The Documentary: Difference between revisions
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*''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1019305,00.html link] |
*''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1019305,00.html link] |
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*[[HipHopDX.com]] {{rating-5|4}} [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/reviews/id.501/title.the-game-the-documentary link] |
*[[HipHopDX.com]] {{rating-5|4}} [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/reviews/id.501/title.the-game-the-documentary link] |
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*[[IGN]] (6 |
*[[IGN]] (6.9/10) [http://au.music.ign.com/articles/584/584934p1.html link] |
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*[[musicOMH.com]] (3/5) [http://www.musicomh.com/albums/game.htm link] |
*[[musicOMH.com]] (3/5) [http://www.musicomh.com/albums/game.htm link] |
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*[[Pitchfork Media]] {{rating-10|8.3}} [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18303-the-documentary link] |
*[[Pitchfork Media]] {{rating-10|8.3}} [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/18303-the-documentary link] |
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==Conception== |
==Conception== |
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===Background=== |
===Background=== |
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In October 2001, The Game was shot five times and put in a three day coma after being attacked by three assailants in his drug dealing area. While recovering in hospital, he studied seminal hip hop albums such as [[Jay-Z]]'s ''[[Reasonable Doubt]]'', [[The Notorious B.I.G.]]'s ''[[Ready to Die]]'', [[Snoop Dogg]]'s ''[[Doggystyle]]'', and [[Tupac Shakur]]'s ''[[All Eyez on Me]]''.<ref name=ny>[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/18/arts/music/18game.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5090&en=8bc3a135e64836f5&ex=1263790800&partner=rssuserland The New Game in Town Generates West Coast Buzz]. ''The New York Times''. Accessed [[September 7]] [[2007]].</ref><ref>[http://hurricane-game.net/index.php?go=blender04 Blender: The Next Big Thing]. ''Blender'' (2004). Accessed [[October 2]] [[2007]].</ref> Five months later, he was discovered by [[Dr. Dre]] who listened to a mixtape produced by his brother.<ref name=observer>Campion, Chris ([[November 14]] [[2004]]). [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,1347692,00.html The Game]. ''The Observer''. Accessed [[September 17]] [[2007]].</ref> The Game spent the next two-and-a-half years being mentored by Dr. Dre who signed him to his [[Aftermath Entertainment]] label.<ref>Reid, Shaheem ([[January 27]] [[2005]]). [http://www.mtv.com/bands/g/game/news_feature_012705/ Game: Out of the Shadows]. MTV. Accessed [[September 17]] [[2007]].</ref> The |
In October 2001, The Game was shot five times and put in a three day coma after being attacked by three assailants in his drug dealing area. While recovering in hospital, he studied seminal hip hop albums such as [[Jay-Z]]'s ''[[Reasonable Doubt]]'', [[The Notorious B.I.G.]]'s ''[[Ready to Die]]'', [[Snoop Dogg]]'s ''[[Doggystyle]]'', and [[Tupac Shakur]]'s ''[[All Eyez on Me]]''.<ref name=ny>[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/18/arts/music/18game.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5090&en=8bc3a135e64836f5&ex=1263790800&partner=rssuserland The New Game in Town Generates West Coast Buzz]. ''The New York Times''. Accessed [[September 7]] [[2007]].</ref><ref>[http://hurricane-game.net/index.php?go=blender04 Blender: The Next Big Thing]. ''Blender'' (2004). Accessed [[October 2]] [[2007]].</ref> Five months later, he was discovered by [[Dr. Dre]] who listened to a mixtape produced by his brother.<ref name=observer>Campion, Chris ([[November 14]] [[2004]]). [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,1347692,00.html The Game]. ''The Observer''. Accessed [[September 17]] [[2007]].</ref> The Game spent the next two-and-a-half years working on the album and being mentored by Dr. Dre who signed him to his [[Aftermath Entertainment]] label.<ref>Leeds, Jeff ([[November 27]] [[2005]]). [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/27/arts/music/27leeds.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2&oref=slogin Scenes From an Arranged Marriage]. ''The New York Times''. Accessed [[October 5]] [[2007]].</ref><ref>Reid, Shaheem ([[January 27]] [[2005]]). [http://www.mtv.com/bands/g/game/news_feature_012705/ Game: Out of the Shadows]. MTV. Accessed [[September 17]] [[2007]].</ref> In late 2003, [[Interscope Records]] CEO [[Jimmy Iovine]] decided to have The Game join [[G-Unit]] and be signed under a [[joint venture]] with Aftermath Entertainment and [[G-Unit Records]]. The Game stated: "My project wasn’t coming out for a while, so Jimmy Iovine said he thought it would be a good idea to put me in G-Unit while I was waiting so that when it was my turn, it would be on and poppin'".<ref name=ac>Strout, Justin ([[April 29]] [[2005]]). [http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1909/rap_artist_the_game_talks_about_hip.html Rap Artist The Game Talks about Hip Hop, Hospitals, and Heroes]. Associated Content. Accessed [[October 5]] [[2007]].</ref> |
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The album's title was originally "Nigga Witta Attitude Vol. 1",<ref>[http://www.aftermathmusic.com/_interviews/thegame_february_2004.html Interview with The Game]. Aftermath Music (January/February 2004). Accessed [[September 29]] [[2007]].</ref> but was changed to "The Documentary" due to legal issues.<ref name=laststand>Reid, Sheheem ([[December 6]] [[2004]]). [http://www.mtv.com/bands/g/game/news_feature_120604/ Shady/ Aftermath/ G-Unit: The Family Stand]. MTV. Accessed [[September 7]] [[2007]].</ref> It was set for a late 2004 release, but since other high profile albums including [[Eminem]]'s ''[[Encore (album)|Encore]]'' was to be released around the same time, it pushed back to [[January 18]] [[2005]].<ref name=ac/><ref>Reid, Sheheem ([[October 5]] [[2004]]). [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1491965/20041005/story.jhtml Game Ready to Prove He's Worthy of the Hype]. MTV. Accessed [[September 7]] [[2007]].</ref> The Game worked on the album with the goal of reviving the [[West Coast hip hop]] scene, which had been overshadowed in the past few years by artists from the East and South.<ref name=ny/> |
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===Recording=== |
===Recording=== |
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After The Game recorded nine tracks with 50 Cent in his home studio in [[Farmington, Connecticut]] |
After The Game signed with G-Unit, he recorded nine tracks with 50 Cent in his home studio in [[Farmington, Connecticut]]. He then went back to [[Los Angeles]] and finished up the album with [[Dr. Dre]].<ref>Reid, Shaheem ([[March 1]] [[2005]]). [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1497638/20050301/50_cent.jhtml 50 Cent and The Game — Doomed from the Very Beginning?]. MTV. Accessed [[October 4]] [[2007]].</ref><ref>Reid, Shaheem ([[February 25]] [[2005]]). [http://www.mtv.com/bands/123/50_cent/news_feature_022505/index3.jhtml All Eyes on 50 Cent: The Sequel]. MTV. Accessed [[October 4]] [[2005]].</ref> In a 2005 ''[[VIBE|Vibe]]'' magazine interview, [[50 Cent]] stated he was brought in by [[Interscope Records]] to work on the album, which he claimed was on the verge of being shelved and The Game being dropped from the label. However, in an interview with [[Funkmaster Flex]], The Game said his status was never uncertain nor was he close to being dropped.<ref>Rodriguez, Jayson ([[March 1]] [[2005]]). [http://web.archive.org/web/20050306234231/http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=4129 Update: Man Shot Not With 50 Cent; Violator Offices Shot Up]. AllHipHop. Accessed [[October 3]] [[2007]].</ref> 50 Cent also claimed he wrote six of ''The Documentary'''s eighteen tracks—"[[Hate It or Love It]]," "[[How We Do]]," "Church For Thugs", "Special", "Higher", and "[[Westside Story (song)|Westside Story]]"—and was not receiving proper credit for his work.<ref>Berrios, Martin A. ([[June 27]] [[2007]]). [http://allhiphop.com/blogs/features/archive/2007/06/27/18191339.aspx Streets is Watching: 50 Cent Part Two]. ''Allhiphop''. Accessed [[October 3]] [[2007]]</ref> The Game denied the claim, saying 50 Cent only wrote two songs.<ref>Chery, Carl ([[June 24]] [[2005]]). [http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/7244 Game gone wild]. ''SOHH''. Accessed [[October 3]] [[2007]].</ref> |
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==Music== |
==Music== |
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Revision as of 00:01, 6 October 2007
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The Documentary is the first major label album by Compton rapper The Game. It features collaborations with G-Unit members 50 Cent and Tony Yayo, as well as Eminem, Nate Dogg, and others.
The Documentary debuted into significant commercial success upon its release, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 with more than 586,000 units in its first week. It was certified two times platinum and sold five million copies worldwide. Singles from the album include "Westside Story", "How We Do", "Dreams", "Hate It or Love It", and "Put You on the Game". The Documentary received favorable reviews, with many critics praising the album's production in particular; however, some criticized The Game's tendency to name-drop Aftermath/G-Unit and West Coast artists in his lyrics.
The album has brought the L.A. area and even the West Coast back as a force in the mainstream hip hop scene, which it had not been since the release of Dr. Dre's 2001. Like Dr. Dre, who executive-produced The Documentary, The Game is from Compton, and was a fan of Dr. Dre and his 1980s Compton group N.W.A. prior to the beginning of his own hip-hop career. Also notable is that despite the fact that The Game is from the West Coast, several big-name producers for East Coast artists contributed to the album's beats, including Just Blaze and Kanye West.
Conception
Background
In October 2001, The Game was shot five times and put in a three day coma after being attacked by three assailants in his drug dealing area. While recovering in hospital, he studied seminal hip hop albums such as Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt, The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die, Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle, and Tupac Shakur's All Eyez on Me.[1][2] Five months later, he was discovered by Dr. Dre who listened to a mixtape produced by his brother.[3] The Game spent the next two-and-a-half years working on the album and being mentored by Dr. Dre who signed him to his Aftermath Entertainment label.[4][5] In late 2003, Interscope Records CEO Jimmy Iovine decided to have The Game join G-Unit and be signed under a joint venture with Aftermath Entertainment and G-Unit Records. The Game stated: "My project wasn’t coming out for a while, so Jimmy Iovine said he thought it would be a good idea to put me in G-Unit while I was waiting so that when it was my turn, it would be on and poppin'".[6]
The album's title was originally "Nigga Witta Attitude Vol. 1",[7] but was changed to "The Documentary" due to legal issues.[8] It was set for a late 2004 release, but since other high profile albums including Eminem's Encore was to be released around the same time, it pushed back to January 18 2005.[6][9] The Game worked on the album with the goal of reviving the West Coast hip hop scene, which had been overshadowed in the past few years by artists from the East and South.[1]
Recording
After The Game signed with G-Unit, he recorded nine tracks with 50 Cent in his home studio in Farmington, Connecticut. He then went back to Los Angeles and finished up the album with Dr. Dre.[10][11] In a 2005 Vibe magazine interview, 50 Cent stated he was brought in by Interscope Records to work on the album, which he claimed was on the verge of being shelved and The Game being dropped from the label. However, in an interview with Funkmaster Flex, The Game said his status was never uncertain nor was he close to being dropped.[12] 50 Cent also claimed he wrote six of The Documentary's eighteen tracks—"Hate It or Love It," "How We Do," "Church For Thugs", "Special", "Higher", and "Westside Story"—and was not receiving proper credit for his work.[13] The Game denied the claim, saying 50 Cent only wrote two songs.[14]
Music
Lyrics
The Game recorded tracks based on his life experiences from his childhood to his success as a rapper. When asked about the album, he stated "I grew up in a boys home and I was taken away from my parents when I was like 8 years old... Here I am, 24. When my album drops I will be 25 so that's 17 years I have been going through my struggle by myself. There are 17 tracks on my album and every track sheds light on a different situation I went through the last 17 years."[8] The rapper commented on the album's perception before its release, saying "I know everybody was expecting gang-bang, 40-ounce, low-rider music, but that's not what I gave them... I'm telling a real story, and maybe there are people out there who can relate to my experiences."[1]
Songs
"Westside Story", the first single, peaked at ninety-three on the Billboard Hot 100. It features 50 Cent on the hook and sparse production from Dr. Dre. Rolling Stone described it as "a kind of L.A. version of "In Da Club" with "a simple keyboard part, a spare 808 beat and strings that manage to sound both stressed-out and catchy."[15] "Dreams", the third track, was produced by Kanye West and is dedicated to Yetunde Price who was shot dead in 2003.[16] It was the fourth single, peaking at number thirty-two on the Hot 100. One critic wrote The Game "sews together a soulful Martin Luther King Jr. type speech with the acerbic wit and hustler charm of Malcolm X."[17] "How We Do", the sixth track, was the album's most popular single.[18]
"Hate It or Love It", the second single, peaked at number two on the Hot 100.[18] The seventh track, "Don't Need Your Love", features Faith Evans and was considered one of the album's more "soulful" songs.[19] The Timbaland-produced "Put You on the Game" was the lowest-charting single, reaching only ninety-six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.[18] "Start from Scratch", the tenth track, was written and recorded by The Game while drunk.[20] It features Marsha Ambrosius and has the rapper recollect the many mishaps in his life.[21] One critic noted The Game for his "plaintive, verge-of-tears quality"[22] and another observed he attempts to show he is not "a one-dimensional gang-banger".[23]
The twelfth track, "Runnin'", which features Tony Yayo and Dion, was produced by Hi-Tek. One reviewer wrote it was the best track Hi-Tek produced in the past few years.[19] The next track, "No More Fun and Games", features a fast-paced beat from Just Blaze[17] who took inspiration from early 1990s production.[24] The fourteenth track, "We Ain't", was produced by Eminem who also makes a guest appearance. It received mixed reviews; Billboard said the song did not "click",[25] although another reviewer wrote the production was "top notch" with "a show stealing verse" from The Game.[19]
"Where I'm From", the fifteenth track, features Nate Dogg on the hook. It reflected The Game's love for classic hardcore rap.[26] Nate Dogg also appears on "Special", which AllHipHop.com called an "obligatory chick song" that sounds "simply cheesy".[21] "Don't Worry" features Mary J. Blige and has The Game provide "a heartfelt stream of consciousness rhyme".[17] One reviewer wrote the song "hits hard" despite its minimal production.[19] The final song, "Like Father, Like Son", features Busta Rhymes and reveals more vulnerable sides of The Game who chronicles the birth of his son.[25] It contains a "melodramatic, string-laden" production from Buckwild[27] and HipHopDX.com believed it was the album's best song that "displays Game's blossoming talents better than any other."[19] On the fifth track "Higher", Dr. Dre refers to his upcoming album, Detox by saying "Look out for Detox" in his only one line.
Reception
The Documentary received mostly favorable reviews from music critics.[28] Pitchfork Media called it "the best West Coast street-rap album since DJ Quik's 2002 LP Under tha Influence" and described the production as "a rich, triumphant sonic tapestry".[27] All Music Guide wrote the album was an "excellent debut" that "hints at a lot of potential" and observed the "most remarkable aspect of the Game is how he can be such a blatant product of gangsta rap... and leave a mark so fast."[29] Rolling Stone noted The Game was "going for emotional impact rather than dazzling wordplay or laughs"[15] and PopMatters described him as "a self-conscious, malicious, nihilistic gangsta rapper with a heart and lyrical content".[17] On the other hand, Robert Christgau believed the album was "dull even when he isn't describing his medical problems, this no-talent is masscult rock at its most brazen".[30]
Sales
A day before the album's release, The Game expressed his desire to have high opening week sales, saying "I want to sell a million albums in my first week. And if I only sell one album the following week, I'm good."[1] He also admitted feeling nervous about not being able to live up to the industry expectations, saying "Yeah, I've got some butterflies. I'm worried about my first-week numbers, and I'm worried about living up to the hype."[1] The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 586,000 copies in the first week.[31] It was certified two times Platinum by the RIAA on March 23 2005,[32] and it went on to sell over five million copies worldwide.[33] On March 8 2005, The Documentary was certified Platinum in Canada with 100,000 units shipped.[34]
Track listing
| # | Title | Producer(s) | Featured guest(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Intro" | Dr. Dre & Che Vicious | 0:32 | |
| 2 | "Westside Story" | Dr. Dre & Scott Storch | 50 Cent | 3:43 |
| 3 | "Dreams" | Kanye West | 4:46 | |
| 4 | "Hate It or Love It" | Cool and Dre | 50 Cent | 3:26 |
| 5 | "Higher" | Dr. Dre & Mark Batson | 4:05 | |
| 6 | "How We Do" | Dr. Dre & Mike Elizondo | 50 Cent | 3:55 |
| 7 | "Don't Need Your Love" | Havoc & Dr. Dre | Faith Evans | 4:26 |
| 8 | "Church for Thugs" | Just Blaze | 4:00 | |
| 9 | "Put You on the Game" | Timbaland, co-produced by Danja | 4:14 | |
| 10 | "Start from Scratch" | Dr. Dre & Scott Storch | Marsha Ambrosius | 4:07 |
| 11 | "The Documentary" | Jeff Bhasker, co-produced by Jeff Reed | 4:11 | |
| 12 | "Runnin'" | Hi-Tek | Tony Yayo & Dion | 4:26 |
| 13 | "No More Fun and Games" | Just Blaze | 2:37 | |
| 14 | "We Ain't" | Eminem, co-produced by Luis Resto | Eminem | 4:46 |
| 15 | "Where I'm From" | Focus | Nate Dogg | 3:08 |
| 16 | "Special" | Needlz | Nate Dogg | 3:57 |
| 17 | "Don't Worry" | Dr. Dre & Mike Elizondo | Mary J. Blige | 4:11 |
| 18 | "Like Father, Like Son" | Buckwild | Busta Rhymes | 5:27 |
Charts
| Charts (2005)[35][36] | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart | 42 |
| Austrian Albums Chart | 44 |
| Belgium Albums Chart | 17 |
| Canadian Albums Chart | 1 |
| Dutch Albums Chart | 10 |
| French Albums Chart | 7 |
| German Albums Chart | 11 |
| Irish Albums Chart | 6 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 3 |
| Norwegian Albums Chart | 11 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 8 |
| UK Albums Chart | 7 |
| United World Chart | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 1 |
Credits
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References
- ^ a b c d e The New Game in Town Generates West Coast Buzz. The New York Times. Accessed September 7 2007.
- ^ Blender: The Next Big Thing. Blender (2004). Accessed October 2 2007.
- ^ Campion, Chris (November 14 2004). The Game. The Observer. Accessed September 17 2007.
- ^ Leeds, Jeff (November 27 2005). Scenes From an Arranged Marriage. The New York Times. Accessed October 5 2007.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (January 27 2005). Game: Out of the Shadows. MTV. Accessed September 17 2007.
- ^ a b Strout, Justin (April 29 2005). Rap Artist The Game Talks about Hip Hop, Hospitals, and Heroes. Associated Content. Accessed October 5 2007.
- ^ Interview with The Game. Aftermath Music (January/February 2004). Accessed September 29 2007.
- ^ a b Reid, Sheheem (December 6 2004). Shady/ Aftermath/ G-Unit: The Family Stand. MTV. Accessed September 7 2007.
- ^ Reid, Sheheem (October 5 2004). Game Ready to Prove He's Worthy of the Hype. MTV. Accessed September 7 2007.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (March 1 2005). 50 Cent and The Game — Doomed from the Very Beginning?. MTV. Accessed October 4 2007.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (February 25 2005). All Eyes on 50 Cent: The Sequel. MTV. Accessed October 4 2005.
- ^ Rodriguez, Jayson (March 1 2005). Update: Man Shot Not With 50 Cent; Violator Offices Shot Up. AllHipHop. Accessed October 3 2007.
- ^ Berrios, Martin A. (June 27 2007). Streets is Watching: 50 Cent Part Two. Allhiphop. Accessed October 3 2007
- ^ Chery, Carl (June 24 2005). Game gone wild. SOHH. Accessed October 3 2007.
- ^ a b Brackett, Nathan (February 10 2005). The Documentary Review. Rolling Stone. Accessed September 29 2007.
- ^ Relic, Peter (December 12 2006). Game Time (Vol. 1). Vibe. Accessed October 5 2007.
- ^ a b c d Hamilton, Pierre (February 15 2005). The Documentary Review. PopMatters. Accessed September 29 2007.
- ^ a b c The Documentary Billboard Singles. All Music Guide. Accessed September 31 2007.
- ^ a b c d e J-23 (January 16 2005). The Game - The Documentary. HipHopDX. Accessed October 1 2007.
- ^ Smith, Pat (December 21 2004). The Game: Terror, Femcees & Black Power. SOHH. Accessed October 2 2007.
- ^ a b Fresh, Remmie (January 2005). The Documentary. AllHipHop.com. Accessed October 2 2007.
- ^ Tate, Greg (February 25 2005). MCs Are Paid, Not Born. The Village Voice. Accessed October 1 2007.
- ^ McKeating, Scott (January 28 2005). The Documentary Review. Stylus magazine. Accessed October 1 2007.
- ^ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (January 18 2005). RapReview of the Week. RapReviews.com. Accessed October 1 2007.
- ^ a b The Documentary Review. Billboard (February 5 2005). Accessed October 1 2007.
- ^ The Documentary Review. E! (2005). Accessed October 1 2007.
- ^ a b The Documentary Review. Pitchfork Media. Accessed September 17 2007.
- ^ The Game: The Documentary. Metacritic. Accessed September 17 2007.
- ^ The Documentary > Overview. All Music Guide. Accessed September 17 2007.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (2005). Robert Christgau: RC: The Game. The Consumer Guide. Accessed September 29 2007.
- ^ Montgomery, James (January 26 2005). Straight Outta Compton, Straight to #1: Game Tops Albums Chart. MTV. Accessed September 7 2007.
- ^ Searchable Database. RIAA. Accessed September 8 2007.
- ^ Jackson, Kevin (October 24 2006). The Game's new album Doctor's Advocate drops on November 14. The Jamaica Observer. Accessed September 8 2007.
- ^ Audio Certifications March 2005. CRIA. Accessed September 8 2007.
- ^ World Chart Positions. aCharts.us. Accessed September 8 2007.
- ^ The Documentary Billboard Albums. All Music Guide. Accessed September 29 2007.