Reviews:

Audio Mixers: J.R. Rotem; Steve Baughman.
Arranger: J.R. Rotem.
Long hailed as the savior of contemporary West Coast hip-hop, The Game throws an ironic curveball at these expectations with L.A.X. Despite the specific locale of the title, this is a record that actually feels geographically homeless. Production wise, the 19 tracks pull from cross-coastal influences, and guest MCs range from Chicago (Common), New York (Raekwon), Louisiana (Lil Wayne), and, of course, South Central (Ice Cube, who appears on the post-intro banger "State Of Emergency"). All this confusion finds cohesion on two counts: Game's undeniable authority on the mic--emitting double-tracked raspy aggression that covers topics both conscientious and boasting--and the continuous, if uncharacteristic, undercurrent of sonic weirdness. Like Wayne's THE CARTER series, L.A.X. has a certain loose, idiosyncratic vibe that rolls along with a minimalist futuristic funk. Not that this undermines the Game's allure as a menacing presence, still evident on tracks like "Dope Boys," which rely on concrete-rattling beats, hard scratching, and captivating tales of harder times.

Four singles were released before the last 50 Cent album bowed; we've heard three new Nelly tracks and Brass Knuckles still isn't out. So the Game shouldn't be too upset that "Game's Pain" and "Dope Boys" have hit the airwaves, yet LAX keeps getting pushed deeper and deeper into the dog days of summer. Luckily, the Compton MC feeds off stress, so the content herein should only come off as more intense and personal.

Although detractors (rightly) pegged Doctor's Advocate single "Wouldn't Get Far" as misogynistic, we gave the Game a "get out of jail free" card. The Compton MC is routinely more entertaining, confessional and compelling than any of his former G-Unit cronies, and that includes 50. After a recent felony weapons charge setback, some are suggesting that LAX might be his last album, which is a shame. We love the whole package, from the incessant name-dropping to his unique set of insecurities. But what Game does better than almost every nth generation gangsta is tell truly inspired/inspirational stories. LAX hit "Game's Pain" somehow pays homage to growing up hip-hop without coming off as self-indulgent treacle. There's something deeply honest about his observations that's desperately lacking on the dial. Debut The Documentary is regarded as a modern classic, but considering the dated quality of Dre's then-pristine production, we can't help but think better days are ahead.