Track Listing

1. Intro
2. Westside Story
3. Dreams
4. Hate It Or Love It
5. Higher
6. How We Do
7. Don't Need Your Love
8. Church For Thugs
9. Put You On The Game
10. Start From Scratch
11. The Documentary
12. Runnin'
13. No More Fun And Games
14. We Ain't
15. Where I'm From
16. Special
17. Don't Worry
18. Like Father, Like Son

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5761 in Music
• Released on: 2005-01-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

Album Description
THE DOCUMENTARY, (Aftermath/G Unit/Interscope), the debut album from The Game (a/k/a Jayceon Taylor), announces the arrival of the most significant West Coast gangsta rapper since Snoop Dogg more than a decade earlier. With guest spots from 50 CENT, NATE DOGG and several others, as well as producers from DR. DRE to KANYE WEST to JUST BLAZE and tracks such as "How We Do" feat. 50 Cent, "Like Father Like Son," "Church For Thugs," "Dreams," "Where I’m From" and "Westside Story," THE DOCUMENTARY resurrects the truth, spirit and hope of hardcore rap.

Amazon.com
If the Game's G Unit-fueled debut--the most anticipated CD of early 2005--is supposed to be the Answer like Iverson, then what was the question? Well, when an emcee gets to rifle through 50 Cent's Rolodex to handpick top-flight producers (Timbaland, Just Blaze, Kanye West), it's a can't-miss scheme, right? In this case, uh-huh. "Westside Story" is Game's opportunity to remind crunk-come-latelys that his region is still rap relevant. On the Dr. Dre-produced "Higher," he snorts: "I got 'em (Impala's) in every color, yeah I'm a known stunna." Yep, he's rich now too and drives whips that cost more than most make in a year. It doesn't even matter much that he's a B-minus rhyme spitter, or that he spends way too much studio time name dropping. His real life 50 Cent-esque narratives (been shot and involved in "subterranean" activities) makes cuts like the introspective, Havoc-hemmed "Don't Need Your Love" with Faith Evans that much more compelling. Boasting a half-dozen plus other sure-fire hit singles, including the Kanye burner "Dreams," few albums can match up to The Documentary--the only Game in town. --Dalton Higgins

About the Artist
The Game is from the birthplace of Gangsta’ Rap, Compton, CA. But this is a new, different Westside story, one that joins with the Eastside while paying respects to rap’s hardcore pioneers of the ‘80s, NWA. The Game, a former gangbanger who turned to rap after being shot five times and left for dead, is about peace not war. Working closely with DR. DRE on his debut album; This Game is for real. "A lot of rap today is bubblegum bull**** that says nothing and means nothing to anybody living in the ‘hood," says the 24-year-old with a tattoo of NWA’s Eazy-E on his right forearm. "I’m not knocking anybody’s hustle but I can’t feel what’s in hip-hop today. Everybody’s rapping but they’re not saying anything. NWA, Biggie, 2Pac, Snoop and Jay-Z all had something to say then Biggie, Pac and Eazy died and it was devastating. We almost let rap die until the Great White Hype (Eminem) saved hip-hop and 50 dropped the gangsta wake-up call. I feel like it’s my turn now and I can fill the shoes."

What all three have in common is the guiding hand of DR. DRE, Compton’s own and one of the founding members of NWA. "The best moment I’ve had in rap was walking into his studio in 2002 and Dre saying he heard a mix tape of my freestyles and wanted to sign me," says Game. "Trying to act cool? I was frozen. I’m still starstruck with Dre. He’s been almost 20 years at the top. That I get to soak up the game from a musical genius like him gives me a 20-year head start on everybody else. He’s like the father I never had. Everything about a father throwing a baseball to his son in the suburbs, that’s what NWA was to me. They were the only role models I had besides Michael Jordan. Eazy was the father of hardcore and I don’t understand why he only gets honorable mention when people talk about rap."

He also hopes the purpose of the graphic nature of The Documentary doesn’t get twisted. "I’m telling my story. I’m out to please no one but myself. I’m not telling anybody to sell drugs or pick up guns. When I sold drugs it was because it was my last resort, because I had four sisters and an older brother and we were eating Cheerios on Thanksgiving. When I picked up a gun it was because my life was threatened. If you don’t want to hear that; then don’t listen. I’m not glorifying the life I lived because I wouldn’t wish that on anybody. I’m just one human being raised in the ‘hood who wanted nothing more than to get out."

The Game has only just begun.

Customer Reviews

The Documentary
I would like to first state that you should not be thrown off by the 3 stars. I have been a fan of The Game since 2004 back when i was into gangster rap. Now in 2008 i listen to a completely different type of music and no long listen to the old artists that i once loved, that is except for Game. I am no longer a fan of the west coast like i was but for some reason i have always enjoyed Games albums. Now lots of people love the production on this album but i dont think its as impressive as they say, its good but it didnt blow me away. Also lyrically game is average, so why do i continue to listen to game? he just makes good songs, his flow and style make up for what he lacks in the lyrics department. Anyways i love this album even though i could only give it a 3 star rating. Listen to No More Fun And Games, i would have to say that its the best song on the album. Church for Thugs is also really dope. Anyways this is good mainstream hip hop that even some underground heads can listen to


1. No More Fun And Games
2. Church For Thugs
3. Dreams
4. West Side Story
5. The Documentary

Hated it
I don't think this was a cd I should have purchased. It didn't meet my expectations. I should have saved my money!

Blazin'
This album is pure fire - a must-have for rap fans (and others too), one of the better albums of the past 5 years. If you are really into West Coast stuff you'll like it even more than me - my only complaint is that I don't like a lot of the slow stuff, even tho it's good for what it is. In my opinion there are 7 songs that get 5/5 (I'd say the first two here are legitimate classics up there with Biggie, Dre, etc. ):

1. The Documentary
2. Higher
3. How we Do
4. Dreams
5. We Ain't
6. Hate it or Love it (the only reason I don't rank this higher is that I have to admit I like the G-Unit remix on The Massacre even better -- sorry Game, I know you don't want to hear that but it's the truth)
7. Westside Story