The Game is the type of rapper that seems to get better with every new album he releases. LAX, his third (and possibly final) studio album is his best yet, encompassing much of west coast culture, a bit of gangsta rap and even some sociopolitical issues.
Highlights and Lowlights of LAX: The Album
LAX begins rather unexpectedly, with a spoken word prayer from Earl Simmons, better known in the music business as DMX. The album proper begins on a strong note with “LAX Files”, where The Game delivers his lines with a palpable sense of venom and anger. “State of Emergency”, is another strong track infused with a powerful west coast sound and an excellent hook delivered by Ice Cube. Other highlights include “Never Can Say Goodbye” in which The Game apes the lyrical style and delivery of Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G. and Eazy-E, speaking as if he were seeing the world through their eyes, minutes before their deaths.
It’s almost shocking that The Game was able to deliver these verses, paying homage to the three fallen rappers, without sounding as if he was mocking or parodying them. Finally, The Game and Nas team up on “Letter to the King”, paying their respects in great form to the fallen face of the Civil Rights movement.
Throughout the album, tracks are consistently good with a couple of notable exceptions. The obligatory shout out to the ladies in the form of “Gentleman’s Affair”, featuring Ne-Yo and the almost video game sounding “Ya heard” in which Ludacris laces his verse with metaphors, laying it on a little thick in the process, were largely skippable.
Style Commentary, the Lyrics of LAX
One thing that sticks out about LAX and even more so about The Game's lyrical style is a lack of evolution. He hasn't really changed much about his decidedly West Coast style and delivery and he still drops celebrity names like he was thumbing through Paris Hilton's rolodex.
Longtime listeners will certainly notice the similarities of this to his previous works but, perhaps this is part of The Game’s genius. While his rhymes aren’t particularly revolutionary, he knows how to deliver a decent message in a world of ringtone rappers and bubblegum pop tracks like Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop”.
The Final Word from The Game on LAX
It would be a real shame if LAX is indeed The Game’s final album as there is much potential in his style for improvement. This isn't so much the backhanded compliment it may seem to be because The Game’s style never really needed much improvement to begin with.
In his relatively short time in this industry, he has shown great progress and has proven he can hang with past and current greats. It would be a shame for him to bow out now, as he is on the cusp of true greatness.
Here's hoping that LAX won't be The Game's final foray into the rap genre but if it is, while it's not perfect, it serves as a fitting swan song.
