LAX (album)

Last updated
LAX
Game lax.jpg
Studio album by
the Game
ReleasedAugust 26, 2008 (2008-08-26)
Recorded2007–2008
Genre
Length76:28
Label
Producer
The Game chronology
Doctor's Advocate
(2006)		LAX
(2008)		 The R.E.D. Album
(2011)
Singles from LAX
  1. "Game's Pain"
    Released: April 29, 2008
  2. "Dope Boys"
    Released: June 24, 2008
  3. "My Life"
    Released: August 5, 2008
  4. "Camera Phone"
    Released: January 12, 2009 (UK)

LAX is the third studio album by American rapper the Game. It was released on August 26, 2008, by Geffen Records. [1] Recording sessions took place from 2007 to 2008, with the production that were contributed by Cool & Dre, Kanye West, Scott Storch, Nottz, Hi-Tek, J.R. Rotem and JellyRoll; as well as guest appearances from DMX, Chrisette Michele, Common, Ice Cube, Keyshia Cole, Ludacris, Nas, Ne-Yo, Raekwon, Raheem DeVaughn, Travis Barker, Bilal and Lil Wayne. The album was supported by four singles: "Game's Pain" featuring Keyshia Cole, Grenique "Dope Boys" featuring Travis Barker, "My Life" featuring Lil Wayne, and "Camera Phone (song)" featuring Ne-Yo. The album was released with two different cases such as one cover art for the deluxe version with Game looking at the camera with his bandanna in his hand, and the cover art for another was with him sitting on a couch smoking a blunt.

Contents

LAX debuted at number 2 on the United States Billboard 200, selling 238,000 copies in its first week, behind metal band Slipknot's All Hope Is Gone . Initially, Billboard magazine published an article stating that the Game had secured the top spot by a margin of 13 copies, in what was described as the "closest race for number one since SoundScan began tracking data in 1991". [2] However, Slipknot's record labels Warner Music Group and Roadrunner Records requested Nielsen SoundScan to recount the album sale totals for the week. The recount placed LAX at #2, with final 1st week sales of 238,382 copies in the United States, and awarded Slipknot's All Hope Is Gone the top spot, with first week sales of 239,516 copies, a margin of 1,134 copies in the United States of America.

Upon its release, LAX received generally favorable reviews from most music critics, with music critics praising the album's production.

Background

After signing a deal to Interscope Records and Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment label, Interscope Records' head COO Jimmy Iovine convinced 50 Cent to take Game under his wing in an effort to guarantee record sales. In 2005 the Game released his debut album The Documentary , but then left G-Unit following beef with 50 Cent. In 2006 he released his follow-up album Doctor's Advocate . On December 31, 2007, at Nas' New Year's Eve party, the Game announced the title and release date for LAX. [1]

Recording

On May 11, 2007, the Game was arrested at his home reportedly in connection with an incident that happened at a basketball game in South Los Angeles back in February 2007. He was alleged to threatened a person with a gun. The arrest took place after his home was searched for three hours. The Game was released early the next day after posting $50,000 bail. [3] On January 9, 2008, a Los Angeles judge scheduled February 4, as the beginning date for the Game's trial on assault and weapons charges. [4] After pleading no contest to a felony weapons charge on February 11, the Game was sentenced to 60 days in jail, 150 hours of community service, and three years of probation. [5] In March 2008, it was reported that the Game had been released from jail. His manager later stated that he has not yet been what you expected to be released in time to promote the album. [6] He was released after serving eight days, and went back in a studio and begin working with the production duo Cool & Dre. [7] Dre from Cool & Dre stated that the Game was like 'Pac, and that lyrically, he was "[somewhere] else right now". [7] On July 28, 2008, the Game told J. Hyphen and J. Moore of Sunday Night Sound Sessions, that the album has been finished, and that the official release date was August 26, 2008. He said that the album would include 16 tracks, and that he would've leaked the clean version for an album two weeks before the official release. The Game mentioned that he recorded over 220 tracks for the album.[ citation needed ] In these recording sessions, artists that were been reported would participated for LAX, at first Nu Jerzey Devil stated that Lil Wayne [8] would be making his guest appearance on the album. It was later confirmed that Akon, André 3000, Busta Rhymes, [9] Chris Brown, [10] Chrisette Michele, Common, [9] Ice Cube, Keyshia Cole, [8] DMX, [11] Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Marsha Ambrosius, Mary J. Blige, Nas, [12] Ne-Yo, Raekwon, Raheem DeVaughn, Fabolous, and Robin Thicke [9] would be making appearances, however, all of them did not make the final cut on the album. [13] Although Travis Barker, Bilal, Keyshia Cole, Common, Raheem DeVaughn, DMX, Ice Cube, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Chrisette Michele, Nas, Ne-Yo, Raekwon, and LaToiya Williams were in the final album track listing.

All of these record producers that have been participating at this album's recording sessions with the Game were JellyRoll, Nottz, DJ Toomp, J.R. Rotem, Scott Storch, Kanye West, 1500 or Nothin', Travis Barker, DJ Quik, Knobody, Dahoud Darien, Hi-Tek, Ervin Pope, Cool & Dre, Irv Gotti, Tre Beatz, and Trackmasters. The Game had announced that Dr. Dre would be producing for the album, but neither Dr. Dre nor Aftermath Entertainment had confirmed their involvement for this album. [1] Nu Jerzey Devil later confirmed that Dr. Dre would be serving as a producer on the album. [8] [14] On May 1, 2008, the Game told Power 106 that he had worked with Just Blaze, Kanye West, Cool & Dre, Scott Storch, Timbaland, Knobody, Ervin Pope, JellyRoll and Tre Beatz, among others. [15] At a listening party on June 23, 2008, it was mentioned that the production duo Trackmasters would be included for the album. [16]

Release and promotion

The album was pushed back to June 24, in competition for G-Unit's second album, [17] however, it was later changed to July 8, as Interscope Records moved both of these albums. On June 8, 2008, it was announced that LAX has been pushed back for week to July 15, which happens to be the same release date as Nas' Untitled album. [18] LAX has been pushed back for another week to July 22, and finally to August 26. [19] On May 1, 2008, the Game told Power 106 that "Big Dreams" might not be on the album. [15] On August 6, 2008, iTunes revealed some information on the album. It confirmed that DJ Toomp has produced a track, called "House of Pain" that would be released as the fourth single from the album. It also revealed that the standard edition would have 14 tracks with one bonus track, and the "deluxe edition" would have 18 tracks and one additional bonus track.[ citation needed ] On August 10, 2008, the Game told Friday Night Flavas, that he would be dropping two mixtapes; "Superman", featuring all original tracks, which did not appear on the album, in a week and a half and "You Know What It Is Vol. 5" after the album. He also blamed DJ Haze for the leak of the Just Blaze-produced title track "Superman".[ citation needed ]

Promo singles

The first street single was released on March 18, 2008 "Big Dreams" which is produced by Cool & Dre. The Game commented on Power 106 that the song would not be released on any specific album, including the upcoming LAX. [20] However, a modified version of the song, with different lyrics in the third verse, was later included on the bonus disc of the "Deluxe Version" of the album. Dre, from the production duo Cool & Dre commented that "'Big Dreams' is one of the most amazing records that I can honestly say that me and Cool have been a part of". Dre continued by stating "'Big Dreams' is a phenomenal record. It's very inspirational, It's gonna be big in the streets, but it's gonna be big all across the board. I feel like 'Hate It or Love It' was such an inspirational record that a lot of people didn't see coming. And this has the same feel as far as how it makes you feel, but it's gonna inspire the shit outta everybody. It's one of those records — his performance, his delivery, he's lyrically on a level that I can't even compare anyone to. He stepped it up to a notch that's amazing. He definitely has a new passion. And the fucking record is gonna really, really destroy." [21] [22]

The second street single was "House of Pain" and it was released on August 19, 2008. The single is produced by DJ Toomp. The song "Touchdown" also debuted on the Hot 100 without being released as a single, it charted at number 57 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. [23]

Singles

The first official single "Game's Pain" featuring Keyshia Cole was released on April 29, 2008. It charted moderately in the US but was met with critical acclaim "Game's Pain, Keyshia Cole sums up in one sentence what Game has been trying to say the whole album; "I just wanna let you know/ I'm paying homage 'cause you've paved the way for me." Game underscores the central themes of hip-hop's history and his deserved place in it, meditating on the struggles he's faced." [24] The second single was "Dope Boys" featuring Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, the video released was deemed to be too edgy to be aired on TV by BET, but it has been lauded critically as "not only one of the best collaborations on L.A.X. but also one of the best songs of Game's career." [24] The third single released was "My Life" featuring Lil Wayne, when the song first leaked, many believed the Game was "dissing" Eminem. However, later on his website, Game denied this, and apologized to anyone who might have misunderstood what he had intended to say. [25] It charted well in the US reaching a peak of 21 in Billboard Hot 100 [26] and it peaked at 4 for Hot Rap Tracks. The fourth and final single was released featuring Ne-Yo called "Camera Phone" on January 12, 2009, it was only released in the UK.

Tour

On May 21, 2009, the Game announced upcoming tour dates for performances in the United Kingdom for the summer of 2009. The West Coast-bred emcee made his first United Kingdom appearance since last December 2008. Game returned to the United Kingdom with three live dates confirmed across the country. Game assembled a coast-to-coast US trek to support his latest effort, LAX. [27] The club/theater outing was scheduled to visit nearly 30 cities, starting with several California performances in mid-February 2009. [28]

The tour Begin on February 18, 2009 and concluding March 29, 2009 stops included Los Angeles, California, Phoenix, Arizona, Sacramento, California, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, Boise, Idaho, Denver, Colorado, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Dallas, Texas, Houston, Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, New Haven, Connecticut, Providence, Rhode Island, Norfolk, Virginia, New York City, New York and more. [29] The following year Game went on the European Club Tour 2010. [30]

Commercial performance

The album received favorable reviews from critics, debuted at #2 on the US Billboard 200, with approximately 239,000 copies sold, just behind metal band Slipknot's All Hope Is Gone . The album charted at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and at #1 on the Top Rap Albums charts. At first it looked like LAX had debuted ahead of All Hope Is Gone by 13 copies, with such a close difference, Slipknot's labels Warner Music Group and Roadrunner Records asked for a SoundScan recount, a historic first. Nielsen proceeded to the recount, which made no changes, and Slipknot in 2nd position with 239,516 copies scanned. Initially, Billboard published an article stating that the Game had secured the top spot with a margin of 13 units, in what was described as the "closest race for number one since SoundScan began tracking Data in 1991". [2] having sold 239,516 units. [2]

LAX attained respectable international charting. In Australia, the album entered the Australian Albums Chart at number 12, in Austria, the album entered the Austrian Albums Chart at number 29, in Belgium, the album entered the Belgian Albums Chart at number 22, in Canada, the album entered the Canadian Albums Chart at number 2, in Denmark, the album entered the Danish Album Chart at number 18, in the Netherlands, the album entered the Dutch Albums Chart at number 21, in Europe, the album entered the European Top 100 Albums at number 14, in France, the album entered the French Albums Chart at number 19, in Germany, the album entered the German Albums Chart at number 33, in the Republic of Ireland, the album entered the Irish Albums Chart at number 8, in Italy, the album entered the Italian Albums Chart at number 2, in New Zealand, the album entered the New Zealand Albums Chart at number 11, in Norway, the album entered the Norwegian Albums Chart at number 18, in Sweden, the album entered the Swedish Albums at number 3, in Switzerland, the album entered the Swiss Albums Chart at number 8, and in the United Kingdom, the album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 9, and at number one on the UK R&B Chart.

Critical response

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 65/100 [31]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [32]
The Boston Globe mixed [33]
Entertainment Weekly B [34]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [35]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [36]
The New York Times mixed [37]
Pitchfork Media (6.4/10.0) [38]
PopMatters (7/10) [39]
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [40]
The Village Voice mixed [41]

Upon its release, LAX received mostly favorable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 65, based on 20 reviews, which indicates "Generally favorable reviews". [42] About.com praised songs like Let Us Live as "Game puts on his best Nas impersonation as he flows off the beat with intricate and polysyllabic rhymes." [43] Allmusic writer David Jeffries noted "the cuts that truly matter on LAX aren't the ones where the rapper's hardcore, unswayable definition of loyalty comes into play but the ones that go outside the usual topics and explore both the profound (the African-American struggle) and, more surprisingly, the profane (rump shaking)" and that "this scattershot album is easy to recommend despite its flaws". [32] USA Today gave the album a perfect score saying "throughout, The Game flays rivals and trumpets his own skills and success. He attacks the beats — provided by the likes of J.R. Rotem, Kanye West, Cool & Dre, Scott Storch, Hi-Tek and DJ Toomp — with lyrical ferocity." [40] The A.V. Club noted "Only three major-label albums into his career, The Game has already appropriated the angst of rap's most beloved icons" and praised the album's production while stating "The Game has always borrowed from the greats. Here, he cannibalizes his own tired shtick so extensively, he lapses even further into self-parody." [44]

The New York Times , which previously said Doctor's Advocate was the best hip-hop album of 2006, [45] gave a mixed review saying that "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." [37] Entertainment Weekly noted "As on his first two efforts, he spends L.A.X. barking gleefully ignorant gangsta fantasies over hard-knocking drums. And while the 19-track disc could use a good trimming, The Game's routine is just as entertaining the third time around." [34] The Guardian's Angus Batey stated "LAX is an intense and remarkably focused record - almost every syllable concerns Compton, gangsta rap and (as one song title has it)." [35] Pitchfork Media stated that "Relatively, he's won Round 3 by making his third straight album that's better than it has any right to be-- but the fact that the Game can make perfectly uncompelling competence sound like victory is proof that he's a master thespian of hip-hop theater." [38] Jordan Sargent of PopMatters complimented the Game stating that "On LAX, Game hasn't changed, but he's picked a group of beats that get him closer to extricating himself from both his West Coast Messiah complex and the post-G-Unit narrative. And while Game has yet to carve out his own identity as a rap artist, LAX shows that, on his third album, he might be on the right track." [39]

The Village Voice commented that "Taylor's best assets remain his compellingly ruined wheeze of a voice, relentless delivery, and uncanny ear for beats" and that "Somehow, the Game is still coasting on wispy, West Coast–nostalgia fumes—chronic, red rags, lolos, etc.—but the goodwill, at this point, has pretty much exhausted itself." [41] Sputnikmusic's Tyler Munro noted it as a "Solid hip-hop, but excessive to a fault. Too many guests, too many shifts in style and theme." [46] Slant Magazine's Wilson McBee viewed it as the Game's best album stating "With the Game's third and best album, LAX, which drops without the baggage of a high-profile beef, we learn more about who the rapper really is: a guy who loves hip-hop, from top to bottom, and is as comfortable giving shout-outs to Will Smith and Uncle Luke as he is to Wu-Tang and N.W.A" and "Listening to LAX is like witnessing the creation of a mural of hip-hop's history in which the artist paints himself hiding among the famous faces." [47]

Despite favorable reviews by critics and audiences, Game was critical about the album. In the first song on Game’s highly anticipated fourth studio album, R.E.D. , The City, he said: "Came with LAX, since critics said it was average/ I was stressed the fuck out, torn between Aftermath and Geffen, Interscope" [48] . He gives a similar statement about LAX in retrospect: "L.A.X., I was kind of lost, but my fans were pleased." said the rapper. He added: "If I had a choice, I would say fuck L.A.X. and The R.E.D. Album because I was kind of lost in trying to re-find the love for hip-hop." He also doesn't feel the album was perfect by his standards compared to his previous album. [49]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro" (performed by DMX)
Pope1:20
2."LAX Files"
 J.R. Rotem 3:59
3."State of Emergency" (featuring Ice Cube)
J.R. Rotem3:38
4."Bulletproof Diaries" (featuring Raekwon)
Jelly Roll4:52
5."My Life" (featuring Lil Wayne)
 Cool & Dre 5:20
6."Money"
  • Taylor
  • Lyon
  • Valenzano
  • Montilla
Cool & Dre5:13
7."Cali Sunshine" (featuring Bilal)
 Nottz 4:33
8."Ya Heard" (featuring Ludacris)
Nottz4:04
9."Hard Liquor (Interlude)"
  • Taylor
  • Pope
  • D. Davis
Pope1:50
10."House of Pain"
 DJ Toomp 4:32
11."Gentleman's Affair" (featuring Ne-Yo)
J.R. Rotem3:39
12."Let Us Live" (featuring Chrisette Michele)
Storch4:39
13."Touchdown" (featuring Raheem DeVaughn)
 1500 or Nothin' 3:59
14."Angel" (featuring Common)
West4:28
15."Never Can Say Goodbye" (featuring LaToiya Williams)
Pope4:40
16."Dope Boys" (featuring Travis Barker)
4:00
17."Game's Pain" (featuring Keyshia Cole)
4:21
18."Letter to the King" (featuring Nas)
 Hi-Tek 5:45
19."Outro" (performed by DMX)
  • Simmons
  • Pope
Pope1:28
iTunes bonus tracks
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
20."Ain't Fuckin' With You" Trackmasters 3:37
Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Big Dreams"Cool & Dre4:49
2."Camera Phone" (featuring Ne-Yo)Cool & Dre4:29
3."Nice" (featuring Newz) Irv Gotti 4:40
4."Spanglish" (featuring Hyna)Tre Beatz4:14
United Kingdom reissue (2008) [50]
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."LAX Files"J.R. Rotem3:59
2."State of Emergency" (featuring Ice Cube)J.R. Rotem3:38
3."Bulletproof Diaries" (featuring Raekwon)Jelly Roll4:52
4."My Life" (featuring Lil Wayne)Cool & Dre5:20
5."Money"Cool & Dre5:13
6."Cali Sunshine" (featuring Bilal)Nottz4:33
7."Ya Heard" (featuring Ludacris)Nottz4:04
8."Hard Liquor (Interlude)"Ervin "EP" Pope1:50
9."House of Pain"DJ Toomp4:32
10."Gentleman's Affair" (featuring Ne-Yo)J.R. Rotem3:39
11."Let Us Live" (featuring Chrisette Michele)Scott Storch4:39
12."Touchdown" (featuring Raheem DeVaughn)1500 or Nothin'3:59
13."Angel" (featuring Common)Kanye West4:28
14."Never Can Say Goodbye" (featuring LaToiya Williams)Ervin "EP" Pope4:40
15."Dope Boys" (featuring Travis Barker)1500 or Nothin', DJ Quik (add.)4:00
16."Game's Pain" (featuring Keyshia Cole)Knobody, Dahoud Darien, Ervin "EP" Pope4:21
17."Letter to the King" (featuring Nas)Hi-Tek5:45
18."Camera Phone" (featuring Ne-Yo)Cool & Dre4:29
Sample credits

Personnel

Credits for LAX adapted from Allmusic. [51]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [76] Silver60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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The R.E.D. Album is the fourth studio album by American rapper Game. It was released on August 23, 2011, by DGC Records and Interscope Records, which serves as Game's first release under DGC and his first album for Interscope since 2005's The Documentary. His previous two, Doctor's Advocate (2006) and LAX (2008), were released under Interscope's subsidiary imprint, Geffen Records.

<i>The Documentary 2</i> Album by The Game

The Documentary 2 is the sixth studio album by American rapper the Game. It was released on October 9, 2015, by Blood Money Entertainment and eOne Music. The album serves as a sequel to his debut album. The project is first half of a two-piece project with other half The Documentary 2.5, which was released the following week. The album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Kanye West and Future, among others.

<i>!</i> (Trippie Redd album) 2019 studio album by Trippie Redd

! is the second studio album by American rapper Trippie Redd. It was released on August 9, 2019, by TenThousand Projects and Caroline Records. The album features appearances from Diplo, The Game, Lil Duke, Lil Baby and Coi Leray. The album also originally featured Playboi Carti, but was later removed from the album, since Carti would've carried the whole album.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 Jones, Alan (2008-09-05). "Slipknot claim first US number one, after chart mix up". Music Week . Archived from the original on 2008-09-10. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
  3. ↑ "Game Arrested On Threat Charge". MTV News. May 12, 2007. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2007.
  4. ↑ Black widow (January 9, 2008). Trial Date Set for The Game's Assault and Weapons Charge Archived 2008-04-30 at the Wayback Machine . SixShot. Accessed January 10, 2008.
  5. ↑ The Game Pleads No Contest to Weapons Charge, Sentenced to 60 Days in Jail Archived 2009-03-13 at the Wayback Machine . XXL (February 12, 2008). Accessed March 1, 2008.
  6. ↑ (March 11, 2008) Not so fast, The Game's still in jail Archived 2008-03-12 at the Wayback Machine Accessed March 13, 2008.
  7. 1 2 Game Headed to the Studio After Leaving Jail Archived 2008-03-19 at the Wayback Machine . MTV. Accessed March 20, 2008.
  8. 1 2 3 Tim "Styles" Sanchez (January 18, 2008). Nu Jerzey Devil: Heaven Sent Archived 2008-01-19 at the Wayback Machine . XXL. Accessed January 19, 2008.
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  10. ↑ "THE GAME INTERVIEW WITH Incognito 'Da Yungsta'". Archived from the original on 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
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  23. ↑ "LAX - Game". AllMusic. 2008-07-22. Archived from the original on 2012-02-18. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
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  36. ↑ "Reviews: Bloc Party's 'Intimacy'; the Game's 'L.A.X.'". Archived from the original on August 26, 2008.
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  38. 1 2 Cohen, Ian. Review: LAX Archived 2008-12-24 at the Wayback Machine . Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on 2011-01-07.
  39. 1 2 Sargent, Jordan. Archived 2012-10-22 at the Wayback Machine . PopMatters. Retrieved on 2011-01-07.
  40. 1 2 "This week's reviews: Perfect Game, cheesy 'Force and more". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 1, 2008.
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