Ain't No Game - Game (The)

Advantages: Highly varied
Disadvantages: A couple of tracks weren't as strong as the rest

..."L.A.X."(Life and Times) is the third, and supposedly final, album by the Compton rapper, The Game. I say 'supposedly' because many rappers have claimed to be retiring in the past, but it doesn't happen too many of those times, so I doubt that an artist with only three albums under his belt and a record label with no mainstream artists will just call it quits. 1. "Intro" 2. "LAX Files" The Game kicks the album off in a big way as he challenges all the fake thugs out there who have no idea of waht it's like to be subject to a Gangsta lifestyle; where your life is constantly under threat. With a haunting piano to back it up and the utilisation of the screwed techinque, you feel intimidated by the lyrics which he comes out with, making those who it is directed to question whether they should continue to do so. **Three Stars... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Thunder's most mature album, lyrically and musically
Disadvantages: The 4 year gap before the next one

...may be Luke) adds bits in during the final verse, but again, these sounds as if they should be there, fitting in fairly well with Danny’s vocals, rather than sounding so far away from the tune he’s singing that they stick out. “Today was just the same, wondering when the feeling might pass/I rearranged the room but it didn’t help me shake off the past, oh no/I can still see your face, frozen in time and in space/And I don’t know if I can take any more” “Giving the Game Away” The title track is about failing to keep a secret, and being hated for it. It’s about those times when you’ve trusted someone with your deepest thoughts, only to discover them spread all over town shortly afterwards. It’s about confronting that person about what they’ve done, telling them how two-faced they think you are. I think, judging from some... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Good MC, Good Production, a few good tracks
Disadvantages: Boring, Repetitive, Too many big-ups

...single How We Do, all of a sudden 50 Cent is all over the track, making this listener wanting to rip the hair out of his head. So often 50 sounds like rap's Sylvester Stallone, mumbling through his parts while barely opening his mouth. "Yo Adrian!!!" Only the Game's flow saves the song from itself. I'm not too sure who Jeff Bhasker is, but the production he brings to the title track is enjoyable. Unfortunately, The Game brings little to the song, name-checking some classic albums in reference to his own (to which I say "pfft"). Elsewhere, the hook for Where I'm From is lifted from a 50 Cent tune, and on We Ain't he even cops Eminem's flow style, though admittedly, it works more than it probably has any right to. No More Fun and Games uses an N.W.A. sample, which shouldn't be much of a surprise given how much time The Game takes to pay... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful