Aftermath camp to Nas and even Teena Marie. I mean, it's nice that he's showing love to the artists that inspired him, but it got to the point where I asked, "Damn, man, where are YOU?"

Speaking of not changing subject matter, that's what makes "Runnin'" rather stale, because guest Tony Yayo still talks about nothing but guns. There ARE some good songs in the mix though, like "Westside Story", "Put You On the Game" and the hit single "How We Do". Kanye West also makes good use of the Jerry Butler "No Money Down" sample on "Dreams".

But there are still a few more missteps. "Hate It Or Love It" is lyrically decent, but that Tramps "Rubberband" sample is a little TOO R&B-ish to be rapping over. And as another reviewer said, it really wasn't the best idea for Game to say that Eminem "murdered him on his own ish" on "We Ain't" (even though he did). Speaking of that song, the last five tracks on the album are pretty okay.

Well, it's obvious that the general consensus probably won't agree with my review, but I personally think that Game should spend more time relying on his own talent instead of other people's. If he does, his next album should be a lot more entertaining.

Anthony Rupert