THE DOCUMENTARY

by Rell Battle

When Dr. Dre retires, with or without finishing the long awaited Detox album, his greatest accomplishment may be his eye for talent and not his work behind the boards. First Dre gave us Snoop, then Eminem and now Compton’s own The Game.

Game wasted no time throwing himself in the rap beefs his predecessor 50 Cent built his career on. Before he had the country’s attention, he had already exchanged verbal jabs with the bay area’s Yukmouth, and east coasters Memphis Bleek and Joe Budden on New York mixtapes. Cali’s newest superstar has proven himself to fit in the G-unit package with his drug-related rhymes, love for cars and a pre-requisite of nearly being murdered.

Even with the expected West-coast gang references, this can not be labeled a mere gang bang album. It’s a beat bang album. The production list reads like a wish list any multi-platinum artist would destroy a budget on.

Just when you get tired of Kanye West bragging about himself, he gives you another reason to allow him to continue. With arguably the best track on the album, Game rips the obvious Kanye drums on “Dreams.”  On “Hate It or Love It,” Game and 50 trade verses detailing their glorious hustling days. The track finds Game giving lyrical threats to all who oppose him: “Kill a n*gga on my song and really do it/ That’s the true meaning of a ghostwriter.”

Some note-worthy lines are provided on “Don’t Need Your Love,” where Game spits; “Karma come quicker for a n*gga on the other side of the gun.” This Havoc track features Faith on the hook.  Still, any high profile album such as this one has to have the artist brag on wax certifying their skill.  When that becomes an issue, who do you call? Just Blaze. “Church for Thugs” is one of Blaze’s best since Hov’s “PSA.” Game flawlessly rides the track over Blaze’s trumpets on hand. Timbaland blesses Game with one of his hottest beats since..well his last beat. “Put You On To Game,” grabs your attention from the top. This track is undoubtedly the first time Game shows versatility with his flow.

“The Documentary” is the most interesting track on the album where he seems to be airing out everything that has happened so far in his short career - alleged beefs, his past, and the media hype. G-unit re-welcomes Tony Yayo back on “Running.” This soulfully sampled Hi-tek production has Tony killing the beat with his sixteens so hard, it makes you wonder if he’s due back in court sometime soon. Nonetheless, his best showing as an emcee came courtesy of the Just Blaze produced “No More Fun and Games.” Other stand-outs include the Dr. Dre produced “Higher” where Game presents his case for wanting a top spot among raps elite, the Dre and Scott Storch re-connect on “Start from Scratch” and “How We Do,” the albums first single, with Game and 50 tag teaming once again.

”Where I’m From,” “Special” and “Don’t Worry” are all throw away cuts. But The Game regroups and connects well with label mate Busta Rhymes on the heartwarming song about fatherhood, “Like Father, Like Son.”

Despite the all-star line-up of producers, The Documentary is not without its missteps. Throughout the album, Game appears concerned with honoring the west coast veterans who’ve come before him. The only problem is, showing respect takes up a considerable amount of the content. He shout’s out Eazy-E so much, you forget that’s it’s Game’s album and you think Eazy had a few gems left over before he died. You will lose count trying to catch every line mentioning the good doctor’s name, as well as Ice Cube’s, 2 Pac’s and damn near every other artist in rap.

It’s good that the future honors the past, but that can’t make up the majority of an album.

On the Eminem produced track “We Aint,”….(which oddly enough sounds like all of Eminem’s tracks), his inexperience shows as he has trouble staying on beat. The track finds Game blatantly borrowing Em’s style of rhyme.

Aside from the obvious over-production, Game holds his own as much as you can expect from a new-comer. This album is definitely worth the fifteen dollars. The Documentary may go on to be the hottest album of 2005, but it’s not a documentary on Game, the artist, but more a documentary on hip-hop itself.