Game - The R.E.D. Album

If the career plan was to go to the lowest of lows (with the aid of choice 'short term profits but long term embarrassment' antics) before releasing an album of resurrection and substantial replay value, The Game ought to be applauded for conducting the whole stunt to perfection.

Like many, I too had lost confidence in Game and going into this album I was, to put it nicely, skeptical. But it took me as many as one spin to really digest this album and appreciate it. With four solid records under his belt now I think I can finally officially say: Game, we forgive you for "@*#$! Fight".

From the beginning of the album you get the impression that Game is really onto something. It’s always good when an album starts on a high note, and the record's first half is consistently great. The downside to setting such a pleasing tone is that it is quite difficult to maintain.

The middle section of the album is actually the low point. Here we see the pressure of conformity to sticking to the script in its truest form. (for better understanding read Nathan's review for Big Sean's "Finally Famous"). This shows why Game should have gone with an all-out hardcore album, and didn't compromised the quality of the album cohesion with a number of average RnB tracks or mandatory guest features (in this case an attempt at street anthem with Jeezy) to please a specific region.

This shouldn't surprise anyone. Following the 'script' is what nearly every Game album has done before. Sure, they've added and tweaked the script, but it has never been his strong suit. Or maybe the flaws just stand out more this time because of how great it could have easily been had the fat been trimmed and some guests left off the roster.

Both "Hello" and "All the Way Gone" features satisfactory verses, almost (but not quite) catchy production with the slow tempo, the long-winded delivery of bland hooks, and ultimately lack of depth. "All I Know" is certainly better but it's likely you'll find your thoughts drifting towards the more noteworthy moments present on the album. "Paramedics" has too much of Jeezy involved in it for me to visit the song for repeated listens.

Luckily, The Game does rescue the album in the last few tracks by creating some legitimately compelling moments for those of us who are still checking this "mentally unstable" artist's music. For every bullet that go astray, there are more than a few armor-piercing bullets that hits target, with the album demonstrating a new energy that leaves his career anything but stagnant.

Lyrically, we get an assortment of topics, styles that we've come to expect from Game. And there's little to criticize in the tight and energized verses. It's by no means are exceptional performances lyrically, but overall The Game sound as though he got another good 6 years in him.

With mostly solid songs and some refreshing takes on things you’ve heard before, The Game came out at the beginning swinging with some hard sh!t, struggled a tiny bit in the middle and ended the album with joints that did the job... creating a very listenable album that captures the many facets of The Game; baller, lyricist, father, storyteller, and thug.

I wonder what kind of commercial impact this will have cos over the course of time Game has (deservingly) become something of a 'Fails of the Week' mainstay, and surely his popularity as artist has been affected. We know that outside drama tends to toy with sales as well, so that may lead to the lack of sales. Despite all that, it's clear that anyone but the most hardcore haters will find it difficult to draw much hate from this product.

From the obvious peaks in the form of songs like “The City”, "Martians Vs Goblins", and “Good Girls Go Bad” in the first half of the record, to the glaring, yet minimal missteps in the second half, that have already been spoken of, Game proves that he can still produce a respectable product worthy of any Hip-Hop fan’s monetary support.

1. Dr. Dre Intro
2. The City
3. Drug Test
4. Martians Vs Goblins
5. Red Nation
6. Dr. Dre 1
7. Good Girls Go Bad
8. Ricky
9. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
10. Heavy Artillery
11. Speakers On Blast
12. Pot Of Gold
13. Dr. Dre 2
14. Born In The Trap
15. Mama Knows
16. California Dream
17. Dr. Dre Outro

Had it been released with the above tracklist, I would've been more than happy to push that prestigious 5 star button right here! But then, it's easy enough to reorder and edit the album to solve the problem, right? Hmmm... the more I think about it now... It’s not an album or something I’d put on while entertaining a large group of people. But I can definitely see it becoming my go-to record for the times where I prefer to stay away from the skip button. Most importantly, the fact that Game did it once and put in another solid effort this time around is probably far more than hip hop fans were expecting. Hmmm...

*rates*

* resume playing "Speakers On Blast" *

Top album of the year...and I think it could remain that way depending on how Jermaine's release is.

I don't like Hello, only cuz it's not for me, and thats really the only song that I wont play again. This album is dope as hell!!!

The City is definitely a standout track, with Kdot shining at the end

I don't think this is a classic, but I give it a 4.5, and hell, why not give it a 5?

I really didnt realize how good Game was til now. He claims he's in the Top 5 ever (i think that was in The City?), but I don't see it that way, although thsi album doesn't hurt at all. He's climbing his way up that list for me though (maybe top 15). Definitely one of the better rappers in the game. Keeps it real and delivers very listenable music.

I really dont see how Pot of Gold hasn't taken off yet. That hook was unbelievable...mainstream should be eating that up

also, like Mr Top Hat said, i had lost any hope for this album after Shake, @*#$! Fight, and Aint No Doubt about it...so that really puts into perspective how good this album is and how good of a rapper Game is

also, like Mr Top Hat said, i had lost any hope for this album after Shake, @*#$! Fight, and Aint No Doubt about it...so that really puts into perspective how good this album is and how good of a rapper Game is

A good album for the most part and it's exactly what I expected when you consider the quality of his last two mixtapes

Anyway the album starts off really high then takes a dip in quality and then ends an amazing song, California Dream, probably one of the best story songs I've heard in a while

The Game comes hard on every song but most of the features detract from the experience the exceptions being Tyler and Kendrick (Nathan, way to hate on Tyler). It's a good thing Wayne doesn't have a verse on this.
About 70% of the album is great, 10% is average and the other 20% sucks

Rating: 3.5 spins

Top 5:
1. California Dream
2. The City
3. Ricky
4. Born in the Trap
5. Martians Vs Goblins

THIS ALBUM IS NOT A CLASSIC IT'S A DECENT TO GOOD ALBUM BUT FAR FROM A CLASSIC THIS IS ONE OF THEM ALBUMS THAT 4 OR 5 MONTHS FROM NOW I WILL FORGET ABOUT THATS NOT SAYING IT DON'T HAVE SOME TIGHT MUSIC ON IT BUT IT'S JUST NOT A ALBUM I WILL REMEMBER

THIS ALBUM IS NOT A CLASSIC IT'S A DECENT TO GOOD ALBUM BUT FAR FROM A CLASSIC THIS IS ONE OF THEM ALBUMS THAT 4 OR 5 MONTHS FROM NOW I WILL FORGET ABOUT THATS NOT SAYING IT DON'T HAVE SOME TIGHT MUSIC ON IT BUT IT'S JUST NOT A ALBUM I WILL REMEMBER

this is an amazing album i dont care what haters say

martians vs goblins
the city
hello
red nation
all the way
pot of gold
born in a trap

are all allright, and listed with the best in the top. but the rest is absolutely forgetable. only martians vs goblin will be a song i could listen to more than a month from now ..

game doesnt need to recover from anything! his mixtapes are album material, every song on this album is hot. i wish the song with dre was more westcoast and g but this album is a CLASSIC

and im just gonna say that LAX was terribly underated, not a single bad song on the album

Not a classic, but a very good album! The start of the album is unreal with the first 4-5 songs bangin hard, then the middle kinda fades a little bit (that's where the tracks I don't prefer are: Ricky, The Good The Bad and The Ugly, and Heavy Artillery), and the end finishes strong from Speakers on Blast and on. Game does name drop a lot both in negative and positive ways, but lyrically this album is still great with the constant name dropping. Game knows how to switch flows and you see that in full effect during the album, which I think is great! It shows his diversity.

Overall great album, but with the presence of a few songs that I don't like doesn't make it a classic to me, still very good thou. Go and cop it!!

best work since documentary

Dopest shit I've heard in a minute now. West coast is baack!! Follow me home and red are whats up.

On par with Watch The Throne, I'm dead serious.

Definitely on par with Watch the Throne for me as well.

I'm was going to try and make this short and to the point but I found myself typing more and more. Hands down this is one of the best Rap albums of the year. There is so much garbage out here that it actually very refreshing to listen to a quality rap album. I truly respect so creativity in a carbon copy cookie cutter world of music we live in. The Game comes with some straight fire and the guess appearances on the album only makes it even hotter. It's not perfect by no means but it's a great album. I hope the Game can find the consistency needed to be recognized as one of the top Rappers in Hip-Hop. I had trouble deciding to go 4 or 5 stars but this is the best album we received from the Game to date which show growth and at this point one of the best Rap albums I've hear so far this year.

Yo i listen to cd premo cut is nice i am feeling track 19 that is nice also cd work people always looking at radio play . Let be 100 radio at this time is Bull Sh** you need to be on internet or sirrus to get play . when radio start to change for bs then we can talk about radio play...

I'll be straight with you, I didn't know much about djbooth, but I was looking for my man Game's album review over the net and found you guys. I am amazed with how on point your reviews are. You got yourself a fan here. And the album is hell good! :)

amazing album

LOVING THIS ALBUM...THE BEST SHIT EVER....


THE CITY!!!!!!!

After buying LAX three years ago I was losing Game, cause his music wasn't that good as it has been.
R.E.D. just put him back on the map

Album of the year.

Time to go back to the drawing board Jigga and Yeezie.

Just another dope album from Game. Pretty all the people wanted was a game better than LAX and that's what we got. I felt that there were too many songs and some of the songs shouldn't have been on the album. I kinda think this album would have been a lot better if it came out the time it was supposed to. Because of all of the delays, I really wasn't that hyped for the album. I agree with Mr. Nathan when he says that Game isn't consistent. The album started really well but than the second half of the album was pretty average. As far as Game's rapping it's great. It's really fun to listen to Game dropping names. I just like that controversial shit.


The City (ft. Kendrick Lamar) - Holy shit. Those two words are all you need to describe this song. Really all you think about when you hear this song is Kendrick Lamar. He mainly did the chorus but than at the end of the song the music stops and Kendrick starts rapping acapella and he absolutely destroys it. 5/5

Drug Test (ft. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg & Sly) - I was really psyched when I noticed that Snoop and Dre were on a song together. But I thought the song really wasn't that good. It's a little too West Coast for me. IMO. 3/5

Martians vs. Goblins (ft. Lil Wayne & Tyler The Creator) - A really dope song. It's probably one of my favorite songs on the album. The production was great. It sounded like something Odd Future would rap over. Tyler's verse was probably the most entertaining because he starts to confront Game about dropping names. 4/5.

Red Nation (ft. Lil Wayne) - Also another pretty good song. The songs pretty much about the color red and its significance. Game was planning on trying to make this a radio single but Lil Wayne's chorus would be a little too much for the radio. The production had some techno influences. 3.5/5

Good Girls Go Bad (ft. Drake) - I liked the concept of song. Actually respecting women which is great. A great beat with a great sample. Drake had a great verse too. 4/5.

Ricky - Another one of my favorite songs. Just some really dope storytelling. You just have to listen to it. 5/5.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly - This was an average song. It just sounds like typical Game. 3/5

Heavy Artillery (ft. Rick Ross & Beanie Sigel) - More than the actual song, I liked the sample. It's amazing that they could find a sample that old talking about 45's and machine guns. As far as features, Rick Ross did his thing. I think Rick Ross is a lot better on features. For some reason I just can't listen to his music. Beanie Sigel did his thing too. I believe that Beanie is a really underrated rapper and deserves a little bit more respect. 3/5

Paramedics (ft. Young Jeezy) - I really just don't like this song. The song was just too much Young Jeezy. They might as well make this a Jeezy song with a Game feature. The song was just made for Young Jeezy. Young Jeezy is usually hit or miss to me. Mostly miss. 2/5

Speakers On Blast (ft. Big Boi & E-40) - Another one of my favorite songs. You have to keep your speakers on blast when you listen to this song. Just some really dope verses from Game, Big Boi, and E-40. E-40 did alright but the song could've done a little better without him. 5/5

Hello (ft. Lloyd) - Just really wasn't feeling this song. Lloyd really killed the hook but it was just a little to radio for me to like it. 3/5

All The Way Gone (ft. Mario & Wale) - This was just a really low point of the album. Tracks 1 to 12 were songs that had some hardcore production but then it goes to this really soft shit. But I will say Mario killed it. 2/5

Pot Of Gold (ft. Chris Brown) - Wasn't feeling this song either. I didn't really like this song because of Chris Brown. The chorus was just really cheesy. But Game's verses were really good. 2/5

All I Know - Another okay song. Wasn't really feeling the chorus that much either. 3/5

Born In The Trap - Another one of my favorite songs of the album. Well first of all, its produced by the legendary DJ Premier so everybody should know the beats gonna be banging. 5/5

Mama Knows (ft. Nelly Furtado) - A pretty dope song. I really liked Nelly Furtado's chorus. But it's not something that I might listen to ever again. 3/5

California Dream - A really dope song with some really dope production. Just some really dope storytelling. 4/5.

Overall the album is pretty good but the songs with the R&B influenced kind of ummmmm... sucked. But if Game got rid of "Hello," "All The Way Gone," and "All I Know," the album could have been a lot better. 4/5 So far it's been a really good year for hip hop.

Also by any chance will you be reviewing Honkey Kong by Apathy?

Respect to Game! Wern't expecting such a dope album.
When i heard some of the singles leading up i.e Red Nation, Pot of Gold thought i had given up and wouldnt even bother listening to this!
But mann im glad i did!
Cut a few of the album fillers in the middle and we got a near classic here.
Blasting martians v goblins out my speaks right now... but as many have said on here, the City is the shining light... now time to listen to more of this Kendrick Lemar, take a bow son

I think if he took some tracks off Hoodmorning and put them on the R.E.D. album, It would have been a 4 1/2

Good to hear that Game is finally back to form! I, like many others, was expecting this album to be his worst yet. I found myself pleasantly surprised. The City is one of his best tracks ever, featuring an amazing closing verse from Kendrick Lamar. I was also really impressed with tracks like Ricky and Born in the Trap.

Other than those amazing songs, Speakers on Blast and Hello are really easy songs to jock in the car or vibe out to. I'll also throw in Martians vs. Golbins and Good Girls Go Bad as some repeatable tracks. I'm not a regular follower of Tyler, The Creator, but he sounded real cool. Then you have Drake, who rarely fails at contributing to any track he's on.

Game sounds motivated on this album, and lyrically as good as I can ever remember him. When I think about it, he really hasn't sounded bad on his mixtapes much except when he's trying to make a hit for radio, which is really the only thing missing from the album. He's very good at filling a song with depth in a way that makes it compelling to listen to. If he can cruise at this level of quality on albums, he'll be alright.

First half is awsome. Second not so much...

I am in love with this Album. Game went HAM and held nothing Back. I felt his passion through whole album. He not my favorite rapper but he making a Run.

MAINSTREAM ALBUM OF THE YEAR...

GAME DOES NOTHING BUT DROP CLASSICS

Well here it is, R.E.D. finally hitting stores tomorrow, but I got my copy from i-tunes tonight. The story is long and not all of it is positive. Game while in the process of recording this album seemed lost; maybe it was his re-entry into the Aftermath camp. Maybe his lackluster reviews for L.A.X. (dope album regardless) got under his skin. I have no clue. All in all there were over 10 singles released for this album that did not catch, numerous producers came and went and took the mixed results with them. It appeared that Game was done, it seemed that his label didn't believe in him and he was struggling to make something radio friendly, and then “R.E.D. Nation,” came along. A truly great record with a mind numbing beat sampling Zombie Nation’s “Kernkraft 400”. A great touch and Game goes in on the beat with a hunger not seen since his Doctor's Advocate album.

I have to stop here and say that Game lyrical has never been better or more urgent, he spits like he's got everything to lose with this album and I believe that was case. He damn near can't contain his anger on the first six tracks of the album, which is the most energizing and entertaining first half of an album that I've heard since Dr. Dre’s 2001. When "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” kicks in Game comes in with a more mellow flow, which is perfect for the cold as ice tale he tells the cops about two bodies that happen to be on his property. He comes off as true gangsta via mobster movie influence shit. Then “Heavy Artillery,” kicks in and the beat knocks harder than Jehovah’s (I know shit’s been used before). Beans, Game, and Ross come harder than jaw breakers. “Paramedics,” features Young Jeezy and they drop some dope brag raps over an eerie beat provided by Maestro.

Aight, let me stop again (The album has me in Gangsta speech mode). I have to say that the production on this album is extremely diverse. I know a lot people have complained that Game stepped outside his “West Coast” roots, but it is a welcome change for me, he showed this growth on his Purp and Patron mixtape, which is an album in itself and has built on that momentum here on the R.E.D. album. “Speakers on Blast,” is a straight trunk volume record, you need some loud ass speakers to really get the dopeness of this joint. As usual the lyrics are on point, Big Boi and E-40 are bonafide legends and they reached that status in the 90’s so it’s great that Game reached out and held his own against two of the game’s greatest assets.

Now I have to tell you that I’ve been vibing to this album for a week already (I wanted my i-tunes high quality version before I wrote this review) and it took some time to understand where the music was coming from, what the inspiration was, and I had to listen to “Hello,” and “All the Way Gone,” a few times to really get into the lady’s love cool Game vibe, and it works. The music is dope and ladies are going to eat these records up. I plan on playing these joints for my old lady yanaimsayin’! Anyway, these tracks are dope, well produced, and a welcome addition to the album. “Pot of Gold” speaks for itself, I don’t understand the mad hate for this record, it is pure emotion, and lyrical skills mixed with a great companion beat, and an outstanding hook by Chris Brown (Whom I never listen to outside this joint). Like I said the diversity of this album is amazing, it feels grandiose and epic, and at an hour and twenty minutes it never feels repeated or tiring, an amazing feat for a 21 track album, 22 if you got the “Basic Bitch” bonus track.

“All I know,” is game at his best, coming from the heart, pure emotion on track, and it’s thrilling music, not many MC’s spit with the passion, and dedication that Game has for hip hop music. Many people have complained that he spits with no direction and the his name dropping and sports references make him a wack MC, but I couldn’t disagree more, sure he isn’t the most technical MC there is, but like it was said before “If technicality was all there was to hip hop then Chip Fu of the Fu Schnickens would be rolling in the dough right about now.” Of course I’m paraphrasing that shit, and I’m not entirely sure where that article was at, but it was about Eminem. Anyway, Game has other attributes that make you stop and listen, a dope voice, great flow, great lyrics and great stories, many MC’s spit this way and never get hate, but that is the anomaly of Game. An MC who is crazy confident on the mic, he even emulates some of his guest artists for good measure, but appears self-conscious when he appears to seek attention by dropping out of the blue dis-records like “Uncle Otis,” or attacking MC’s that he knows are lesser than he is. I have come to the conclusion that he has happily embraced the role of the “heel,” in Hip Hop and many people hate him for it, seeing all of the negative reviews for this album from the internets only strengthens that theory of mine.

Anyway I’m not a person who judges artists by their actions outside of the music, I only enjoy their music, and whether it’s bad or good, and this shit right here is amazing. DJ Premier, nuff said. He should produce an album for every dope MC out now, nothing but his beats, he just has that magic that brings the absolute best out of every MC he works with, to me he’s the greatest producer of all time, of course tied with D.r. Dre. The track he provides for Game is vintage and Game brings his A-game, thus making an instant classic. “Born In the Trap”. “Momma Knows,” is a track that the Neptunes produced, and honestly I’m glad it’s the only one they did, but they did it up on this track and Game drops more real shit for his mother and Nelly Furtado drops a nice chorus for extra points, it’s a real grower of a joint. Last but not least “California Dream,” closes out the album with class, an amazing tale of the birth of Game’s first daughter, the beat was grating at first, but is a straight up banger now. It is a song much like his “Father Like Son,” joint from the documentary.

In the end, after several listens and evaluations, I have decided that this is the Hip Hop album of 2011, so far. Not many are touching the consistency, and not many are touching the passion, or diversity. He makes it look effortless. Some may have better concepts, and whatnot, but none bring it like the Game, an MC who truly respects the art of hip hop. I don’t throw out classic statuses very easily and this is going to have to be heard a few more times, but I am leaning towards that title for Game’s best record. Go out and cop this if you know what’s good for you. Lay the hate aside and listen objectively without judgement and I’m sure you will be entertained. Peace!

The album's unbalanced, but some tracks are just impressive. This really changed the way I see Game.

The City : 4/5
Drug Test : 3/5
Martians Vs Goblins : 5/5
Red Nation : 5/5
Good Girls Go Bad : 4/5
Ricky : 5/5
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly : 5/5
Heavy Artillery : 4/5
Paramedics : 5/5
Speakers On Blast : 2/5
Hello : 2.5/5
All the way gone : 1/5
Pot Of Gold : 4/5
Born In The Trap : 2/5
All I know : 2/5
Mama Knows : 2/5
California Dream : 2.5/5

The album's unbalanced, but some tracks are just impressive. This really changed the way I see Game.

The City : 4/5
Drug Test : 3/5
Martians Vs Goblins : 5/5
Red Nation : 5/5
Good Girls Go Bad : 4/5
Ricky : 5/5
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly : 5/5
Heavy Artillery : 4/5
Paramedics : 5/5
Speakers On Blast : 2/5
Hello : 2.5/5
All the way gone : 1/5
Pot Of Gold : 4/5
Born In The Trap : 2/5
All I know : 2/5
Mama Knows : 2/5
California Dream : 2.5/5

The album's unbalanced, but some tracks are just impressive. This really changed the way I see Game.

The City : 4/5
Drug Test : 3/5
Martians Vs Goblins : 5/5
Red Nation : 5/5
Good Girls Go Bad : 4/5
Ricky : 5/5
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly : 5/5
Heavy Artillery : 4/5
Paramedics : 5/5
Speakers On Blast : 2/5
Hello : 2.5/5
All the way gone : 1/5
Pot Of Gold : 4/5
Born In The Trap : 2/5
All I know : 2/5
Mama Knows : 2/5
California Dream : 2.5/5

that song so hot i wish i'll be on there 2 but im good i did that enough rapping today and also everyday

The game has never really been able to impress me ever since the documentary. But i decided to pick up this album anyways. I was seriously planning to dislike this album. Lucky for me, it was a really good album. The album starts off extremely strong with a track called The City Ft. Kendrick Lamar. That is by far my favorite track on the album. Towards the end it starts to get very mainstream and crappy, but for the most part it is a great album. I give this 4/5 because of the good lyricism, superb production, and great music. My biggest complaint for the album is that the hooks could be catchy and annoying at times. I would recamend buying this album on itunes.

Not feeling this... so much filler its hard to find anything with substance.

the red album is dope as @*#$! man

This album is a classic man, No I ain't no game fanboi.

http://rapfixation.blogspot.com/2011/10/greatest-rap-albums-of-all-time.html

Over all id say a solid album effort. But no offense to the dj booth reviwer Nathan S. I'd have to disagree on some points made during ur review. The part about martians v.s. Goblins being left out because its a mixtape track, N the good, the, bad, the ugly because its doesn't follow traditional form. Real music follows no format or no formula, as do with albums. I actually thought it was nice to see some one color outside the lines for a change and challenge our thought process of what we think an album should sound like. As much as I love the concept of the good, the bad, the ugly where he tells the same story over but still diffrent in ever verse, while building the gun play momentum to Heavy Artillery was sweet..... But as a dj still effin pissIz me off how the transition to Heavy Artillery could have,been so much better. ..... Good idea, but yet semi-failed attempt lol . . . All in all the only thing that could have made thiz album any better is if he droped a few songz (jeezyz, n pot of gold) and kept it hard the whole way. I disagree with peeps saying he shouldn't have kept "Hello" off the album becuz come on lets keep it real if u was game you would be dumb not to leave it on lol #just sayin. But he should have put "I'm The King" on the album who cares it was on the purp N patron mixtape, I mean he put "Big Money" on the album and that been played out. Haaa but I agree with everything else u write in the review. . . N p.s. Insted of j. Cole ghost writting on the the song "The City" he should have had a guest apperiance on "Good Girls Go Bad" real talk***