The Documentary

Infobox Album
Name = The Documentary
Type = studio
Artist = The Game (rapper)


Released = January 18, 2005
Recorded = 2004
Genre = West Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop, Gangsta rap
Length = 69:57
Label = Aftermath, G-Unit, Interscope
Producer = Dr. Dre (exec.), 50 Cent (exec.), Buckwild, Che Vicious, Cool & Dre, Danja, Eminem, Focus, Havoc, Hi-Tek, Jeff Bhasker, Jeff Reed, Just Blaze, Kanye West, Luis Resto, Mark Batson, Mike Elizondo, Scott Storch, Timbaland
Reviews=
*Allmusic rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:8d47gjur56ic link]
*"Entertainment Weekly" (B+) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1019305,00.html link]
*Pitchfork Media rating-10|8.3 [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18303-the-documentary link]
*PopMatters rating-10|8 [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/18444/game-documentary/ link]
*RapReviews rating-10|8.5 [http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2005_01F_document.html link]
*"Rolling Stone" rating|3|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thegame/albums/album/6784907/review/6860637/the_documentary link]
*Stylus Magazine (B+) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=2696 link]
This album = "The Documentary" (2005)
Next album = "Doctor's Advocate" (2006)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Type = studio


Lower caption = Special edition coverSingles
Name = The Documentary
Type = studio
single 1 = Westside Story
single 1 date = September 28, 2004
single 2 = How We Do
single 2 date = November 23, 2004
single 3 = Hate It or Love It
single 3 date = February 2005
single 4 = Dreams
single 4 date = June 7, 2005
single 5 = Put You on the Game
single 5 date = August 30, 2005

"The Documentary" is the debut album by West Coast rapper The Game, released on January 18, 2005 through Interscope Records. After recovering from a shooting in late 2001, The Game pursued a rap career and was discovered by Dr. Dre who signed him to his Aftermath Entertainment label. The album features production provided by but not limited to Dr. Dre, Kanye West, and Timbaland, and guest vocals from 50 Cent, Nate Dogg, Eminem and Faith Evans

"The Documentary" debuted at number one on the "Billboard" 200, selling 586,000 units in the first week. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the album two times platinum in March 2005 and it sold over 6 million copies worldwide. Music critics praised the album's production, but some panned The Game for constantly namedropping high profile musicians. Since the album's release, The Game is considered to be a driving force in reviving the West Coast hip hop scene, which had been overshadowed by artists from the East and South.

Conception

Background

In October 2001, The Game was shot five times and put in a three day coma after being attacked by three assailants in his drug dealing area. While recovering in hospital, he studied seminal hip hop albums such as "Reasonable Doubt", "Ready to Die", "Doggystyle", "All Eyez on Me", "The Chronic" and "Illmatic". [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/18/arts/music/18game.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5090&en=8bc3a135e64836f5&ex=1263790800&partner=rssuserland The New Game in Town Generates West Coast Buzz] . "The New York Times". Accessed September 7, 2007.] Five months later, he was discovered by Dr. Dre who listened to a mixtape produced by his brother.Campion, Chris (November 14, 2004). [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,1347692,00.html The Game] . "The Observer". Accessed September 17, 2007.] The Game spent the next two-and-a-half years working on the album and being mentored by Dr. Dre who signed him to his Aftermath Entertainment label. [Leeds, Jeff (November 27, 2005). [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/27/arts/music/27leeds.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2&oref=slogin Scenes From an Arranged Marriage] . "The New York Times". Accessed October 5, 2007.] [Reid, Shaheem (January 27, 2005). [http://www.mtv.com/bands/g/game/news_feature_012705/ Game: Out of the Shadows] . MTV. Accessed September 17, 2007.] In late 2003, Interscope Records CEO Jimmy Iovine decided to have The Game join G-Unit and be signed under a joint venture with Aftermath Entertainment and G-Unit Records.

The album's title was originally "Nigga Witta Attitude Vol. 1" (a reference to N.W.A), [ [http://www.aftermathmusic.com/_interviews/thegame_february_2004.html Interview with The Game] . Aftermath Music (January/February 2004). Accessed September 29, 2007.] but was changed to "The Documentary" due to legal issues.Reid, Sheheem (December 6, 2004). [http://www.mtv.com/bands/g/game/news_feature_120604/ Shady/ Aftermath/ G-Unit: The Family Stand] . MTV. Accessed September 7, 2007.] It was set for a late 2004 release, but since other high profile albums including Eminem's "Encore" was to be released around the same time, it pushed back to January 18, 2005. [Reid, Sheheem (October 5, 2004). [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1491965/20041005/story.jhtml Game Ready to Prove He's Worthy of the Hype] . MTV. Accessed September 7, 2007.] The Game worked on the album with the goal of reviving the West Coast hip hop scene, which had been overshadowed in the past few years by artists from the East and South.

Recording

After The Game signed with G-Unit, he recorded nine tracks with 50 Cent in his home studio in Farmington, Connecticut. He then went back to Los Angeles and finished up the album with Dr. Dre. [Reid, Shaheem (March 1, 2005). [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1497638/20050301/50_cent.jhtml 50 Cent and The Game — Doomed from the Very Beginning?] . MTV. Accessed October 4, 2007.] [Reid, Shaheem (February 25, 2005). [http://www.mtv.com/bands/123/50_cent/news_feature_022505/index3.jhtml All Eyes on 50 Cent: The Sequel] . MTV. Accessed October 4, 2005.] In a 2005 "Vibe" magazine interview, 50 Cent stated he was brought in by Interscope Records to work on the album, which he claimed was on the verge of being shelved and The Game being dropped from the label. However, in an interview with Funkmaster Flex, The Game said his status was never uncertain nor was he close to being dropped. [Rodriguez, Jayson (March 1, 2005). [http://web.archive.org/web/20050306234231/http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=4129 Update: Man Shot Not with 50 Cent; Violator Offices Shot Up] . AllHipHop. Accessed October 3, 2007.] 50 Cent also claimed he wrote six of "The Documentary"'s eighteen tracks—"Hate It or Love It", "How We Do", "Church for Thugs", "Special", "Higher", and "Westside Story" [Berrios, Martin A. (June 27, 2007). [http://allhiphop.com/blogs/features/archive/2007/06/27/18191339.aspx Streets is Watching: 50 Cent Part Two] . AllHipHop. Accessed October 3, 2007] —and was not receiving proper credit for his work. [Susman, Gary (March 9, 2005). [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1036677,00.html How We Do] . "Entertainment Weekly". Accessed February 18, 2008.] The Game denied the claim, saying 50 Cent helped write two songs. [Chery, Carl (June 24, 2005). [http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/7244 Game gone wild] . SOHH. Accessed October 3, 2007.]

Controversy

After the release of The Documentary The Game and rapper 50 Cent who not only produced the album but co-wrote five of the songs on the album began feuding. When their feud became public The Game was dropped from G-Unit records. After the feud became public many people and critics didn’t know who to give credit to for the album's success. 50 Cent believed he deserved the credit for the success of the album but The Game also felt he deserved the credit its success. The public eye did not know who to believe. Since the album's release the two rappers have been feuding, publicly.

Music

Production

"The Documentary"'s production was well received from critics.McKeating, Scott (January 28, 2005). [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=2696 The Documentary Review] . "Stylus" magazine. Accessed October 1, 2007.] The first half of the album contains "upbeat, gangsta boogie" tracks with the other half relegating "smoothed out R&B maneuvers".D., Spence (February 2, 2005). [http://au.music.ign.com/articles/584/584934p1.html The Documentary] . IGN. Accessed October 7, 2007.] At seven tracks, Dr. Dre co-executive produced the album with his "stripped-down cinematic" approach. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18303-the-documentary?artist_title=18303-the-documentary The Documentary Review] . Pitchfork Media. Accessed September 17, 2007.] "Westside Story" contains an "evil sounding piano plink", "Dreams" has a "simultaneously smooth and eerie" beat, and "Hate It or Love It" unveils a "smoothed out R&B funk vibe". "Higher" revolves around a pounding synth blast and "How We Do" contains syncopated hand claps with a beat described as "a hypnotic blast of sinister seduction powered by a deliciously primitive 808 pattern and a slinky synth."Rabin, Nathan (January 24, 2005). [http://www.avclub.com/content/node/15960 The Documentary Review] . The A.V. Club. Accessed October 7, 2007.] "Don't Need Your Love" samples Mary J. Blige's "Not Gon Cry" and is one the album's more soulful songs.J-23 (January 16, 2005). [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/reviews/id.501/title.the-game-the-documentary The Game - The Documentary] . HipHopDX. Accessed October 1, 2007.] "Church for Thugs" delivers a "sing-song stylee over an accentuated sonic bed" and "Put You on the Game" is a club track containing "dark dirge [s] of synth".

Although "Start from Scratch" features R&B singer Marsha Ambrosius, the beat "eschews the traditional R&B vibes" for more "aural intimidation". IGN called it "the most haunting inclusion on the album." "The Documentary" features a "busy backing track" of "crashing symphonics and tinny flares of synth", which one critic believed overshadowed the lyrics. "Runnin'" is a "dark, tune augmented by tinges of R&B mellowness." "No More Fun and Games" has a fast-paced beatHamilton, Pierre (February 15, 2005). [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/18444/game-documentary/ The Documentary Review] . PopMatters. Accessed September 29, 2007.] that takes inspiration from early 1990s production.Juon, Steve 'Flash' (January 18, 2005). [http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2005_01F_document.html RapReview of the Week] . RapReviews. Accessed October 1, 2007.] "We Ain't", which samples Dr. Dre's "The Watcher", takes Eminem's "chug laden synth gurgle" and is described as "one of the most menacingly catchy numbers on the entire album." Nate Dogg features on two "smoothed out" tracks; "Special" and the g-funk-inspired "Where I'm From".Webb, Adam (February 17, 2005). [http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/050217/33/1xirt.html The Game - The Documentary] . Yahoo! Music. Accessed October 7, 2007.] "Don't Worry" is an R&B flavored track and despite its "minimal production", one reviewer wrote the song "still hits hard." The final track, "Like Father, Like Son", is driven by a "melodramatic, string-laden" beat.

ingles

The first single, "Westside Story", peaked at ninety-three on the "Billboard" Hot 100. "Rolling Stone" described it as "a kind of L.A. version of "In Da Club" with "a simple keyboard part, a spare 808 beat and strings that manage to sound both stressed-out and catchy."Brackett, Nathan (February 10, 2005). [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/6784907/the_documentary The Documentary Review] . "Rolling Stone". Accessed September 29, 2007.] "Hate It or Love It" was the most popular single, peaking at number two on the Hot 100. [ [http://acharts.us/song/703 The Game and 50 Cent - Hate It or Love It] . aCharts.us. Accessed September 27, 2007.] At the 2006 Grammy Awards, it was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rap Song. [ [http://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-g/game.htm The Game] . Rock on the Net. Accessed October 8, 2007.] The music video, which was directed by the Saline Project, was nominated at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Rap Video, but lost to Ludacris' "Number One Spot". "Put You on the Game" was the lowest charting single, reaching only ninety-six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. "Entertainment Weekly" called it a "club track so crunkalicious, it's almost shocking that a California newbie — not a Ludacris — was the recipient of its deep-fried Southern charms."Fiore, Raymond (January 24, 2005). [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1019305,00.html The Documentary (2005)] . "Entertainment Weekly". Accessed October 7, 2007.] The music video was directed by Damon Johnson.

"How We Do" peaked at number four on the Hot 100 for four weeks. [http://wm05.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gpfwxqysldhe~T31 The Documentary Billboard Singles] . Allmusic. Accessed September 31, 2007.] It was also moderately successful worldwide, reaching the top twenty in most countries. [ [http://acharts.us/song/637 The Game and 50 Cent - How We Do] . aCharts.us. Accessed October 27, 2007.] The music video was directed by Hype Williams. The final single, "Dreams", is dedicated to Yetunde Price who was shot dead in 2003. [Relic, Peter (December 12, 2006). [http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2006/12/game_time_vol_one/ Game Time (Vol. 1)] . "Vibe". Accessed October 5, 2007.] It peaked at number thirty-two on the Hot 100. One critic wrote The Game "sews together a soulful Martin Luther King Jr. type speech with the acerbic wit and hustler charm of Malcolm X." Phillip Atwell directed the music video.

Reception

"The Documentary" received mostly favorable reviews from music critics. [ [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/game/documentary?q=the%20documentary The Game: The Documentary] . Metacritic. Accessed September 17, 2007.] Pitchfork Media called it "the best West Coast street-rap album since DJ Quik's 2002 LP "Under tha Influence" and described the production as "a rich, triumphant sonic tapestry". Allmusic wrote the album was an "excellent debut" that "hints at a lot of potential" and observed the "most remarkable aspect of the Game is how he can be such a blatant product of gangsta rap... and leave a mark so fast." [http://wm05.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:8d47gjur56ic The Documentary > Overview] . Allmusic. Accessed September 17, 2007.] "Rolling Stone" noted The Game was "going for emotional impact rather than dazzling wordplay or laughs" and PopMatters described him as "a self-conscious, malicious, nihilistic gangsta rapper with a heart and lyrical content". On the other hand, Robert Christgau believed the album was "dull even when he isn't describing his medical problems, this no-talent is masscult rock at its most brazen".Christgau, Robert (2005). [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=The+Game Robert Christgau: RC: The Game] . The Consumer Guide. Accessed September 29, 2007.] The A.V. Club praised the production for being "a sonic classic of slow-rolling G-funk and glossy hyper-soul", but panned The Game for his name dropping, suggesting if he "cut all the references to rappers and albums... it'd be a good 15 to 20 minutes shorter—and probably a lot more compelling." "Billboard" declared it "one of the best rap albums of the year" [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20050306180454/http://www.billboard.com/bb/reviews/album_article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000779483 The Documentary] . "Billboard" (February 5, 2007). Accessed October 7, 2007.] and "Entertainment Weekly" suggested "with the brightest hip-hop stars aligning for him, the Game may have willed himself a popular masterpiece."

IGN criticized the large number of guest appearances, stating "the propensity of guest artists makes it hard to actually get a grasp on the rising star's own voice." OMH Media observed "like many rap albums The Documentary is too long, but it maintains a high level of interest" and overall, it was "an impressive effort" that "introduces a strong presence to the West Coast". [Hogwood, Ben (January 24, 2005). [http://www.musicomh.com/albums/game.htm The Game - The Documentary (Interscope)] . musicOMH.com. Accessed October 7, 2007.] "Stylus Magazine" wrote "no one disappoints" and despite the record being "so obviously and deeply grounded in marketing, it’s still an outstandingly solid and enjoyable" debut.McKeating, Scott (January 28, 2005). [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=2696 The Documentary Review] . "Stylus Magazine". Accessed October 7, 2007.] "The New York Times" noted The Game's "tough but straightforward rhyme style is appealing but not, usually, enthralling... This is a rapper who almost never forgets himself, who almost never loses himself in syllables just for the fun of it."Sanneh, Kelefa (January 19, 2005). [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/19/arts/music/19game.html?_r=1&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FPeople%2FD%2FDr.%20Dre&oref=slogin Hot Ambition, Twinned With a Hot Ear for the West Coast Spirit] . "The New York Times". Accessed October 7, 2007.] "The Village Voice" criticized the rapper's lyrical skills, saying "the Game's rhymes are about six degrees from totally artless".Tate, Greg (February 25, 2005). [http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0509,tate,61513,22.html MCs Are Paid, Not Born] . "The Village Voice". Accessed October 1, 2007.] Yahoo! Music also panned the lyrics for "almost totally lacking in shock value, humour or insight", but praised the production, writing that "musically, this is probably the greatest major label hip-hop album of recent years – a near faultless succession of hi-tech beats and ominously catchy hooks".

ales

The Game is often credited as a driving force in reviving the West Coast hip hop scene. [Osorio, Kim (March 21, 2006). [http://web.archive.org/web/20060324060932/http://www.bet.com/Music/GAME+Playtime+Is+Over.htm?wbc_purpose=Basic&WBCMODE=PresentationUnpublished Game: Playtime Is Over] . BET. Accessed October 7, 2007.] [Hope, Clover (February 18, 2005). [http://allhiphop.com/blogs/news/archive/2005/02/18/18129758.aspx XXL Spotlights West Coast Hip-Hop In March Issue] . AllHipHop. Accessed October 7, 2007.] Before its release, he expressed his desire to have high opening week sales, saying "I want to sell a million albums in my first week. And if I only sell one album the following week, I'm good." He also admitted feeling nervous about not being able to live up to the industry expectations, saying "Yeah, I've got some butterflies. I'm worried about my first-week numbers, and I'm worried about living up to the hype." The album debuted at number one on the "Billboard" 200, selling 586,000 units in the first week. [Montgomery, James (January 26, 2005). [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496275/20050126/eminem.jhtml Straight Outta Compton, Straight to #1: Game Tops Albums Chart] . MTV. Accessed September 7, 2007.] The RIAA certified the album two times platinum on March 23, 2005 [ [http://www.riaa.org/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=The%20Documentary&artist=&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2007&sort=Artist&perPage=25 "The Documentary" searchable database] . RIAA. Accessed October 8, 2007.] and it was the tenth best-selling record of the year. [Jenison, David (January 4, 2006). [http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/28106564 Carey Caps '05 by Capping Fiddy] . Yahoo! Music. Accessed October 8, 2007.] The album has since sold over 2.5 million units in the United States. [Hilburn, Robert (September 23, 2007). [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-ca-dre23sep23,0,1721511,full.story?coll=la-home-entertainment Dr. Dre, mix marathon man] . "Los Angeles Times". Accessed October 8, 2007.]

"The Documentary" peaked at the top fifteen in most European charts it entered. It peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart and remained on the chart for thirty-three weeks. It reached the top ten in the Netherlands, France, Ireland, Switzerland, and the top twenty in Belgium, Germany, and Norway. [http://acharts.us/album/13725 World Chart Positions] . aCharts.us. Accessed September 8, 2007.] The album topped the Canadian Albums Chart for three weeks [ [http://www.mariahcarey-charts.com/chartdata/PTheGame.htm Chart Data: The Game] . Mariah-Charts.com. Accessed September 8, 2007.] and on March 8, 2005, it was certified platinum with 100,000 units shipped. [ [http://www.cria.ca/gold/0305_g.php Audio Certifications March 2005] . CRIA. Accessed September 8, 2007.] The record peaked at number one on the United World Chart for two weeks and remained on the chart for twenty weeks. It has since sold over five million copies worldwide. [Jackson, Kevin (October 24, 2006). [http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/TeenAge/html/20061023T200000-0500_114403_OBS_THE_GAME_S_NEW_ALBUM_DOCTOR_S_ADVOCATE_DROPS_ON_NOVEMBER___.asp The Game's new album Doctor's Advocate drops on November 14] . "The Jamaica Observer". Accessed September 8, 2007.]

Track listing

Information taken from "The Documentary"'s liner notes. [ [http://www.hurricane-game.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=10 The Documentary (Compton Collector's Edition)] . Hurricane Game. Accessed January 6, 2008.]

Charts

Personnel

Information taken from Allmusic. [ [http://wm05.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gpfwxqysldhe~T2 The Documentary Credits] . Allmusic. Accessed January 6, 2008.]
*Producers – Dr. Dre (exec.), 50 Cent (exec.), Buckwild, Che Vicious, Cool & Dre, Danja, Eminem, Focus... , Havoc, Hi-Tek, Jeff Bhasker, Jeff Reed, Just Blaze, Kanye West, Luis Resto, Mark Batson, Mike Elizondo, Needlz, Scott Storch, Timbaland
*Engineers – Steve Baughman, Tony Campana, Demacio Castellon, Kevin Davis, Robert Hannon, Hi-Tek, Kent Huffnagle, Mauricio "Veto" Irragorri, Steven King, Kyla Miller, Oscar "Filtrate" Ramierez, Jeff Reed, Jason Schweitzer, Ed Scratch, Joe Warlick, Ryan West
*Assistant engineers – Marcella "Ms Lago" Aracia, Jose Borges, David Brown, Michael Dobmeier, Scott Gutierrez, Rouble Kapoor
*Vocals – D. Diana Jenkins, Natasha Mathis, Timbaland
*Mixing – Dr. Dre, Jimmy Douglas, Eminem, Mauricio "Veto" Irragorri, Steven King, Justin Smith, Timbaland, Ryan West
*Keyboards – Mark Catson, Mike Elizondo, Lionel "LJ" Holwan, Ervin Pope, Luis Resto
*Bass – Mike Elizondo, Keenan "Kee Note" Holloway, Steven King
*Guitar – Glenn Jeffries, Wayne Kee, Steven King
*Musicians – Jeff Bhasker, Mike Elizondo, Focus, Scott Storch
*A&R – Mike Lynn, Angelo Sanders
*Photography – Jonathan Mannion
*Scratching – Tank

References

External links

* [http://www.thegame360.com Official website run by The Game]
* [http://www.comptongame.com Official website run by Geffen Records]
*myspace|thegame|The Game

succession box
before = "American Idiot" by Green Day
title = "Billboard" 200 number one album (First Run)
years = January 30, 2005 - February 5, 2005
after = "Be as You Are (Songs from an Old Blue Chair)" by Kenny Chesney

succession box
before = "Be as You Are (Songs from an Old Blue Chair)" by Kenny Chesney
title = "Billboard" 200 number one album (Second Run)
years = February 13, 2005 – February 19, 2005
after = "Seventeen Days" by 3 Doors Down