Jayceon Terrell Taylor (born November 29, 1979), better known by his stage name The Game, is an American rapper. He rose to fame in 2005 with the success of his debut album, The Documentary, and his two Grammy nominations. Since then, he is considered to be a driving force in bringing back the West Coast hip hop scene and competing with many of his East Coast counterparts.[3][4][5]
Aside from releasing three albums that debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, The Game has gained notoriety for involvement in feuds with other rappers. His music falls under the gangsta rap subgenre, a style of hip hop popularized in Compton, California, although some of his earlier albums and mixtapes have been chopped and screwed.
Contents[hide]
1 Early life
2 Music career
2.1 Beginnings
2.2 Major label debut
2.3 Feud with G-Unit
2.4 Label change
2.5 LAX/Fourth Album
2.6 Other ventures
3 Personal life
3.1 Legal issues
4 Discography
5 Filmography
6 Awards
7 References
8 External links
//
Early life
The Game was born Jayceon Terrell Taylor in Los Angeles, California to Lynette Baker and father George Taylor II. He grew up in Compton, California.[1] in a primarily Crip gang neighborhood known as Santana Blocc,[6] although he grew up to become a member of the Bloods.[7][8] In an October 2006 interview with MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway, The Game described his family as "dysfunctional" and claimed that his father molested one of his sisters.[9] After graduating from Compton High School in 1999,[10] Taylor claimed to have attended Washington State University on a basketball scholarship before being suspended in his first semester because of drug allegations. However, the university's athletic department refutes these claims.[11] It was then that he started fully embracing street life and turned towards selling drugs and gang banging.[12] At the age of eighteen, he began to follow his older half brother, George Taylor III known as Big Fase 100, who was the leader of the Cedar Block Pirus.
Music career
Beginnings
Studying various influential rap albums, The Game developed a strategy to become a rapper himself and with help from Big Fase, they founded The Black Wall Street Records. The label originally featured such artists as Glasses Malone, Vita, and Nu Jerzey Devil, along with The Game himself.[13] His stage name was coined by his grandmother.[14] The Game first gained prominence when he attended a hip-hop summit hosted by Russell Simmons and Louis Farrakhan,[15] releasing his first mixtape You Know What It Is Vol. 1 in 2002, followed by a record deal with the independent label, Get Low Recordz owned by JT the Bigga Figga. Originally Sean Combs of Bad Boy Records was going to sign him to his label,[16] but The Game's mixtape found the attention of famed producer Dr. Dre, who signed him to Aftermath Entertainment in 2003.[17] In October 2004, he released his first album Untold Story through Get Low Recordz, which sold over 82,000 copies within its first three months.[18] The album featured artists like Sean T, Young Noble (of the Outlawz), and JT the Bigga Figga.[19] The Game also appeared on various mixtapes hosted by DJ's such as DJ Kayslay, DJ Whoo Kid, and DJ Clue. The Game also released a second mixtape You Know What It Is Vol. 2 through his own record label and appeared on the video game NBA Live 2004 on a song produced by Fredwreck called "Can't Stop Me".[20]
Rapper Joe Budden mocked The Game's appearance on the dating game show Change of Heart.[21] The Game has consistently defended his appearance on the show. Later, at a party in New York, the rappers mutually announced their intention to stop making hostile records about each other.[22]
Major label debut
The Game was originally signed as an artist on Aftermath Entertainment, but Interscope Records CEO Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre decided to have The Game also work with 50 Cent and G-Unit. The arrangement was to help build a growing buzz around The Game which would also fuel interest in G-Unit. Since then, he made numerous cameo appearances in music videos by 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, and Fabolous, first appearing on the music video of "In da Club", dancing with a girl. Even at this early stage in his career, he was embroiled in rap feuds associated with G-Unit, including those with Joe Budden, Ja Rule, Benzino and Memphis Bleek. His first appearance on a single was on Jim Jones' "Certified Gangstas", before his own single "Westside Story" was released in 2004.
At the 2007 Hip Hop Jam festival in the Czech Republic
The original title of the album was Nigga Wit' An Attitude Volume 1 (as heard in the lyrics to "Dreams"), but an injunction filed at the request of Eazy-E's widow prevented him from using N.W.A.'s name in the album title. Dr. Dre and 50 Cent were executive producers on The Game's major label debut album, The Documentary, which spawned the hit singles "How We Do" and "Hate It or Love It" (the latter receiving two Grammy nominations).[23] The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was the tenth best selling album of 2005 in the United States.[24] It also debuted at number seven in the United Kingdom and sold over five million copies worldwide.[25]
Lil Eazy-E, a young rapper and son of rapper Eazy-E, entered a feud with The Game. The two used to be close associates and even recorded music together. Lil' Eazy-E has since directed numerous diss songs targeting the rapper and expressed his anger over what he felt was The Game misusing his father's name. The Game responded by claiming that Lil' Eazy-E is trying to establish himself off the success he had made since releasing The Documentary.[26] The Game responded on "120 Bars" where he claimed that Lil' Eazy-E does not write his own lyrics.[27] However, The Game states on the same track that he would rather not feud with Lil' Eazy-E due to the deep respect he feels for his father. Lil' Eazy-E later responded with "They Know Me". On October 30, 2006, The Game went on KDAY and said that he and Lil' Eazy-E have ended their feud.
Dr. Dre's old nemesis Suge Knight had an ongoing feud with The Game stemming from when Yukmouth claimed that The Game had been slapped by Suge Knight. The Game responded on his website, saying that if Suge Knight had ever touched him, he would be "six feet under". After the 2005 BET Awards, associates of Death Row had their invitations to a party hosted by Ciara rescinded. Supposedly, a member of Death Row tried to steal The Game's chain. The Game stated on his Black Wall Street website that he dislikes Suge Knight because of "the lives he has endangered". In Miami for the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Suge Knight was shot and wounded at Kanye West's party by an unknown gunman.[28] The Game vigorously denied involvement in the shooting, but the incident renewed efforts to pacify hip hop feuds and The Game has consequently been discouraged from attending certain events in hopes of averting retaliation.[29] Later, The Game and various representatives of California's rap cliques formed a West Coast "peace treaty" to end many rivalries between West Coast rappers.[30] Although Suge Knight did not attend, he and The Game declared their feud over.
Feud with G-Unit
Main article: G-Unit vs. The Game feud
In early 2005, The Game began a feud with G-Unit. Even before The Game's first album was released and their feud became public, there was tension between The Game and 50 Cent.[31] Soon after The Documentary's release, 50 Cent felt that the rapper's actions in the strip club were wrong and then booted Game out of G-unit.
50 Cent also claimed that he was not getting his proper credit for the creation of the album and he claimed that he wrote six of the songs, but The Game denied that. During that dispute, a member of The Game's entourage was shot after a confrontation at the Hot 97 studio in New York City.[32] After the situation between them escalated, 50 Cent and The Game held a press conference to announce their reconciliation.[33] Fans had mixed feelings as to whether the rappers created a publicity stunt to boost the sales of the two albums the pair had just released.[32] Nevertheless, even after the situation had apparently deflated,[34] G-Unit continued to feud with The Game, denouncing his street credibility in the media and claimed that without their support, he will not score a hit from his second album. The Game responded during a performance at Summer Jam and launched a boycott of G-Unit called "G-Unot".[35]
After the performance at Summer Jam, The Game responded with "300 Bars and Runnin'", an extended "diss" aimed at G-Unit as well as members of Roc-A-Fella Records on the mixtape You Know What It Is Vol. 3. 50 Cent responded through his "Piggy Bank" music video, which features The Game as a Mr. Potato Head doll and also parodies other rivals.[36] Since then both groups continued to attack each other. The Game released two more mixtapes, Ghost Unit and a mixtape/DVD called Stop Snitchin, Stop Lyin.
50 Cent's rebuttal was "Not Rich, Still Lyin'" where he mocks The Game.[37] In addition, G-Unit started to respond on numerous mixtapes and new G-Unit member Spider Loc began dissing The Game. The Game responded with "240 Bars (Spider Joke)",[37] a song mainly aimed at Spider Loc, but also addressing Tony Yayo and rap group M.O.P.,[37] and on the song "The Funeral 100 Bars".
In October 2006, The Game extended a peace treaty to 50 Cent, which was not immediately replied to.[38] However, a couple days later on Power 106, he stated that the treaty was only offered for one day.[39] On The Game's album Doctor's Advocate, he says the beef is over on a few of the songs. The feud seemed to have gained steam after Tony Yayo allegedly slapped the fourteen year old son of Czar Entertainment CEO Jimmy Rosemond. The Game responded with "Body Bags" on You Know What It Is Vol. 4.[40] Since Young Buck was dismissed from G-Unit by 50 Cent, there has been interviews from both The Game & Young Buck stating they never had a problem with each other. In an interview Young Buck says he is aware of The Game's support and says that is real love because Lloyd Banks & Tony Yayo haven't reached out to him.[41].
Label change
Due to his disputes with 50 Cent, The Game left Aftermath Entertainment and signed with Geffen Records (another label under Universal Music Group's Interscope-Geffen-A&M division) to terminate his contractual obligations with G-Unit in the summer of 2006. The rapper's second album Doctor's Advocate was released on November 14, 2006. This album was set out by The Game to prove that he is able to make good music and be a successful artist without the help of Dr. Dre or 50 Cent. He is also working on getting his own label, The Black Wall Street Records, signed to a distribution label. While The Game originally claimed Dr. Dre would still do production on the album in the November issue of XXL magazine,[42] he admitted in September (after the XXL interview was conducted) during an interview on radio station Power 105 that Dr. Dre would not be producing any tracks[43] (although four previously unreleased tracks produced by Dr. Dre were released on the internet, but no reason was given as to why they were not included on the album). The album debuted at number one in the U.S., selling over 358,000 copies its first week.[44]
San Francisco Bay Area rapper Yukmouth, who was also engaged in a feud with G-Unit, first met The Game at a nightclub. The Game released a diss track aimed at Yukmouth over the beat of "I Got 5 on It", a song which Yukmouth recorded when he was a part of Luniz.[45] Yukmouth responded with a track that mocked The Game's appearance on Change of Heart. The two later tried to bury the hatchet due to a personal friend and even recorded a song together named "Peace". However, the beef continued afterward, since The Game dissed Yukmouth on "Peace" (they recorded their verses separately).[46]
In May 2007, The Game said while filming Beef IV that his third album, LAX, would be his last, explaining that three albums will be enough to have allowed him to "[get his] point across".[47] "Game's Pain" was the album's first single.[48]
The feud between The Game and Roc-A-Fella Records grew out of an earlier rivalry with Memphis Bleek over the name of his label (Get Low Records), which was similar to the one The Game was previously signed to (Get Low Recordz). On the single "Westside Story", The Game raps that "I don't do button-up shirts or drive maybachs", which was perceived as being directed towards Jay-Z. Later Jay-Z performed a freestyle on Funkmaster Flex's radio show on Hot 97 and in it, he repeatedly used the word "game", which some hip-hop fans believed was directed towards The Game.[49]
LAX/Fourth Album
LAX was released on August 22, 2008; The Game confirmed that it was his final album. Singles from LAX included "Game's Pain" featuring Keyshia Cole, "My Life" featuring Lil Wayne, and "Camera Phone" featuring Ne-Yo. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200.[50]
Former labelmate Bishop Lamont went on the offensive about Game on Hoodhype's satellite radion show in November 2008. For most of the interview, Lamont referred to The Game as "Baby Girl," "Sweetheart," and "Star Face." He also said Game was "bipolar" and a "phony ass dude." He went on to say that 50 Cent saved his career as Game was going to get dropped until 50 started writing his hooks. [51] Bishop further explained to HipHopDX.com "it's been that way for years," but he did not say anything because of a Dr. Dre-instituted gag order. Things changed when Game allegedly disrespected Lamont and Glasses Malone at a Houston club. After challenging him to a fight in the parking lot, Lamont says Game backed down and later invited him and Malone onto the stage. The following day Game got on the radio and dissed the two west coast rappers. [52]
During his US LAX Tour, The Game said 'I'm not gonna' lie to y'all, I'm in the studio secretly working on his fourth album'. In an interview with Power 101.1 The Game supporting a beard in the style of Rick Ross, said he doesn't have a title for the album yet, and he expects to be 'coming in September or something like that'.[53]
Other ventures
As a result of his fame, The Game ventured into areas outside of rap. He was chosen to play and had bought a large selection of shares for the now defunct Inglewood Cobras, an ABA franchise team.[54] The Game also ventured into acting. In 2004, he had a minor role voicing the character "B-Dup", in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. He also voiced a character in the video game Def Jam: Icon. In 2006, he made his film debut in Waist Deep as a character named "Big Meat" and has been filming at least two more movies.[55] The Game has also partnered with 310 Motoring to create his own shoe called The Hurricanes. A portion of the proceeds of the shoe are donated to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
In August 2007, The Game and an entourage of 12 including Omarion performed a concert in Luanda, Angola with two dates on August 11 and August 12 at the Atlantico Cinema produced by Casa Blanca company.[56]
With Kool G Rap (left) in New York, November 2004
Personal life
The Game's first son is named Harlem Caron Taylor and was born on June 30, 2003. Baron Davis, a basketball teammate in high school,[12] and current NBA all-star was named Harlem's godfather.[57] The Los Angeles Times reported that as of 2006, The Game is a resident of Glendale, California after purchasing a home in the Kenneth Village neighborhood. The Game announced that he was engaged to actress and model Valeisha Butterfield, the daughter of U.S. Congressman G. K. Butterfield. The couple were set to marry in March 2007, but the engagement was called off in June 2006.[58] In February 2007, The Game revealed in a Wild 94.9 radio interview with Mistah F.A.B. that he was expecting his second child in April, with a former substitute teacher Tiffany Webb.[59] He welcomed his second son, King Justice, on April 25, 2007. The Game is one of many celebrities to have a PSN account, under the PSN name L-A-X after his 2008 album. He has posted a video on YouTube inviting fellow online players to play him in Madden NFL 09, and to "Get your ass whipped."
Legal issues
On October 28, 2005, The Game was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in Greensboro. At one point, police said his companions were pepper sprayed when they surrounded officers in a threatening manner.[60] Mall security officers said the rapper was wearing a full-face Halloween mask, filming shoppers, cursing loudly, and refused to leave when asked. The Game continued to act up and was arrested, a police statement said. The Game claimed that officers overreacted and that he did nothing wrong when he was pepper sprayed by the mall security.[60] The five officers involved in the incident ended up suing The Game for defamation,[61] which has yet to be taken to court.
On May 11, 2007, The Game was arrested at his home reportedly in connection with an incident at a basketball game in South Los Angeles in February 2007. He is alleged to have threatened a person with a gun. The arrest took place after his home was searched for three hours. The Game was released early the next day after posting $50,000 bail.[62] On January 9, 2008, a Los Angeles judge scheduled February 4 as the beginning date for The Game's trial on assault and weapons charges.[63] After pleading no contest to a felony weapons charge on February 11, The Game was sentenced to sixty days in jail, 150 hours of community service, and three years probation.[64]
Discography
Main article: The Game discography
The Documentary (2005), Aftermath, G-Unit, Interscope
Doctor's Advocate (2006), Geffen, Interscope
LAX (2008), Geffen, Interscope
The Red Album (2009), Geffen, Interscope[65][66]
Filmography
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2004
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
B Dup
Video game, voice only
Life in a Day: The DVD
himself
small role
2005
The Documentary DVD
himself
Beef 3
himself
small role
2006
Stop Snitchin, Stop Lyin' DVD
himself
Waist Deep
Big Meat
Doctor's Advocate DVD
himself
2007
Def Jam: Icon
himself
Video game, voice only
Tournament of Dreams
—
Beef 4
himself
small role
2008
Street Kings
Grill
Belly 2: Millionaire Boyz Club
G
Life After The Math
himself
Awards
BET Awards
2005: Best New Artist (Nominated)
2005, Best Collaboration ("Hate It or Love It") with 50 Cent (Nominated)
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
2005: Top R&b/Hip-hop Artist (Won)
2005: Top Rap Albums (Nominated)
ECHO Awards, Germany
2006: International Hip-Hop/R&B Artist (Nominated)
Grammy Awards
2006: Best Rap Song ("Hate It or Love It") with 50 Cent (Nominated)
2006: Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group ("Hate It or Love It") with 50 Cent (Nominated)
MTV Video Music Awards
2005: Best Rap Video ("Hate It or Love It") with 50 Cent (Nominated)
Ozone Awards
2008: Best West Coast Rap Artist (Won)
2007: Best West Coast Rap Album ("Doctor's Advocate") (Won)
Aside from releasing three albums that debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, The Game has gained notoriety for involvement in feuds with other rappers. His music falls under the gangsta rap subgenre, a style of hip hop popularized in Compton, California, although some of his earlier albums and mixtapes have been chopped and screwed.
Contents[hide]
1 Early life
2 Music career
2.1 Beginnings
2.2 Major label debut
2.3 Feud with G-Unit
2.4 Label change
2.5 LAX/Fourth Album
2.6 Other ventures
3 Personal life
3.1 Legal issues
4 Discography
5 Filmography
6 Awards
7 References
8 External links
//
Early life
The Game was born Jayceon Terrell Taylor in Los Angeles, California to Lynette Baker and father George Taylor II. He grew up in Compton, California.[1] in a primarily Crip gang neighborhood known as Santana Blocc,[6] although he grew up to become a member of the Bloods.[7][8] In an October 2006 interview with MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway, The Game described his family as "dysfunctional" and claimed that his father molested one of his sisters.[9] After graduating from Compton High School in 1999,[10] Taylor claimed to have attended Washington State University on a basketball scholarship before being suspended in his first semester because of drug allegations. However, the university's athletic department refutes these claims.[11] It was then that he started fully embracing street life and turned towards selling drugs and gang banging.[12] At the age of eighteen, he began to follow his older half brother, George Taylor III known as Big Fase 100, who was the leader of the Cedar Block Pirus.
Music career
Beginnings
Studying various influential rap albums, The Game developed a strategy to become a rapper himself and with help from Big Fase, they founded The Black Wall Street Records. The label originally featured such artists as Glasses Malone, Vita, and Nu Jerzey Devil, along with The Game himself.[13] His stage name was coined by his grandmother.[14] The Game first gained prominence when he attended a hip-hop summit hosted by Russell Simmons and Louis Farrakhan,[15] releasing his first mixtape You Know What It Is Vol. 1 in 2002, followed by a record deal with the independent label, Get Low Recordz owned by JT the Bigga Figga. Originally Sean Combs of Bad Boy Records was going to sign him to his label,[16] but The Game's mixtape found the attention of famed producer Dr. Dre, who signed him to Aftermath Entertainment in 2003.[17] In October 2004, he released his first album Untold Story through Get Low Recordz, which sold over 82,000 copies within its first three months.[18] The album featured artists like Sean T, Young Noble (of the Outlawz), and JT the Bigga Figga.[19] The Game also appeared on various mixtapes hosted by DJ's such as DJ Kayslay, DJ Whoo Kid, and DJ Clue. The Game also released a second mixtape You Know What It Is Vol. 2 through his own record label and appeared on the video game NBA Live 2004 on a song produced by Fredwreck called "Can't Stop Me".[20]
Rapper Joe Budden mocked The Game's appearance on the dating game show Change of Heart.[21] The Game has consistently defended his appearance on the show. Later, at a party in New York, the rappers mutually announced their intention to stop making hostile records about each other.[22]
Major label debut
The Game was originally signed as an artist on Aftermath Entertainment, but Interscope Records CEO Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre decided to have The Game also work with 50 Cent and G-Unit. The arrangement was to help build a growing buzz around The Game which would also fuel interest in G-Unit. Since then, he made numerous cameo appearances in music videos by 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, and Fabolous, first appearing on the music video of "In da Club", dancing with a girl. Even at this early stage in his career, he was embroiled in rap feuds associated with G-Unit, including those with Joe Budden, Ja Rule, Benzino and Memphis Bleek. His first appearance on a single was on Jim Jones' "Certified Gangstas", before his own single "Westside Story" was released in 2004.
At the 2007 Hip Hop Jam festival in the Czech Republic
The original title of the album was Nigga Wit' An Attitude Volume 1 (as heard in the lyrics to "Dreams"), but an injunction filed at the request of Eazy-E's widow prevented him from using N.W.A.'s name in the album title. Dr. Dre and 50 Cent were executive producers on The Game's major label debut album, The Documentary, which spawned the hit singles "How We Do" and "Hate It or Love It" (the latter receiving two Grammy nominations).[23] The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was the tenth best selling album of 2005 in the United States.[24] It also debuted at number seven in the United Kingdom and sold over five million copies worldwide.[25]
Lil Eazy-E, a young rapper and son of rapper Eazy-E, entered a feud with The Game. The two used to be close associates and even recorded music together. Lil' Eazy-E has since directed numerous diss songs targeting the rapper and expressed his anger over what he felt was The Game misusing his father's name. The Game responded by claiming that Lil' Eazy-E is trying to establish himself off the success he had made since releasing The Documentary.[26] The Game responded on "120 Bars" where he claimed that Lil' Eazy-E does not write his own lyrics.[27] However, The Game states on the same track that he would rather not feud with Lil' Eazy-E due to the deep respect he feels for his father. Lil' Eazy-E later responded with "They Know Me". On October 30, 2006, The Game went on KDAY and said that he and Lil' Eazy-E have ended their feud.
Dr. Dre's old nemesis Suge Knight had an ongoing feud with The Game stemming from when Yukmouth claimed that The Game had been slapped by Suge Knight. The Game responded on his website, saying that if Suge Knight had ever touched him, he would be "six feet under". After the 2005 BET Awards, associates of Death Row had their invitations to a party hosted by Ciara rescinded. Supposedly, a member of Death Row tried to steal The Game's chain. The Game stated on his Black Wall Street website that he dislikes Suge Knight because of "the lives he has endangered". In Miami for the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Suge Knight was shot and wounded at Kanye West's party by an unknown gunman.[28] The Game vigorously denied involvement in the shooting, but the incident renewed efforts to pacify hip hop feuds and The Game has consequently been discouraged from attending certain events in hopes of averting retaliation.[29] Later, The Game and various representatives of California's rap cliques formed a West Coast "peace treaty" to end many rivalries between West Coast rappers.[30] Although Suge Knight did not attend, he and The Game declared their feud over.
Feud with G-Unit
Main article: G-Unit vs. The Game feud
In early 2005, The Game began a feud with G-Unit. Even before The Game's first album was released and their feud became public, there was tension between The Game and 50 Cent.[31] Soon after The Documentary's release, 50 Cent felt that the rapper's actions in the strip club were wrong and then booted Game out of G-unit.
50 Cent also claimed that he was not getting his proper credit for the creation of the album and he claimed that he wrote six of the songs, but The Game denied that. During that dispute, a member of The Game's entourage was shot after a confrontation at the Hot 97 studio in New York City.[32] After the situation between them escalated, 50 Cent and The Game held a press conference to announce their reconciliation.[33] Fans had mixed feelings as to whether the rappers created a publicity stunt to boost the sales of the two albums the pair had just released.[32] Nevertheless, even after the situation had apparently deflated,[34] G-Unit continued to feud with The Game, denouncing his street credibility in the media and claimed that without their support, he will not score a hit from his second album. The Game responded during a performance at Summer Jam and launched a boycott of G-Unit called "G-Unot".[35]
After the performance at Summer Jam, The Game responded with "300 Bars and Runnin'", an extended "diss" aimed at G-Unit as well as members of Roc-A-Fella Records on the mixtape You Know What It Is Vol. 3. 50 Cent responded through his "Piggy Bank" music video, which features The Game as a Mr. Potato Head doll and also parodies other rivals.[36] Since then both groups continued to attack each other. The Game released two more mixtapes, Ghost Unit and a mixtape/DVD called Stop Snitchin, Stop Lyin.
50 Cent's rebuttal was "Not Rich, Still Lyin'" where he mocks The Game.[37] In addition, G-Unit started to respond on numerous mixtapes and new G-Unit member Spider Loc began dissing The Game. The Game responded with "240 Bars (Spider Joke)",[37] a song mainly aimed at Spider Loc, but also addressing Tony Yayo and rap group M.O.P.,[37] and on the song "The Funeral 100 Bars".
In October 2006, The Game extended a peace treaty to 50 Cent, which was not immediately replied to.[38] However, a couple days later on Power 106, he stated that the treaty was only offered for one day.[39] On The Game's album Doctor's Advocate, he says the beef is over on a few of the songs. The feud seemed to have gained steam after Tony Yayo allegedly slapped the fourteen year old son of Czar Entertainment CEO Jimmy Rosemond. The Game responded with "Body Bags" on You Know What It Is Vol. 4.[40] Since Young Buck was dismissed from G-Unit by 50 Cent, there has been interviews from both The Game & Young Buck stating they never had a problem with each other. In an interview Young Buck says he is aware of The Game's support and says that is real love because Lloyd Banks & Tony Yayo haven't reached out to him.[41].
Label change
Due to his disputes with 50 Cent, The Game left Aftermath Entertainment and signed with Geffen Records (another label under Universal Music Group's Interscope-Geffen-A&M division) to terminate his contractual obligations with G-Unit in the summer of 2006. The rapper's second album Doctor's Advocate was released on November 14, 2006. This album was set out by The Game to prove that he is able to make good music and be a successful artist without the help of Dr. Dre or 50 Cent. He is also working on getting his own label, The Black Wall Street Records, signed to a distribution label. While The Game originally claimed Dr. Dre would still do production on the album in the November issue of XXL magazine,[42] he admitted in September (after the XXL interview was conducted) during an interview on radio station Power 105 that Dr. Dre would not be producing any tracks[43] (although four previously unreleased tracks produced by Dr. Dre were released on the internet, but no reason was given as to why they were not included on the album). The album debuted at number one in the U.S., selling over 358,000 copies its first week.[44]
San Francisco Bay Area rapper Yukmouth, who was also engaged in a feud with G-Unit, first met The Game at a nightclub. The Game released a diss track aimed at Yukmouth over the beat of "I Got 5 on It", a song which Yukmouth recorded when he was a part of Luniz.[45] Yukmouth responded with a track that mocked The Game's appearance on Change of Heart. The two later tried to bury the hatchet due to a personal friend and even recorded a song together named "Peace". However, the beef continued afterward, since The Game dissed Yukmouth on "Peace" (they recorded their verses separately).[46]
In May 2007, The Game said while filming Beef IV that his third album, LAX, would be his last, explaining that three albums will be enough to have allowed him to "[get his] point across".[47] "Game's Pain" was the album's first single.[48]
The feud between The Game and Roc-A-Fella Records grew out of an earlier rivalry with Memphis Bleek over the name of his label (Get Low Records), which was similar to the one The Game was previously signed to (Get Low Recordz). On the single "Westside Story", The Game raps that "I don't do button-up shirts or drive maybachs", which was perceived as being directed towards Jay-Z. Later Jay-Z performed a freestyle on Funkmaster Flex's radio show on Hot 97 and in it, he repeatedly used the word "game", which some hip-hop fans believed was directed towards The Game.[49]
LAX/Fourth Album
LAX was released on August 22, 2008; The Game confirmed that it was his final album. Singles from LAX included "Game's Pain" featuring Keyshia Cole, "My Life" featuring Lil Wayne, and "Camera Phone" featuring Ne-Yo. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200.[50]
Former labelmate Bishop Lamont went on the offensive about Game on Hoodhype's satellite radion show in November 2008. For most of the interview, Lamont referred to The Game as "Baby Girl," "Sweetheart," and "Star Face." He also said Game was "bipolar" and a "phony ass dude." He went on to say that 50 Cent saved his career as Game was going to get dropped until 50 started writing his hooks. [51] Bishop further explained to HipHopDX.com "it's been that way for years," but he did not say anything because of a Dr. Dre-instituted gag order. Things changed when Game allegedly disrespected Lamont and Glasses Malone at a Houston club. After challenging him to a fight in the parking lot, Lamont says Game backed down and later invited him and Malone onto the stage. The following day Game got on the radio and dissed the two west coast rappers. [52]
During his US LAX Tour, The Game said 'I'm not gonna' lie to y'all, I'm in the studio secretly working on his fourth album'. In an interview with Power 101.1 The Game supporting a beard in the style of Rick Ross, said he doesn't have a title for the album yet, and he expects to be 'coming in September or something like that'.[53]
Other ventures
As a result of his fame, The Game ventured into areas outside of rap. He was chosen to play and had bought a large selection of shares for the now defunct Inglewood Cobras, an ABA franchise team.[54] The Game also ventured into acting. In 2004, he had a minor role voicing the character "B-Dup", in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. He also voiced a character in the video game Def Jam: Icon. In 2006, he made his film debut in Waist Deep as a character named "Big Meat" and has been filming at least two more movies.[55] The Game has also partnered with 310 Motoring to create his own shoe called The Hurricanes. A portion of the proceeds of the shoe are donated to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
In August 2007, The Game and an entourage of 12 including Omarion performed a concert in Luanda, Angola with two dates on August 11 and August 12 at the Atlantico Cinema produced by Casa Blanca company.[56]
With Kool G Rap (left) in New York, November 2004
Personal life
The Game's first son is named Harlem Caron Taylor and was born on June 30, 2003. Baron Davis, a basketball teammate in high school,[12] and current NBA all-star was named Harlem's godfather.[57] The Los Angeles Times reported that as of 2006, The Game is a resident of Glendale, California after purchasing a home in the Kenneth Village neighborhood. The Game announced that he was engaged to actress and model Valeisha Butterfield, the daughter of U.S. Congressman G. K. Butterfield. The couple were set to marry in March 2007, but the engagement was called off in June 2006.[58] In February 2007, The Game revealed in a Wild 94.9 radio interview with Mistah F.A.B. that he was expecting his second child in April, with a former substitute teacher Tiffany Webb.[59] He welcomed his second son, King Justice, on April 25, 2007. The Game is one of many celebrities to have a PSN account, under the PSN name L-A-X after his 2008 album. He has posted a video on YouTube inviting fellow online players to play him in Madden NFL 09, and to "Get your ass whipped."
Legal issues
On October 28, 2005, The Game was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in Greensboro. At one point, police said his companions were pepper sprayed when they surrounded officers in a threatening manner.[60] Mall security officers said the rapper was wearing a full-face Halloween mask, filming shoppers, cursing loudly, and refused to leave when asked. The Game continued to act up and was arrested, a police statement said. The Game claimed that officers overreacted and that he did nothing wrong when he was pepper sprayed by the mall security.[60] The five officers involved in the incident ended up suing The Game for defamation,[61] which has yet to be taken to court.
On May 11, 2007, The Game was arrested at his home reportedly in connection with an incident at a basketball game in South Los Angeles in February 2007. He is alleged to have threatened a person with a gun. The arrest took place after his home was searched for three hours. The Game was released early the next day after posting $50,000 bail.[62] On January 9, 2008, a Los Angeles judge scheduled February 4 as the beginning date for The Game's trial on assault and weapons charges.[63] After pleading no contest to a felony weapons charge on February 11, The Game was sentenced to sixty days in jail, 150 hours of community service, and three years probation.[64]
Discography
Main article: The Game discography
The Documentary (2005), Aftermath, G-Unit, Interscope
Doctor's Advocate (2006), Geffen, Interscope
LAX (2008), Geffen, Interscope
The Red Album (2009), Geffen, Interscope[65][66]
Filmography
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2004
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
B Dup
Video game, voice only
Life in a Day: The DVD
himself
small role
2005
The Documentary DVD
himself
Beef 3
himself
small role
2006
Stop Snitchin, Stop Lyin' DVD
himself
Waist Deep
Big Meat
Doctor's Advocate DVD
himself
2007
Def Jam: Icon
himself
Video game, voice only
Tournament of Dreams
—
Beef 4
himself
small role
2008
Street Kings
Grill
Belly 2: Millionaire Boyz Club
G
Life After The Math
himself
Awards
BET Awards
2005: Best New Artist (Nominated)
2005, Best Collaboration ("Hate It or Love It") with 50 Cent (Nominated)
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
2005: Top R&b/Hip-hop Artist (Won)
2005: Top Rap Albums (Nominated)
ECHO Awards, Germany
2006: International Hip-Hop/R&B Artist (Nominated)
Grammy Awards
2006: Best Rap Song ("Hate It or Love It") with 50 Cent (Nominated)
2006: Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group ("Hate It or Love It") with 50 Cent (Nominated)
MTV Video Music Awards
2005: Best Rap Video ("Hate It or Love It") with 50 Cent (Nominated)
Ozone Awards
2008: Best West Coast Rap Artist (Won)
2007: Best West Coast Rap Album ("Doctor's Advocate") (Won)
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