First Thoughts: L.A.X.

The Game - L.A.X.

It’s been a slow day today, but I wanted to share my initial thoughts of The Game‘s new album L.A.X. For those of you who can’t wait until release day (Aug 26th), The Game personally leaked the clean version of L.A.X. earlier this week. The explicit retail leaked moments later. Although we do not condone the illegal downloading of music, it’s nice to have a “preview before you buy” option. In the case of L.A.X. I don’t think I will be buying. This is not meant to be an official review, but here are my initial thoughts. Feel free to tell us what you think about L.A.X. in the comments.

Why did Game enlist DMX for the intro and outro monologue? With all of DMX’s recent arrests and drug use in the news, it was hard to take him seriously. He really did sound like a crackhead.
Why does Game feel the need to name-drop in every single track? I swear he must have mentioned Kanye and Pac at least once in each song.
Why are there so many features on L.A.X.? Can’t Game hold up a whole album on his own?
I firmly believe in more bang for your buck, but 19 tracks? And there’s more on the deluxe edition! Admit it… some of these tracks could have been cut. I think it would have made for a more cohesive album. Leave the filler tracks out and release them as b-sides… whatever happened to b-sides?
Anyone else sick of Lil Wayne popping up on everyone’s album? This time he’s 10x more annoying on “My Life” because he borrowed T-Pain’s vocoder. Please tell me the vocoder trend will die soon!
Best track on the album: “Bulletproof Diaries” Feat. Raekwon… that track is sick!
Other tracks I was feeling: “Touchdown”, “Letter to The King”
Best sample flip: Newcleus’ “Jam On It” in “Ya Heard”… Nottz flipped the hell out that track!

These are just initial thoughts… haven’t given the album my full attention yet. Tell us what you think! Is L.A.X. up to par with The Documentary or Doctor’s Advocate?

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Posted in Whatchu Think?

http://myspace.com/smallprofessor smallpro

i couldn’t even be bothered to preview it, i KNOW i won’t be buying it, so whats the point lol
dj tenfour

I agree with all comments.. it bored me…. so flipped and listened to a better new forthcoming album from Ice-cube…. highly recommended,….
http://www.myspace.com/ebprodbeats EB-Productions

i did’nt like it either, so i wont be buying it, i just liked the trev barker track “dope boys”, normally not a track i would like, but i did :/ xD but i did not like the album, not even the production :/
Thomas

Kev, this is a good idea…maybe we should con’t this.

I remember seeing the tracklist a few weeks back and noted (I think to Kev) that he has too many guest (singer/rappers) for me. The production line up looked good, but too many guest.

My first thoughts were ok…..still doesn’t reach the height of his first joint. 50 was writing the hooks (and according to him all of Game’s singles). Some of his rhymes are good “My Life” is a good song (IMO), but Wayne kills it with the talk box (what I call it). I would rather have Wayne rap/talk the hook than what they did.

I thought it was 2-4 songs too long. The CD starts off good, but drags on a bit. I like albums between 12-16 songs. Not sure why DMX is on the Intro/Outro? “Bulletproof Diaries” Feat. Raekwon is my joint though….that caught my attention. Rae sounds like he is ready to take it back to ’95. Not sure if I’m going to buy it…might give it a few more listens…if I don’t buy it I will be deleting it.

I’m also the same person who talked a bunch of mess about downloading on Deez’s post. I guess I ‘m confused. I will be coppin’ that Large Pro though….hot fire.
skeme

nottz did his thang on ya heard..dats da best use of a sample in a long time dat ive heard..he flipped dat necleus jam on it..definately feelin bulletproof diaries..hi tek did his thang also on letter to the king
jayski

I will be coppin’ next Tues I don’t download any early leaks only mixtapes. As far Game name droppin’ he did it on The Documentary but on Doctor’s Advocate he took it wayyyy too far he must have said Dre name at least 200+ times!! The couple of songs I heard were straight I liked Big Dreams don’t think it’s makin’ the album though I liked Game’s Pain, Dopeboyz, I like My Life but Kev is right Weezy is annoying and I hate Wayne no disrespect to Wayne stans. But when I cop it I will be able to fully analyze it
http://www.myspace.com/carsten11 Carsten

Hi haters! Since I’m a Game stan, I can’t hate on the album (Kev you knew this comment was coming?). That dude gave us 2 classic albums! DMX is on the In/Outro because he’s the godfather of the Prayer interludes (and a crack head). That name dropping thing is his style, he likes to tap, still I don’t get it why he’s trying to beef with Jay all the time, listen to the last couple of Interviews and what the fuck he was talkin’ (http://nahright.com/news/2008/08/20/the-game-jay-z-will-bleed-all-over-manhattan/),
(Suicide?). The LP isn’t good as The Documentary & Doctor’s Advocate, right. BUT Game’s Pain, Dope boys & My Life are hot tracks, LAX files is the shit and the songs you are mentioned are fire too, the LP really grows on me so I can’t front. 19 tracks are too long? Come on! But you are right some of the tracks could have been left over. To draw a conclusion, not his best album, but a hot one I’m gonna cop it, so why you hate the game (Marsha Ambrosius Voice)? And remember opinions are like assholes, everybody has one!!
Jayfresh

after goin through it once fully, right now it aint on the level of the first 2 albums, but it goes hard.
nofrillz

not as good as his previous 2. it’s ok with really breaking knew ground for him as an artist.

on a side note. i see your bumping Shad’s the old prince eh kev. not a bad album is it bruv?
Keenan

album is sounding real nice to me so far, got a lot of bangers, anyone notice how he goes at 50 on a few of the tracks (line about chain getting snatched in Angola and the jay-z line he reuses)
http://kevinnottingham.com Kevin

I don’t mean to hate on The Game, these were just my first impressions of the album. With so much hip hop coming out, an album really has to catch my attention initially for me to give it a chance. This didn’t do it (other than the Raekwon track). But like Carsten said, everyone has an opinion.

yeah, nofrillz, that Shad is pretty nice!
D.I. Dollar

I was feeling the new Game CD, I’ve had some time to ride around and listen to it a few times and I think overall its a really good CD. The DMX intro/outro sets the tone for the rest of the CD. My only complaint really is the tone, its really kind of somber and its missing a true BANGER. I know this was made during some of the Games darker times and the CD’s tone really reflects that. More of a smoking and riding listen than a kicking it listen.

Now as far as guests are concerned, to me it didn’t really take away from the listen experience as a whole as it only really bothered me on the Ludacris assist Ya Heard. I could of done without Luva Luva on that track.

Pros: production was sick, lyrically on point (name dropping is not a sin, Swagger jacking and blatant rip offs of other peoples material is {see: Jay-Z}), content goes from thought provoking to mindless in the matter of seconds (a little something for everybody).

Cons: Length, tone, and lack of a true stand out joint (IMO).

Highlights: State of Emergency, Angel, Ya Heard’s (production), Letter to the King (message), Cali Sushine.
D.I. Dollar

Overall strong B maybe if he had trimmed down a track or two or replaced one of them with that Superman heater, maybe a B+.
Marcha

worst sample flip: Kanye west produced track “Angel”…
Kanye is getting hella lazy…
Marcha

And in my opinion:
The Documentary>L.A.X.>Doctor’s Advocate
http://www.myspace.com/suncitysfinest Jay-Tee

After I heard “a letter to the king” feat. NAS and “Angel” feat. Common (both produced by kanye to the) I was expecting a lot more. Those joints are fresh to death… too bad the rest of the album couldn’t keep up
http://kevinnottingham.com Kevin

Love how you broke down your argument DI Dollar.. I can get wit that.

I agree with Marcha about the Kanye track… terrible.
http://requestgrouprips.blogspot.com/ Ace

this album is tight to me, i gave it a lil’ quick preview…..The Game got different sounds on this album, but i like the new direction even though i dont like anything with Wayne on it, i think this album is great…

but i only gave it a like a 5 minute preview.
http://requestgrouprips.blogspot.com/ Ace

and i agree with Marcha, im feeling this album more than i was feeling the Doctors Advocate, im gonna buy this one, like i did the first album
http://www.myspace.com/carsten11 Carsten

@Jay-Tee. “Letter to the King” is produced by Hi-Tek.
http://kevinnottingham.com Kevin

Instead of starting a new post I thought I’d throw these links to a couple of reviews I stumbled upon today. Apparently, the sentiment is the same…

Does Game’s New Album Really Suck? by Gooch (XXL)

LAX Is a Classic by BWT (Opinionz4U)

Definitely read the second one… hilarious!
http://www.myspace.com/s2ita S.2

Aaah maaaaaaaannnnnn… not one just blaze track made it? WHHHYYYY!!!!????
Gunnar

I agree with the whole Lil’ Wayne thing. I’m so sick of him. The my Life track would have been an OK track without him. I really think Lil Wayne wants to be T-Pain.
He used that vocoder on about 75% of the songs on the Carter 3. He can ruin a great track with that shit. LOL. Back to L.A.X. There are a lot of “Filler” tracks that could have been cut. And way too many features. I would give it a 5 or 6 out of 10. Definitely not Games best material.
BC

Wack, my god. dreadful.
http://www.myspace.com/gbesemantse dj juls

I think all a y’all are trippin big time…lets be honest man…The Game has been thru a lot considering the issues he had with 50Centand the g-unit.Dont forget that G-Unit evidently destroyed Ja-Rule’s career. Game is an excellent artist. Two classic albums…name droppin in every track..man so what he’s gotta give his props….features are quite a lot though but thats what a lotta ppl want…..i think the album is great..excellent production,big ups to nottz……favorite track has gotta b the touchdown.
stop hating and get money ma niggas
young gunna

i think game is always good in the choice of his beats

First Thoughts: L.A.X.

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