Allhiphop.com reveiws L.A.X : Game falls short,collaborations hurt the album

[The Joker]

L.A.X 6/10 STARS


The Game’s alpha male A-type personality and aggressive approach obviously didn’t fall in line with G-Unit’s pecking order. But as a solo artist, it’s these attributes that have allowed him to carve out a unique path in the industry. He’s the Cali rapper with the New York swag.

 

He’s lyrically talented and street enough to have made the whole G-Unit fiasco a distant and almost forgotten memory. Unfortunately with the release of his third and supposedly final release L.A.X. (Geffen), The Game falls short of nailing the three-peat of critically acclaimed albums.

 

On the introductory “LAX Files”, The Game puts it down for the Westside story that Hip-

Hop fell in love with back in the late eighties when N.W.A. introduced it to the world: “Ni***’s think because they watch Menace a couple times / Seen Cube in Boyz In The Hood and then press rewind / That you could survive when a real Crip run up on ‘ya car and flex the nine / You must be out of ya mind.” The soulful hook that follows each verse and lurking keys feels like the classic Los Angeles gangster Rap that The Game has built his career on reviving.

 

There is a serious roster of heavy hitters featured vocally and behind the boards. The best production comes from the always in demand Cool and Dre. Songs like the power ballad single “My Life” featuring Lil Wayne and the mid-tempo “Money” with its electric guitars and Betty Wright vocal sample, shine as two of the better produced songs on the album.

 

“Bulletproof Diaries” is an interesting pairing between The Game and Raekwon. Lyrically this unlikely duo feed off each other well, but the Jelly Roll produced beat is disjointed and too busy. That California sound of lazy horns, keyboards, and thumping bass, is layered with video game like blips and bongs. It makes for an odd combination.

 

Although the album does have its bright spots, there are too many mishaps for this to be his last. The plethora of collaborations hurt the album more than it helped. The track “Angel” with Common, which is accompanied by a surprisingly unimpressive Kanye beat, and “Touchdown” featuring Raheem Vaughn, don’t fit the initial energy and aggression that L.A.X began with. Furthermore the R&B sound seems to be outside of Chuck Taylor’s comfort zone as “Game’s Pain” with Keyshia Cole also fails to leave any real lasting impression.

 

The decision to diversify his features and beats didn’t always go over well despite the valiant effort. Lyrically he is one of the top players in the game but it’s disappointing when that is overshadowed by desultory production and all but strange collaborations. L.A.X. has its moments but it has to be more thorough if this is Game’s parting gift to Hip-Hop as an emcee.

 

[E Dub]

“Game’s Pain” with Keyshia Cole also fails to leave any real lasting impression


that line straight away for me takes away the credibility of the review, i LOVE that song and can still bump it right now whilst rapping along

also angel has an unimpressive beat?

that track is probably one of the top songs of 08

[Black Gloves]

it is what it is. but no one can say that Allhiphop dont like Game cuz they do. But they also dickride Jay-Z alot

naw but it is what it is...a review is just an opinion mixed with other peoples opinion and thats the truth!

just cuz TOS or CARTER 3 aint got 5/5 didnt mean i didnt check em out and see 4 my self if they good or not.


I think what Game did "wrong" is that he mixed too much, which i know he did on purpose.

He shouldve sticked to songs like State Of Emergency, BUlletproof Diaries, Letter To The King etc and take away a few features....then take away a few of the average songs or the girl/club songs!

[Detox Iz Not Active]

LMAO @ them saying the Coonye beat "angel" is weak, that's easily one of the dopest beats on there


it actually has a real westcoast vibe to it



also, yeah this is the weakest of the 3, but the first two were 4.5/5 albums

[smegma]

“Game’s Pain” with Keyshia Cole also fails to leave any real lasting impression


that line straight away for me takes away the credibility of the review, i LOVE that song and can still bump it right now whilst rapping along

It's all about opinions. I agree with that line. At the end of the day a lot of people on Dubcc dickride The Game so hard that any realistic review of this album has no credibility in their eyes, I think.

[AnybodyKilla]

I can agree with all the shit they said, yah its there opinion, but "Angel" having a unimpressive beat....smh!!!

[h2k4]

I think what Game did "wrong" is that he mixed too much, which i know he did on purpose...

I agree.  It's a very dope album but it seems like it doesn't flow very well.
But everyone was talking about how DA sounded too Westcoast but now he puts out an album with a more universal sound and complaints still arise.

[HimselfTheMajestic]

i just think it was mad bland. the tracks that are good are really good.
still shy of being on level with the documentary,
but the dope tracks show that hes growing as a lyricist.

[PLANT]

How the fuck can anyone not like "Angel"    Thats one of the sickest jams to come out in a long time!!!!!  This review is bullshit!  "Games Pain" with Keisha Cole is dope too!  Terrible review!!

[Sriram619]

allhiphop.com is pure bullshit those guys cant review albums for shit

[EFFeX]

This review is whatever. There are people that just refuse to give Game the credit he deserves no matter what he drops. Unbiased Hip Hop fans that keep it real can appreciate this album.

By the way, this album DOES have West Coast appeal, just a more mature and evolved sound production wise.

[Detox Iz Not Active]

Angel track is the most westcoast shit on that album, great beat, great hook



shit you just ryde too with the top down

[bad-n-fluenz supporter of the dangerous crew movement]

who gives a shit about reviews anyway...its not gonna change the fact that you either like the album or you dont

[Davizz]

“Game’s Pain” with Keyshia Cole also fails to leave any real lasting impression


that line straight away for me takes away the credibility of the review, i LOVE that song and can still bump it right now whilst rapping along

also angel has an unimpressive beat?

that track is probably one of the top songs of 08

"Game's Pain" and "Angel" are 2 of the best tracks from the album and that alone proves that the reviewer is a fool.