If you ask the common hip-hop fan which Jay-Z album is the best, they will say his first: Reasonable Doubt. The same will be true of Notorious B.I.G. and Ready to Die, or Nas and Illmatic. When The Game released The Documentary in January of 2005, it was his first and best album. Two months short of two years later comes The Doctor’s Advocate, which let the record show, officially is his new best album. Not his first, but his best.
For an album which doesn’t feature a single track produced by Dr. Dre, The Game was awfully kind when he decided not to change the title at the 25th hour (I’m thinking the marketing team said to leave it alone). The Doctor’s Advocate, the second major label release from The Game, has been one of the most anticipated albums of 2006. Other than the inevitable (but long overdue) Detox album from Dre himself, The Game’s sophomore album has generated its fair share of buzz and in the end does not at all disappoint.
As the saying goes, the best laid plans are never. After The Game had a falling out from his home at Aftermath/G-Unit, he retained his deal with Interscope while merely swapping roofs with subsidiary, Geffen. The move was ideal and the situation helped tremendously; No longer playing for a team that didn’t want his services and which he could be become his own captain.
Despite the absence of the aforementioned Dre, top notch production comes courtesy of Hi-Tek, Jonathan Rotem, Just Blaze, Kanye West, Mr. Porter, Nottz, Reefa, Scott Storch, Swizz Beatz and Will.I.Am. Don’t think that The Game doesn’t appreciate the amazing production work he was dealt too, as he name drops almost every producer in the lyrics to their own cut. And to briefly touch on the lyrics, only Eminem and Lil’ Wayne are currently equals.
With inconsistent success from West coast hip-hop artists over the past 15 years or so, The Game offers both pride and hope. The album is crafted perfectly to the fit the gangsta rap sound, but with a more modern flair. By the end of the nine minute and twenty-two second final track which features New York native Nas (and production from Just Blaze), you find yourself pondering two questions: Did he just top his first album and do I have time to listen to this again?