If The Game's debut, fueled by G Unit and touted as the early 2005 must-have, was meant to be an answer like Iverson, one might wonder what the question was. When an emcee has the luxury of picking from 50 Cent's contact list to secure top-tier producers like Timbaland, Just Blaze, and Kanye West, success seems guaranteed, right? Indeed, it does. With "Westside Story," The Game asserts that his region still holds sway in the rap game. On the Dr. Dre-produced track "Higher," he boasts, "I got 'em (Impalas) in every color, yeah I'm a known stunner." Now wealthy, he flaunts cars that cost more than many earn in a year. His skill level as a rapper, which might hover around a B minus, and his penchant for name-dropping are hardly detrimental. His gritty, real-life narratives, reminiscent of 50 Cent’s, especially shine through on tracks like "Don't Need Your Love" featuring Faith Evans, produced by Havoc. This introspective song, among other potential hits including Kanye’s fiery "Dreams," solidifies The Documentary as a standout album. It’s not just a game; it’s the only game in town.
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