LAX (album)

Infobox Album
Name = LAX
Type = studio
Artist = The Game


Released = Start date|2008|8|22
Recorded = 2008
Genre = Gangsta rap, hardcore hip hop, West Coast hip hop
Length = 76:21
Label = Geffen, Interscope
Producer = The Game (exec.), Jimmy Rosemond (exec.), Rodney "Kinji" Harris (exec.), Angelo Sanders (co-exec.), Ervin "EP" Pope, (co-exec.), 1500 or Nothin', Cool & Dre, Dahoud Darien, Hi-Tek, Irv Gotti, Jelly Roll, J. R. Rotem, Kanye West, Knobody, Nottz, DJ Quik, Scott Storch, DJ Toomp, Trackmasters, Tre Beatz
Reviews = * About.com Rating|4|5 [http://rap.about.com/od/reviews/fr/TheGameLAX.htm 2008]
* Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gifoxz9kld6e 2008]
* "Billboard" (favorable) [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3if01d9e91f82d7f290a0d9dfcc1fd8ddc 2008]
*"The Boston Globe" (mixed) [http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2008/08/26/this_game_isnt_worth_playing_to_the_end/ 2008]
* IGN (8.2/10) [http://uk.music.ign.com/articles/905/905826p1.html 2008]
* "Los Angeles Times" Rating|3|4 [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-etw-recordrack22-2008aug22,0,7686298.story 2008]
* "The New York Times" (mixed) [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/arts/music/25choice.html 2008]
* Pitchfork Media (6.4/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/144806-the-game-lax 2008]
* "URB" Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.urb.com/reviews/cd/feature.php?ReviewId=787 2008]
* "USA Today" Rating|4|4 [http://blogs.usatoday.com/listenup/2008/08/this-weeks-re-3.html 2008]
Last album = "Doctor's Advocate" (2006)
This album = "LAX" (2008) Singles
Name = LAX
Type = studio
single 1 = Game's Pain
single 1 date = April 21, 2008
single 2 = Dope Boys
single 2 date = June 24, 2008
single 3 = My Life
single 3 date = July 22, 2008
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate covers
Lower caption = Alternate cover
Type = studio

Extra album cover 2
Lower caption = Deluxe Edition cover
Type = studio

"LAX" [ [http://traffickingmedia.com/index.php?id=925 Trafficking Media - The Game on KUBE 93's Sound Session ] ] is the third and final [http://hurricane-game.net/2008/08/14/the-game-takes-shots-at-jay-z-on-phoenixs-1047-kiss-fm/ The Game Takes Shots at Jay-Z on Phoenix’s 104.7 Kiss FM] Accessed August 25, 2008.] [ [http://www.defsounds.com/news/Game_jay_article Game Speaks On New Album, Jay-Z Beef.] Accessed August 25, 2008.] studio album by rapper The Game, released on August 22, 2008.

Background

On December 31, 2007, The Game announced at Nas' New Year's Eve party the title and release date of the album.Omar Burgess (January 4, 2008). [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.6170/title.black-wall-street-confirms-the-games-retirement-rumor Black Wall Street Confirms The Game's Retirement Rumor] . HipHopDX. Accessed January 4, 2008.] The album's title was originally "The D.O.C.", but was changed to "LAX". It was reported near mid-March that The Game had left prison. His manager later stated that he was still in jail, but he is expected to be released in time to promote the album. (March 11, 2008) [http://www.defsounds.com/news/Not_so_fast_the_games_still_in_jail Not so fast, The Game's still in jail] Accessed March 13, 2008.] He was released after serving eight days, and went back to work with Cool & Dre. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1583626/20080318/game_the.jhtml Game Headed to the Studio After Leaving Jail] . MTV. Accessed March 20, 2008.] Dre (of Cool & Dre), stated The Game was like 'Pac, and that lyrically, he was " [somewhere] else right now".

The album was pushed back to June 24 [Thomas A. Harden (April 20, 2008). http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/14709 SOHH Exclusive: The Game Vs. G-Unit, Rappers Prepare For A SoundScan Showdown] . SOHH.com. Accessed April 20, 2008.] But was later changed to July 8, as Interscope moved both albums. On June 8, it was announced that LAX would be pushed back a week later to July 15, the same release date as Nas' "Untitled". [http://www.rap-up.com/2008/06/08/the-game-moves-lax-to-july-15/] LAX has been pushed back another week to July 22, and finally to August 26. [ [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.7185/title.l-a-x-pushed-back-to-august-26-game-previews-album LAX Pushed Back To August 26, Game Previews Album | Hip Hop News > HipHopDX.com ] ]

On May 1, The Game told Power 106 that "Big Dreams" might not be on the album. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZf-p6hrH_8&eurl YouTube - The Game in studio of Power 106 FM 'www.Compton-Game.de' ] ]

The Game appeared on 106 & Park on May 16, where he confirmed LAX may be the last studio album he records, as he intends to promote his record label, Black Wall Street, and start producing music, following in the footsteps of mentor Dr. Dre.Fact|date=September 2008

However in a later interview, The Game said that he may release a fourth album titled "D.O.C." or "Diary of Compton" but only if he can get the production help of Dr. Dre, MC Ren, King Tee, DJ Yella, Ice Cube and DJ Quik. [http://www.hiphopsince1987.com/2008/06/game-says-lax-wont-be-last-album.html The Game says "LAX" will not be his last album.] Accessed June 13, 2008.] However, he recently said that "D.O.C." will not be coming out and that LAX is definitely his last album.

On July 28, 2008, The Game told J Hyphen and J. Moore of Sunday Night Sound Sessions that the album is finished and the official release date is August 26. He told said the album is going to be 16 tracks long and he will leak the clean version 2 weeks before the official release [ [http://traffickingmedia.com/index.php?id=925 Trafficking Media - The Game on KUBE 93's Sound Session ] ] . The Game mentioned that he recorded over 220 tracks for the album.

On August 6, 2008 iTunes revealed some information on the album via the iTunes Store. The have confirmed the DJ Toomp produced track "House of Pain" will be the fourth single. They have also revealed that the standard edition will have 14 tracks with one bonus track and the "deluxe edition" will have 18 tracks and one additional bonus song.Fact|date=September 2008

On August 10, 2008 The Game told Friday Night Flavas that he will be dropping 2 mixtapes; "Superman" (all original & cut tracks) 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 track "Superman". [ [http://videos.onsmash.com/v/13pT9shL3H4PU38Z Friday Night Flavas Interview The Game ] ]

Music

Production

The Game originally had announced that Dr. Dre would be producing for the album but neither Dr. Dre nor Aftermath Entertainment had confirmed. Nu Jerzey Devil also later confirmed Dr. Dre as a producer, among others, such as Scott Storch, and Cool & Dre.Tim "Styles" Sanchez (January 18, 2008). [http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=18581 Nu Jerzey Devil: "Heaven Sent"] . "XXL". Accessed January 19, 2008.] [Shaheem Reid and Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes. [http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/012108/ Mixtape Monday: Game Gets A Special Delivery From Dr. Dre; Prodigy Takes A Tip From 50 Cent] . MTV News. Accessed February 24, 2008.] On March 28 on the Tim Westwood show, The Game said that he had been in the studio with Scott Storch, Cool & Dre and Just Blaze. He also said that he "made shit for the clubs" with Scott Storch.Fact|date=September 2008 On May 1, The Game told Power 106 that at the time he had worked with Just Blaze, Kanye West, Cool & Dre, Scott Storch, Timbaland, Knobody, Ervin "E.P." Pope, Jelly Roll & Tre Beats. After the "confirmation" from The Game and Nu Jerzey Devil, The Game told 106 & Park that he spoke to Dr. Dre on May 15 and there was still a possibility that one or more Dr. Dre beats would be on the album.Fact|date=September 2008 Later on 106 & Park, The Game confirmed that Dr. Dre would not be on the album and they may never work together in the future.Fact|date=September 2008 At a listening party on June 23, it was mentioned that the Trackmasters were in part of the production of the album.Slav Kandyba (June 24, 2008). [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.7185/title.l-a-x-pushed-back-to-august-26-game-previews-album LAX Pushed Back To August 26, Game Previews Album] . HipHopDX. Accessed June 24, 2008]

Guests

Nu Jerzey Devil had stated that Lil Wayne would be making a guest appearance. It was later confirmed that Akon, André 3000, Busta Rhymes [http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/14940 SOHH Exclusive: The Game Follows 50 Cent's Lead W/ New Site, Plans Retirement | Daily Hip-Hop News | SOHH.com / ] ] , Chris Brown [ [http://smartenupnas.com/2008/05/09/the-game-interview-with-incognito-da-yungsta/ THE GAME INTERVIEW WITH Incognito ‘Da Yungsta’ ] ] , Chrisette Michele, Common, Ice Cube, Keyshia Cole, DMX [ [http://www.vibe.com/news/online_exclusives/2008/06/preview_the_game_new_album/ Preview: The Game's New Album : VIBE.com ] ] , Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Marsha Ambrosius, Mary J. Blige, NasJokesta (July 9, 2007). [http://www.defsounds.com/news/view/1994-game-preps-final-album-collabs-with-nas-akon.html Game Preps Final Album, Collabs With Nas & Akon] . Def Sounds. Accessed July 26, 2007.] , Ne-Yo, Raekwon, Raheem DeVaughn, Fabolous, and Robin Thicke were all to make appearances. [ [http://allhiphop.com/stories/features/archive/2008/04/17/19669542.aspx Features : The Game: The AllHipHop Interview Part 1 ] ]

Though many guests were confirmed, Travis Barker, Bilal, Keyshia Cole, Common, Raheem DeVaughn, DMX, Ice Cube, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Chrisette Michele, Nas, Ne-Yo, Raekwon, and LaToya Williams were the select few to make the final cut.

ales

The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200, with 238,382 copies sold, just behind Alternative metal band Slipknot's All Hope Is Gone. 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 proceded to the recount, which placed LAX at No.2 with 238,382 copies, and Slipknot in first position with 239,516 copies scanned, a margin of 1,134 copies. Billboard then immediately proceded to the corrections. [http://www.bravewords.com/news/96047] LAX also debuted at No. 2 on the United World Chart, selling 277,000 units. [http://www.mediatraffic.de/albums-week37-2008.htm] Currently, the album sold about 476,020 copies in the United States and nearly 597,000 units worldwide.

Track listing

References