Game - L.A.X. CD

L.A.X. CD music Although his first studio album in three years has been long-awaited and repeatedly delayed, Lil Wayne has been anything but absent. Since THA CARTER II, Weezy has left an impressive mass of recordings--from mixtapes (authorized and otherwise) to guest appearances--in his wake as he blusters through the rap industry. In the third installment of the THA CARTER series, Wayne shows he's earned the right to ego-trip as he lets his off-kilter flow, freak-out lyrics, and vocal acrobatics run wild over 16 tracks. Scaling the heights of hubris on "Dr. Carter," he plays an MC/doctor treating a certain music genre diagnosed as lifeless and closes with a quintessential Weezy snarl: "Welcome back hip-hop/I saved your life." Wayne then shifts to alien-mode for the E.T.-inspired "Phone Home." Later on, he details his sexual conquest of a female cop on "Ms. Officer." As expected, THA CARTER III is rife with big name producers (The Alchemist, Kanye West, Wyclef Jean, David Banner, Swizz Beatz, will.i.am) and guest artists (Jay-Z, Babyface, Busta Rhymes, Juelz Santana, Fabolous, T-Pain) from all coasts. Tha Carter III is the sixth studio album by rapper Lil Wayne and it is the final album in Tha Carter trilogy. Originally known as the youngest Hot Boy, Lil' Wayne has orchestrated a steady stream of hits. The New Orleans rapper began his long career with Cash Money as part of the Hot Boys, a popular late-'90s supergroup consisting of Juvenile, Turk, and B.G. Audio Mixers: Miguel Angel Mendoza Bermudez; Andrew Dawson; Edward Lido; Fabian Marasciullo. Recording information: Blue Jay Studios; CMR, Miami, FL; SouthBeat Studios, Miami, FL; The Record Room, N. Miami, FL; Tree Sound Studios, Atlanta, GA. Photographer: Jonathan Mannion. Personnel: Eddie Montilla (strings, keyboards); Ludas Charles (keyboards); Darius Harrison (drums). Additional personnel: Sha Ron Prescott (vocals, background vocals); Pro-Jay, Robin Thicke, Cool & Dre, Jim Jonsin.

L.A.X. buy CD music After a year on lock-down for illegal machine gun possession, the self-proclaimed king of the south channels his personal strife into his introspective sixth studio album, PAPER TRAIL. The title stems from T.I.'s decision to return to writing his rhymes down on paper; the lyrical craftsmanship shows as the ATL icon delves into personal issues--speaking on his legal troubles ("Ready For Whatever"), his prison experience ("You Ain't Missing Nothing"), and his fallen homies ("Dead and Gone"). T.I. also collaborates with former rival Ludacris for the grandiose "On Top of the World," speaks on the cannibalistic relationship between rappers' personal lives and their art on "My Life Your Entertainment," and joins Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne for the bombastic posse cut "Swagga Like Us." Production comes courtesy of Drumma Boy, DJ Toomp, Rob Knox, Jim Jonsin, Just Blaze, and Swizz Beatz, among others. Recording information: Baseline Recording Studios, New York, NY; Echo Studios, Atlanta, GA; Logic Studios, Milan, Italy; Record Plant Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; SoundTrap Studios, Atlanta, GA; The Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL. Photographers: Sydney Margetson; Darren Ankenman. Arranger: Larry Gold. Personnel: Ricco Barrino (vocals); Stevie Salas (guitar, guitars); Ghislaine Fleischmann, Eliza Cho, Michelle Bishop, Ghislaine Fleishman, Igor Szwec, Emma Kummrow, Gregory Teperman (violin); Peter Nocella, Carol Briselli (viola); James J. Cooper III (cello); Canei Finch, David Siegel (keyboards). Audio Mixers: John Frye; Marcella "Ms. Lago" Araica; Robert Marks; Ryan West; Supa Engineer "Dura"; Andrew Dawson; Jean-Marie Horvat; John Fry ; Ray Seay; Leslie Brathwaite.

L.A.X. songs On his second major-label release, Compton rapper and former Dr. Dre protege The Game returns with more of the West Coast gangsta flavor that has been his trademark since the 2004 indie debut, UNTOLD STORY. DOCTOR'S ADVOCATE's production credits include a long and eclectic list of super-producers such as DJ Khalil, Will.I.Am, Just Blaze, Kanye West, Scott Storch, and Hi-Tek, but not, oddly, Dre. That might be the point. It's a testament to Dre's industry weight that he can dominate an LP without touching it. While his beats are conspicuously absent, Dre's influence can be heard on every track. And on the rare occasions when Game isn't directly talking to or about him, the Compton MC's vocal tone, lyrical content, and delivery are paying Dre homage. At the same time, the Game's Chronic-inspired lyrics and arsenal of clever punch-lines add up to an undeniable charisma all his own.

L.A.X. album for sale On album number three, ATL icon Young Jeezy spreads his wings-- flirting with radio-friendly R&B-influenced tracks and soul-tinged nostalgia-- while maintaining the same intense feel with his trademark slow-rap delivery and crack-peddling subject matter. THE RECESSION largely relies on the same stable of producers who've been with Jeezy since LET'S GET IT-- Don Cannon, Midnight Black, Shawty Redd, Drumma Boy, and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League. Thus the overall production sound is consistent with his first two solo albums--cinematic and brooding, built on seething synthesizers and frantic drum kits--while a handful of R&B hooks push THE RECESSION closer to commercial appeal. For the most part though, Jeezy keeps it gangsta as he reworks 2Pac's "Ambitions as a Ridah" on "Hustlaz Ambition," sneers at his enemies on "By the Way," and revisits his crackspot origins on "Crazy World." The biggest departure is undoubtedly the album's closer, "My President"--that sees Jeezy, alongside Nas, pondering the possibilities of a black president. Recording information: Dirty South Studios, Atlanta, GA; SoundTrap Studios, Atlanta, GA; Tape Op, Sacramento, CA. Creator: Ken Lewis . Photographer: Jonathan Mannion. Personnel: Laura Edwards, Kanye West, Trina Broussard (vocals); Peter Drew, Lora Cain, Frank Charlton, Chris Davies (spoken vocals); Miykal Snoody (keyboards); Larry McRary (drums). Audio Mixer: Leslie Brathwaite.

L.A.X. CD music Nasir Jones's controversially untitled LP follows the impressive trifecta of GOD'S SON, STREET'S DISCIPLE, and HIP-HOP IS DEAD. This latest record leans on gritty, often metallic production and a mission of personal catharsis, often in congress with a current sociopolitical pointedness. Nas's most aggressive eviscerations are saved for the hard-rocking rampage of "Sly Fox," which stands up for Ludacris and other MCs assaulted by conservative pundits, as if playing the role of the protective older brother. But for all the album's candid nihilism, perhaps the most moving moment is still one of hope, as articulated on "Black President." Poignantly sampling a 2Pac lyric about it seeming "heaven sent," Nas ponders the pros and cons of Obama's ascension. And the use of Shakur's words serves as a way for Nas to communicate a message to the fellow free-thinkers who inspired him, but who didn't live to see such progress in the face of relative chaos. Recording information: Cinematic Studios, New York, NY; Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY; Encore Studios, Burbank, CA; Legacy Recording Studio, New York, NY; Manhattan Center Studios, New York, NY; NRG Recording Studio, Los Angeles, CA; Patchwerk Recording, Atlanta, GA; Roc The Mic Studios, New York, NY; Royal Z Entertainment, Westlake Studios, Los Angeles, C; SoundTrap Studios, Atlanta, GA; The Record Room, N. Miami, FL; Touch 510 Studios, S. Orange, NJ; Warrior Studios; Westlake Audio, Hollywood, CA. Arranger: Stic.man. Personnel: Johnny Polygon, Stic.man (vocals); J. Myers (guitar, background vocals); Kevin Mayer, Binky Griptite, Thomas Brenneck (guitar); Eddie Montilla, Idalia String Ensemble (strings); Neal Sugarman (tenor saxophone); Ian Hendrickson (baritone saxophone); Bruce Purse (horns, background vocals); Vincent Henry (horns); Victor Axelrod (piano); Brian Kennedy, Mikuak Rai, Jason Perry (keyboards); Homer Steinweiss (drums). Audio Mixers: John Frye; Kevin Crouse; Mark Batson; Phil Tan; Billy Hume; Keri Hilson.

L.A.X. buy CD music Despite Ice Cube's having translated his success into a cuddly family film empire, the N.W.A. veteran doesn't need to provide any gangsta disclaimers on RAW FOOTAGE. While the track "It Takes A Nation" may take the route of brandishing his braggadocio, Cube's flow is still wholly distinguishable in its force and clarity. True, the official album-opener, "I Got Locs On," also announces his adaptability, as it borrows some production techniques from his Houston-bred contemporaries. But just as he was the Madonna of hip-hop, Cube can take a current trend and own it to the point where you forget who influenced who. RAW FOOTAGE isn't without its social commentary, either (e.g., the sermonizing on tracks like "Hood Mentality"). But the fact is that Ice Cube doesn't have to articulate his role-model status through his music (his movies already achieve that). He only has to come with conviction, which FOOTAGE more than accomplishes. Recording information: Fever Studio, North Hollywood, CA. Photographer: Eric Williams. Personnel: Keith David, Musiq (Soulchild) (vocals); Warryn Campbell (various instruments); G. Koop (guitar); George Mathews , John Murphy (keyboards); DJ Crazytoones (scratches); Romeo Johnson, DeVere Duckett, Shareef Jackson, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Angie Stone, Traci Nelson, Barbara Wilson, WC (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Dave Lopez .