The Game - Doctor's Advocate 2006

The Game - Doctor's Advocate 2006

Info:
Label: Geffen Records
Released: 14.11.2006
Length: 73:18
Bitrate: VBR
Size: 104.8 MB

Tracklist:
01. Lookin' At You
02. Da Shit
03. It's Okay (One Blood)
04. Compton (feat. Will.I.Am)
05. Remedy
06. Let's Ride
07. Too Much (feat. Nate Dogg)
08. Wouldn't Get Far (feat. Kanye West)
09. Scream On 'Em (feat. Swizz Beatz)
10. One Night
11. Doctor's Advocate (feat. Busta Rhymes)
12. Ol' English
13. California Vacation (feat. Snoop & Xzibit)
14. Bang (feat. Kurupt & Daz)
15. Around The World (feat. Jamie Foxx)
16. Why You Hate The Game (feat. Nas)

HipHopDX review:
I’m not sure if it’s a shame or if it’s appropriate that this album will largely just be judged by Game dickriders claiming it’s a classic and G-Unot fell off and 50 Cent fan boys calling it wack and calling Gayme a faggot. It’s a shame because an albums’ success shouldn’t be fueled or failed by fans whose homoerotic blind allegiances won’t allow them to deal in anything but wild extremes. Though it may be appropriate, as Game has really brought that on himself with his constant flip-flopping, one week claiming he is done beefing with G-Unit, a 7000 bar diss track the next week, then offering a truce to 50 the next week – followed quickly by another 8400 bar diss.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to controversy for The Game though; there has been endless speculation about his being sent from Aftermath to Geffen and why his “Doctor” wasn’t doing any beats on an album with the title dedicated to him. Toss in a fight with Ras Kass, the ever-changing tattoo, Change of Heart, steady claims he isn’t a blood and Game’s constant shit talking about anyone and anything and you’ve got a never-ending buzz about an album.

Things haven’t really changed much from The Documentary, even with the absence of Dr. Dre (whose fingerprints still seem to be present mind, you). The production (Just Blaze, Kanye West, Will.i.am, Hi-Tek, Scott Storch, Nottz, JR Rotem, Swizz Beatz, Jelly Roll, Denaun Porter, DJ Khalil), is absolutely outstanding yet again. While it may not have quite as many jaw dropping beats as The Documentary had, it is just as consistent. Unfortunately, Game’s incessant name dropping is still here, every bit as excessive and irritating as it was last time, if not worse. Name drops of rappers and/or albums: 142. Of that, 41 is Dr. Dre. That folks, is ridiculous.

The problem with Game is he is pretty terrible when he has nothing to talk about, and it just becomes him trying not to ruin a dope beat with name-checking and infinite references to low riders, bloods, bandanas, guns, daytons, weed, khaki suits and chucks – which is exactly why the best songs on the album come when Game gets sincere with his subject matter. “Why You Hate The Game” featuring Nas, “One Night” (though some may question its legitimacy), “Ol’ English” and “Doctor’s Advocate” featuring Busta Rhymes. The latter song really puts Game’s behavior into perspective, painting a picture of him as a young man struggling to handle all the spotlight and drama he was suddenly thrust into. Ironically, he does a lot of name-checking here, but there is actually some context and reason to it – and it works.

“Compton,” featuring and produced by Will.i.am, is a shining example of Game’s shortcomings as an emcee. In what could have been an incredible tribute to the historical city (as Will’s beat is pure heat), Game just talks random shit for 3 verses, never really saying much at all. He manages to get by on Just Blaze’s ridiculous 1992 Dre impression on “The Remedy.” The same can be said for the Swizz Beatz banger “Scream On’em.” I mean really, what the hell does this mean? “blow his fucking back out/cause I’m the rap Stackhouse.” What is the rap equivalent to Jerry Stackhouse? Nothing – that is rhyming for the sake of rhyming and making no sense – which he does a lot, along with just rhyming the same word with each other. On tracks like “Let’s Ride,” Game is flat out awful, supporting anyone’s notion that he can’t rhyme for shit. Or, on the albums weakest track, “Around The World,” he spits “She like that Jay shit, that’s her favorite/if it’s gonna get me the pussy I’ma play that shit/if she bite too hard I’m say that shit/but don’t bite me bitch I don’t play that shit.” That is just so wack. But then he turns around on a song like Hi-Tek’s sinister “Ol’ English” and you’re thinking “damn, dude is dope.” Some people can talk nonsense all day and sound fly doing it – Game can’t. He needs topics, and when he has them, he’s dope as hell. For someone who claims to be so real, he spends most of the album shoving his gimmick down your throat and it suffers for it. When he actually does come “real,” he makes classic songs, there is no denying that.

The soundscapes definitely deserve most of the credit here. JR Rotem is probably the show-stealer here, bringing back the classic west coast whine on the booming “California Vacation” and showing the soul on the title track. Along with the aforementioned “Remedy,” Just Blaze was also responsible for the standout “Why You Hate The Game.” Self Scientific’s DJ Khalil’s “Da Shit” just oozes left coast while Scott Storch’s “Too Much” is just too silky. Hi-Tek manages to outdo himself yet again on “Ol’ English,” which is absolutely captivating for both his and Game’s performances. Unfortunately Nottz doesn’t come as strong as usual on “One Night” and Jellyroll brings his usual mediocrity on “Bang.”

When Game falters on the mic, it isn’t just the production that saves him; his seemingly unquenchable hunger is definitely something to be admired and applauded. It would have been easy for him to phone this one in after all his success the first time around – though he did let Kanye steal the show from him on “Wouldn’t Get Far,” what is basically a tired rehash of Pac’s “All About U.” His incredible success so far may not have affected his drive, but it’s certainly taken his ego up a hundred notches; the best since Biggie and Pac? In the hall of fame behind Pac and next to Snoop? The west coast Rakim? Calling himself the new Dre (uh, you don’t produce, and no one regards Dre as an emcee), although maybe the latter is to be taken more literally as Game spends several songs doing his best Dre imitation, down to his voice and his inflections. A lot of you are gonna hate to hear it, but 50’s absence here is noticeable and detrimental, as his sure fire catchy hooks are replaced with oft corny ones.

As an emcee, when Game is on and has something to say, he’s dope. You can’t deny that; he has proven his abilities, be it storytelling the birth of his son or tearing G-Unit apart. But when he’s left just doing his marginal gangsta rap thing, he can be really wack too. Luckily for Game, while he is inconsistent on the mic, his beat selection is as good as it gets. For another album he is just laced with some incredible production from some of the best in the biz. It isn’t enough though; if Game wants to become the legend he already is in his own mind, he needs to get consistent and continually prove he is worth these beats. That means dropping his gimmick; you’re a blood from Compton, you love Chuck’s, weed, lowriders, 100 spokes, Dr. Dre and any and all types of gangsta shit. We get it, but we’ve heard it from you a thousand times and a million times from others who have said it better. No I’m not “hating,” I know the man has talent; he just needs to learn how to use it.

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