LAX (album)
LAX is the third studio album by American rapper the Game. It was released on August 26, 2008, by The Black Wall Street Records, Geffen Records and Interscope Records. Recording sessions took place from 2007 to 2008, with the production that were contributed by The Runners, Kane Beatz, Cool & Dre, Kanye West, Tha Bizness, Scott Storch, Polow da Don, Nottz, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Hi-Tek, J. R. Rotem and JellyRoll; as well as guest appearances from DMX, Chrisette Michele, Common, Ice Cube, Keyshia Cole, Ludacris, Nas, Ne-Yo, Raekwon, Raheem DeVaughn, Travis Barker, Bilal and Lil Wayne. The album was supported by four singles: "Game's Pain" featuring Keyshia Cole, "Dope Boys" featuring Travis Barker, "My Life" featuring Lil Wayne, and "Camera Phone" featuring Ne-Yo. The album was released with two different cases such as one cover art for the deluxe version with Game looking at the camera with his bandanna in his hand, and the cover art for another was with him sitting on a couch smoking a blunt.
LAX debuted at number 2 on the United States Billboard 200, selling 238,000 copies in its first week, behind metal band Slipknot's All Hope Is Gone. Initially, Billboard magazine published an article stating that the Game had secured the top spot by a margin of 13 copies, in what was described as the "closest race for number one since SoundScan began tracking data in 1991". However, Slipknot's record labels Warner Music Group and Roadrunner Records requested Nielsen SoundScan to recount the album sale totals for the week. The recount placed LAX at #2, with final 1st week sales of 238,382 copies in the United States, and awarded Slipknot's All Hope Is Gone the top spot, with first week sales of 239,516 copies, a margin of 1,134 copies in the United States of America.
Upon its release, LAX received generally favorable reviews from most music critics, with music critics praising the album's production.
Background
After signing a deal to Interscope Records and Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment label, Interscope Records' head COO Jimmy Iovine convinced 50 Cent to take Game under his wing in an effort to guarantee record sales. In 2005 the Game released his debut album The Documentary, but then left G-Unit following beef with 50 Cent. In 2006 he released his follow-up album Doctor's Advocate. On December 31, 2007, at Nas' New Year's Eve party, the Game announced the title and release date for LAX.Recording
On May 11, 2007, the Game was arrested at his home reportedly in connection with an incident that happened at a basketball game in South Los Angeles back in February 2007. He was alleged to 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. 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. After pleading no contest to a felony weapons charge on February 11, the Game was sentenced to 60 days in jail, 150 hours of community service, and three years of probation. In March 2008, it was reported that the Game had been released from jail. His manager later stated that he has not yet been what you expected to be released in time to promote the album. He was released after serving eight days, and went back in a studio and begin working with the production duo Cool & Dre. Dre from Cool & Dre stated that the Game was like 'Pac, and that lyrically, he was " else right now". On July 28, 2008, the Game told J. Hyphen and J. Moore of Sunday Night Sound Sessions, that the album has been finished, and that the official release date was August 26, 2008. He said that the album would include 16 tracks, and that he would've leaked the clean version for an album two weeks before the official release. The Game mentioned that he recorded over 220 tracks for the album. In these recording sessions, artists would participate for LAX, at first Nu Jerzey Devil stated that Lil Wayne would be making his guest appearance on the album. It was later confirmed that Akon, André 3000, Busta Rhymes, Chris Brown, Chrisette Michele, Common, Ice Cube, Keyshia Cole, DMX, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Marsha Ambrosius, Mary J. Blige, Nas, Ne-Yo, Raekwon, Raheem DeVaughn, Fabolous, and Robin Thicke would be making appearances, however, all of them did not make the final cut on the album. Although Travis Barker, Bilal, Keyshia Cole, Common, Raheem DeVaughn, DMX, Ice Cube, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Chrisette Michele, Nas, Ne-Yo, Raekwon, and LaToiya Williams were in the final album track listing.All of these record producers that have been participating at this album's recording sessions with the Game were JellyRoll, Nottz, DJ Toomp, J.R. Rotem, Scott Storch, Kanye West, 1500 or Nothin', Travis Barker, DJ Quik, Knobody, Dahoud Darien, Hi-Tek, Ervin Pope, Cool & Dre, Irv Gotti, Tre Beatz, and Trackmasters. The Game had announced that Dr. Dre would be producing for the album, but neither Dr. Dre nor Aftermath Entertainment had confirmed their involvement for this album. Nu Jerzey Devil later confirmed that Dr. Dre would be serving as a producer on the album. On May 1, 2008, the Game told Power 106 that he had worked with Just Blaze, Kanye West, Cool & Dre, Scott Storch, Timbaland, Knobody, Ervin Pope, JellyRoll and Tre Beatz, among others. At a listening party on June 23, 2008, it was mentioned that the production duo Trackmasters would be included for the album.
Release and promotion
The album was pushed back to June 24, in competition for G-Unit's second album, however, it was later changed to July 8, as Interscope Records moved both of these albums. On June 8, 2008, it was announced that LAX has been pushed back for week to July 15, which happens to be the same release date as Nas' Untitled album. LAX has been pushed back for another week to July 22, and finally to August 26. On May 1, 2008, the Game told Power 106 that "Big Dreams" might not be on the album. On August 6, 2008, iTunes revealed some information on the album. It confirmed that DJ Toomp has produced a track, called "House of Pain" that would be released as the fourth single from the album. It also revealed that the standard edition would have 14 tracks with one bonus track, and the "deluxe edition" would have 18 tracks and one additional bonus track. On August 10, 2008, the Game told Friday Night Flavas, that he would be dropping two mixtapes; "Superman", featuring all original tracks, which did not appear on the album, in a week and a half and "You Know What It Is Vol. 5" after the album. He also blamed DJ Haze for the leak of the Just Blaze-produced title track "Superman".Promo singles
The first street single was released on March 18, 2008 "Big Dreams" which is produced by Cool & Dre. The Game commented on Power 106 that the song would not be released on any specific album, including the upcoming LAX. However, a modified version of the song, with different lyrics in the third verse, was later included on the bonus disc of the "Deluxe Version" of the album. Dre, from the production duo Cool & Dre commented that "'Big Dreams' is one of the most amazing records that I can honestly say that me and Cool have been a part of". Dre continued by stating "'Big Dreams' is a phenomenal record. It's very inspirational, It's gonna be big in the streets, but it's gonna be big all across the board. I feel like 'Hate It or Love It' was such an inspirational record that a lot of people didn't see coming. And this has the same feel as far as how it makes you feel, but it's gonna inspire the shit outta everybody. It's one of those records — his performance, his delivery, he's lyrically on a level that I can't even compare anyone to. He stepped it up to a notch that's amazing. He definitely has a new passion. And the fucking record is gonna really, really destroy."The second street single was "House of Pain" and it was released on August 19, 2008. The single is produced by DJ Toomp. The song "Touchdown" also debuted on the Hot 100 without being released as a single, it charted at number 57 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Singles
The first official single "Game's Pain" featuring Keyshia Cole was released on April 29, 2008. It charted moderately in the US but was met with critical acclaim "Game's Pain, Keyshia Cole sums up in one sentence what Game has been trying to say the whole album; "I just wanna let you know/ I'm paying homage 'cause you've paved the way for me." Game underscores the central themes of hip-hop's history and his deserved place in it, meditating on the struggles he's faced." The second single was "Dope Boys" featuring Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, the video released was deemed to be too edgy to be aired on TV by BET, but it has been lauded critically as "not only one of the best collaborations on L.A.X. but also one of the best songs of Game's career." The third single released was "My Life" featuring Lil Wayne, when the song first leaked, many believed the Game was "dissing" Eminem. However, later on his website, Game denied this, and apologized to anyone who might have misunderstood what he had intended to say. It charted well in the US reaching a peak of 21 in Billboard Hot 100 and it peaked at 4 for Hot Rap Tracks. The fourth and final single was released featuring Ne-Yo called "Camera Phone" on January 12, 2009, it was only released in the UK.Tour
On May 21, 2009, the Game announced upcoming tour dates for performances in the United Kingdom for the summer of 2009. The West Coast-bred emcee made his first United Kingdom appearance since last December 2008. Game returned to the United Kingdom with three live dates confirmed across the country. Game assembled a coast-to-coast US trek to support his latest effort, LAX. The club/theater outing was scheduled to visit nearly 30 cities, starting with several California performances in mid-February 2009.The tour Begin on February 18, 2009 and concluding March 29, 2009 stops included Los Angeles, California, Phoenix, Arizona, Sacramento, California, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, Boise, Idaho, Denver, Colorado, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Dallas, Texas, Houston, Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, New Haven, Connecticut, Providence, Rhode Island, Norfolk, Virginia, New York City, New York and more. The following year Game went on the European Club Tour 2010.