Game Doctor's Advocate CD

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.
While his big rival and former employer, 50 Cent, squandered his success by spreading himself too thin with video games, films, and a whole lot of time devoted to the G-Unit empire, the Game spent his time working the streets with beef-minded, sometimes-epic freestyles landing on mixtapes. Every time the G-Unit versus Game beef was just about to be settled, the Game showed up late to sign the treaty, and then, when he was called out on it, he would retaliate as hard as before, bringing everything back to square one. His mentor, Dr. Dre, told him to lie low, but give the Game good advice and he'll do the opposite, as if he were compelled to do so by some unseen force (probably his mile-high ego). As the release date of his heavily anticipated Doctor's Advocate approached, things got weird. Because of the G-Unit contract, nobody was sure if the album would say Aftermath or Insterscope on the back. In the final moments, it was revealed that the cover art shamelessly references his debut, and then -- towering above it all -- there was Dre's absence from the final product, and yet the album's original, Dre-boasting title sticks like a final "screw you"/"bring it on" pointed right at the haters. As all this drama spills into the actual album and feeds the cocksure rapper's craving for chaos, it becomes obvious the "sophomore slump" wasn't enough of a challenge for the Game, and even more obvious that he's following a career path of his own. Just like The Documentary, Doctor's Advocate is obsessed with the West Coast, especially Dre. The Doctor's name is dropped incessantly, to the point it will drive haters and anyone unfamiliar with the Game's history crazy. The ghost of Dre is there in every instantly grabbing club-banger and fierce street track that arcs up to the key title track, where the Game lays it all on the table with an open letter to the producer. He uses words like "family" and "father" to pay tribute to their relationship before Aftermath and Dre associate Busta Rhymes is brought in as a guest just to amp up the desperation question. On paper, Doctor's Advocate sounds like the blueprint for the most desperate follow-up ever, with the Game treating the universe as his fanboy while constantly referencing people who aren't here and an era of which he's not a part, the golden age of the West Coast. On the crip-walkin' "Da S***" there's talk of bringing back Doggystyle and The Chronic; on "California Vacation," with Snoop by his side, he claims to be previewing Dre's so-far unreleased Detox album; and "Compton"'s old-school bounce is firmly 1993 and produced by will.i.am, who returns to his hood sound after years with the polished Black Eyed Peas. will's transformation back is just one of the magical things that happens around and in spite of the Game's flippant attitude and decidedly one-track mind. Other beat-makers like Kanye West, Just Blaze, Scott Storch, and Swizz Beatz are all on fire, and guests like Tha Dogg Pound, Nas, and Xzibit give their all to an album that doesn't even bother to mention them on the back cover. Course, toying witRolling Stone (pp.111-112) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "He's more nimble and more assured than before, and he switches up his flow more often."
Entertainment Weekly (p.121) - "[T]he rapper's gruff delivery juxtaposes nicely with beatsmith Scott Storch's ABBA-inspired disco-thump and singer Nate Dogg's clean tones on 'Too Much.'"
CMJ (p.35) - "DOCTOR'S ADVOCATE is wall-to-wall intensity and danger, but never forgets to keep your head bobbing..."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.105) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Game sketches himself into his genre's history and eulogises his gangsta rap forefathers against melodic, golden-age-worthy beats..."