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The Game (rapper)

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The Game

Jayceon Terell Taylor (born November 27, 1979 in Los Angeles,[1] California), better known by his stage name The Game, is a multi-platinum African American rapper signed to Interscope Records. The Game rose to fame in 2005 following the success of his debut album, The Documentary and his two Grammy nominations. The Game is considered by many to be a driving force in bringing back the West Coast hip hop scene and competing with many of his East Coast counterparts.[2][3][4] Aside from releasing two albums that debuted at number 1 on both the United World Chart,[5][6] and the Billboard 200, The Game has also gained notability for the many hip hop feuds he has taken part in.

Biography

Early life

The Game was born to an African American mother, Lynette Baker and his father George Taylor, who is of Spanish and Native American descent, in Los Angeles, California in 1979. He spent the earliest years of his life in the district of La Brea before his family moved to Compton, California when he was four years old.[1] After his older sister accused his father of sexual molestation[7] when Taylor was five, his family was split up and The Game lived with a foster family for eight years in Carson, a suburb of Los Angeles (located immediately southwest of Compton). When Taylor was 13 his mother was regranted custody and he was reunited with his family in Compton. The Game spent his later life living in a primarily Crip gang neighborhood known as Santana Blocc,[8] although the rapper would grow up to become a member of the Bloods.[9] Taylor claims that his mother and father were both affiliated with Crip gangs. After graduating from Compton High School,[10] Taylor had a short stint at Washington State University on a basketball scholarship. However, The Game was kicked out in his first semester because of drug allegations.[11] It was then that he started fully embracing street life[12] and turning towards selling drugs. At 18 years of age he began to follow his older half brother "Big Fase 100" who was the leader of the Cedar Block Pirus. Taylor was shot five times after a failed drug deal in 2001,[10] receiving bullet wounds to the heart, stomach, and arms. This attack put him in a three day coma and while recovering in the hospital, he decided to pursue a career in the rap industry.

Early career

Studying various classic 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. The rapper's stage name was coined by his grandmother, who gave him the nickname because she claimed he was always "Game" for anything. The Game first gained prominence when he attended a hip-hop summit hosted by Russell Simmons and Louis Farrakhan[13] and releasing his first mixtape called 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,[14] but Game's mixtape found its way into the hands of famed producer Dr. Dre, who proceeded to sign him to Aftermath Entertainment. To capitalize on the growing buzz, The Game continued to release music. In October 2004 The Game released his first album Untold Story through Get Low Recordz, which managed to sell over 82,000 copies within it's first 3 months.[15] The album featured artists like Sean T, Young Noble (of the Outlawz), and JT the Bigga Figga.[16] The Game also appeared on many 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".[17]

Rise to fame

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. 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, 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.

The original title of the album was Nigga Wit' An Attitude Volume 1 (as can be seen 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 album debuted at number one on the Billboard music charts and was the tenth best selling album of 2005 in the United States.[18] It also debuted at number 7 in the United Kingdom and sold over 5 million copies world wide.[18]

Due to his disputes with 50 Cent, The Game had to leave Aftermath Entertainment and sign with Geffen Records, an imprint of Interscope, in order to terminate his contractual obligations with G-Unit in the summer of 2006. The rapper finished working on his sophomore album Doctor's Advocate, which 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 work on the album in the November issue of XXL magazine,[19] he admitted in September (after the interview was conducted) during an interview on radio station Power 105 that Dr. Dre would not be producing any tracks on the album.[20][21] The album debuted at number one in the U.S., and sold over 358,000 copies its first week.[22]

Other ventures

As a result of his fame, The Game has ventured into areas outside of rap. The Game was chosen to play and had bought a large selection of shares for the now defunct Inglewood Cobras, an ABA franchise team.[23] The Game is also venturing into acting. In 2004 he had a minor role voicing the character "B-Dup", in the highly popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. In 2006 he made his film debut in the movie Waist Deep as a charecter named "Big Meat" and has been/is filming at least two more movies.[24] 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 Katrina.

Personal life

The Game has one child, a son named Harlem Caron Taylor, who was born on June 30, 2003. Baron Davis, a basketball team mate in high school,[12] and current NBA all-star was named Harlem's godfather.[25] The Los Angeles Times reported that as of 2006 The Game is a resident of Glendale, California after having purchased a home in the Kenneth Village neighborhood.[26] The Game announced that he was engaged to actress/model Valeisha Butterfield, the daughter of U.S. Congressman G. K. Butterfield. The couple were set to marry in March of 2007, but the engagement was called off in June 2006.[27]

Controversy

Even before releasing his debut album The Game has been involved with feuds with many rappers. The rapper has previously had rivalries with Suge Knight of Death Row Records, Ja Rule, Joe Budden, Yukmouth, as well as Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, and the Young Gunz of Roc-A-Fella Records. The most prominent rivalry he has is with 50 Cent and G-Unit. Aside from the artists listed below, The Game has also had minor feuds with Xzibit, Ja Rule, Guerilla Black, Bishop Lamont, and Benzino, all of which have ended.

Joe Budden

File:TheGame Cheangeofheart.jpg
The Game (far right) appeared on an episode of "Change of Heart" in 1998.

The origin of the feud with Joe Budden began when 50 Cent criticized Joe Budden's album for "lacking street credibility." Joe Budden took offense and released various insults directed at G-Unit. The Game previously did a freestyle for DJ Clue, and then Joe Budden used the end of the freestyle without notifying The Game. While on the end, Joe Budden took shots at G-Unit. In defense, The Game made several records against Joe Budden, most notoriously the track "Buddens". Joe Budden mocked The Game's appearance on the dating game show "Change of Heart". 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, but The Game has subsequently suggested in songs and videos that he won the feud.[28]

Yukmouth

Yukmouth first met The Game at a club, and at the time Yukmouth was engaged in a feud with 50 Cent and G-Unit.[29] The Game released a diss track aimed at the rapper over the I Got 5 on It beat, a song which Yukmouth recorded when he was a part of Luniz.[30] 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 the 'Peace' song (they recorded their verses separately).[31] Since then, Yukmouth responded by releasing a free style music video over Fabolous' Breathe single. In the video there is a look-a-like of the rapper getting robbed and beaten up. In the song Yukmouth claimed that The Game had a tongue ring and was slapped by mogul Suge Knight. Since the West Coast Peace Conference both rappers ended the feud.

Death Row

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 had tried to steal The Game's chain. The Game stated on his Black Wall Street web site 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.[32] 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.[33] Later The Game and various representatives of California's rap cliques formed a West Coast "peace treaty" to end many rivalries between various West Coast rappers.[34] Although Suge Knight did not attend he and The Game declared their feud over.

Roc-A-Fella Records

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 he "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 called "Dear Summer" and in it he repeatedly used the word "game" which many hip-hop fans believed Jay-Z was directing towards The Game. The Game apparently felt that the rapper was trying to discredit him and made several remarks directed at Roc-A-Fella Records.

It should be noted that while The Game was feuding with Roc-A-Fella artists his first album featured production from Kanye West and Just Blaze, two Roc-A-Fella producers. In an interview with Ed Lover and Monie Love, The Game said the Maybach line on Westside Story was referring to Ja Rule, he also said he has a lot of respect for Jay-Z and would never take shots at a legend. Jay-Z later insisted that "game" references were just about the rap game itself, not the rapper. The Game still addressed Memphis Bleek and Young Gunz on some songs, but the beef between them cooled off. There were rumors that Jay-Z was planning on "declaring war" on The Game and others at a concert. Despite the feud, Jay-Z instead used the opportunity to make peace with many of his rivals.[35]

50 Cent and G-Unit

Stop Snitchin, Stop Lyin is a controversial documentary released by The Game in 2006.

The Game is currently involved in 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.[36] Soon after The Documentary's release, 50 Cent felt that the rapper was disloyal for saying he didn't want to participate in G-Unit's feud with other rappers, and even wanting to work with artists with whom G-Unit were feuding, such as Nas and Jadakiss.

50 Cent also claimed that he was not getting his proper credit for the creation of the album, including writing six of the songs. During that dispute, a member of The Game's entourage was shot after a confrontation at the Hot 97 studio in New York City.[37] After the situation between them escalated, 50 Cent and The Game decided to hold a press conference to announce their reconciliation.[38] Many fans had mixed feelings as to whether the rappers created a publicity stunt designed to boost the sales of the two albums the pair had just released.[39] Nevertheless, even after the situation had apparently deflated,[40] 50 Cent and G-Unit continued to feud with The Game, denouncing his street credibility in the media and claiming 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 called "G-Unot".[41] G-Unot is a boycott against 50 Cent and the other members of G-Unit Records. The phrase G-Unot is a pun on the group's nameand a popular pejorative term to refer to the group.

After the performance at Summer Jam, The Game responded with 300 Bars and Runnin', a hard hitting diss going at G-Unit as well as members of Roc-A-Fella Records on the mixtape You Know What It Is Vol. 3. Many of The Game's fans felt that the diss song was the pivotal rebuttal that gave The Game the advantage in his beef with 50 Cent and G-Unit. While it addresses his labelmates, The Game made clear that his attacks was also meant for Memphis Bleek, Benzino, and the Young Gunz. The Game chose to distance himself from addressing Jay-Z negatively on the song. 50 Cent responded through his "Piggy Bank" music video, which features The Game as a Mr. Potato Head doll and parodies many other rivals.

The Game threatened to sabotage the sales of Tony Yayo's album by asking his fans to repurchase The Documentary on the same week Yayo's debut ablum was released then mail the copy to The Black Wall Street Records offices, where he'll personally autograph each copy and include his next mixtape titled Ghost Unit. Ghost Unit continued the attacks of The Black Wall Street on Gunit.

Later The Game released mixtape and DVD entitled Stop Snitchin, Stop Lyin', released in January 2006, and was said to be the last of the "beef" between him and G-Unit. 50 Cent's rebuttal was "Not Rich, Still Lyin'. In the song he speaks about Game's fallout with his half brother Big Fase 100. Along with this, G-Unit started to respond on numerous underground mixtapes. G-Unit member Spider Loc, one of the newest members of G-Unit, began dissing The Game soon after. The Game responded with "240 Bars (Spider Joke)",[42] a song mainly aimed at Spider Loc, but also addressing Tony Yayo and rap group M.O.P.[43]

The Game had released images depicting the rap group in many parodies on some of his previous mixtapes. In response, G-Unit published a mixtape cover with the rapper's head on the body of an exotic dancer.[44] on the cover of G-Unit Radio 21. In a response to the mixtape, The Game came out with the track "The Funeral 100 Bars" aimed at the whole G-Unit camp. The Game also got "G-Unot" tatooed near his left elbow to go with the many tattos he already has including homages to Eazy-E and N.W.A, the logo of The Black Wall Street, a portrait of 2Pac as an angel as well as the Dodgers' "LA" logo tattoo below his right eye, covering a previous tattoo of a butterfly.[45]

In October 2006 The Game extended a peace treaty to 50 Cent, which wasn't replied.[46] However a couple days later on Power 106 he stated that the treaty was only offered for one day.[47] The Game later released a diss song towards G-Unit called "SoundScan", which is mainly aimed at Lloyd Banks' disappointing sales of his second album Rotten Apple.

On The Game's new album "Doctor's Advocate", In a few of the songs, he says the beef is over. In the song "Why You Hate the Game", The Game says he and 50 are just "eatin' off rap" and they are "not beefin' like that", ending the song with "One Love."

Other feuds

Lil Eazy-E, a young rapper and son of legendary N.W.A. rapper Eazy-E, was also in 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.[48] The Game responded on "120 Bars" where he claimed that Lil Eazy-E doesn't write his own lyrics.[49] 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. To which Lil Eazy-E responded with "They Know Me". On October 30, 2006 The Game went on KDAY and said that he and Lil Eazy-E ended the feud between them.

The Game has had a falling out with his manager and half-brother Big Fase 100. The rapper claims that Big Fase 100 had extorted him out of over $1.5 million,[50] and felt that his influence was holding him back. Later in interviews, Big Fase attacks The Game's street credibility, claiming that The Game being a "certified gangsta" is fabricated.[50] The manager went on to claim that the supposed gangster life is based on his own life, and blamed selfishness on The Game's part as the main reason of their falling out.

A confrontation between The Game and Ras Kass took place at Club Element in Los Angeles.[51] The stories are different from each party, but what is known is that The Game approached Ras Kass over a song that Ras Kass made regarding The Game's son and asked him to take back what he said, but he refused. The Game's entourage claimed that The Game punched and knocked out Ras Kass. The story from Ras Kass's representatives was that he walked away and got hit by a bottle in the head and then The Game's crew jumped him, but he escaped with just a black eye.

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.[52] 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.[52] The five officers involved in the incident ended up suing The Game for defamation,[53] which has yet to be taken to court.

It has been reported that WWE plans on suing The Game over the rights to his name, which is a nickname for wrestler Triple H.[54]

Discography

Main article: The Game discography

Albums

Album cover Album information
The Documentary
Doctor's Advocate

Singles

Year Song U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Rap UK singles AUS singles Album
2004 "Westside Story" (featuring 50 Cent) 93 55 - - - The Documentary
2004 "How We Do" (featuring 50 Cent) 4 2 2 5 23 The Documentary
2005 "Hate It or Love It" (featuring 50 Cent) 2 1 1 4 21 The Documentary
2005 "Dreams" 32 12 5 8 42 The Documentary
2005 "Put You on the Game" - 96 - 44 - The Documentary
2006 "It's Okay (One Blood)" (featuring Junior Reid) 71 33 16 26 68 Doctor's Advocate
2006 "Let's Ride" 46 55 15 - 75 Doctor's Advocate
2006 "Wouldn't Get Far" (featuring Kanye West) - 59 - - - Doctor's Advocate

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Sister2Sister Interview, The Game states that he moved from La Brea, Los Angeles to Compton when he was 4 years old. URL accessed on September 30, 2006
  2. ^ "XXL Spotlights West Coast Hip-Hop". February 18, 2005.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  3. ^ "The West Coast Rap Up: 2005". December, 2005. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  4. ^ "GAME: Playtime Is Over". March 21, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  5. ^ http://www.mediatraffic.de/albums-week05-2005.htm accessed on December 1, 2006
  6. ^ http://www.mediatraffic.de/albums-week48-2006.htm URL accessed on December 1, 2006
  7. ^ http://www.hurricanegame.us/gallery/displayimage.php?album=97&pos=3 URL accessed on November 29, 2006
  8. ^ http://ca.askmen.com/men/entertainment_200/200c_the_game.html URL accessed on August 3, 2006
  9. ^ The Game Bio at MTV.com URL accessed on June 12, 2006
  10. ^ a b http://www.comptongame.com/bio/ URL accessed on Novemeber 26, 2006
  11. ^ http://www.hurricanegame.us/gallery/displayimage.php?album=97&pos=5 URL accessed on November 28, 2006
  12. ^ a b http://xxlmag.com/Features/2005/april/the-game/index.html URL accessed on November 27, 2006
  13. ^ Encyclopedia of Popular Music 3rd edition, Copyright Muze UK Ltd. 1989 – 2005, ISBN:???
  14. ^ The Game On Bad Boy? It Nearly Happened, He Says URL accessed on November 20, 2006
  15. ^ The Game's 'Documentary' Blasts Off At No. 1 URL accessed on November 26, 2006
  16. ^ http://www.last.fm/music/The+Game/Untold+Story URL accessed on November 26, 2006
  17. ^ http://www.rapnewsdirect.com/0-202-257542-00.html?tag=artistnav URL accessed on November 21, 2006
  18. ^ a b c http://www.*aceshowbiz*.com/news/view/00002623.html <---Wikipedia detects link as spam. Remove asteriks to view page, URL accessed on September 30, 2006
  19. ^ http://xxlmag.com/online/?p=5019 November issue of XXL magazine. URL accessed on September 28, 2006
  20. ^ DAILY MUSIC NEWS WRAP UP URL accessed on December 4, 2006
  21. ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/rumors/index.asp URL accessed on September 28, 2006
  22. ^ The Game Wins No. 1 On The Billboard 200 URL accessed on Novemeber 22, 2006
  23. ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=5069
  24. ^ http://imdb.com/name/nm1667139/ URL accessed on Novemeber 17, 2006
  25. ^ XXL Magazine Feature URL accessed on August 26 2006
  26. ^ LAtimes article
  27. ^ Butterfield’s engagement to The Game is short lived URL accessed on August 24, 2006
  28. ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=2931
  29. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLD5UxQ2Jk8
  30. ^ http://www.nobodysmiling.com/hiphop/news/77010.php
  31. ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=3710
  32. ^ http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/7725
  33. ^ http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/7483
  34. ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=4299
  35. ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=4996
  36. ^ March 2005 issue of VIBE magazine. The interview asks about The Game's and 50 Cent's physical altercation
  37. ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=4129
  38. ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=4165
  39. ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=4129
  40. ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/features/index.asp?ID=1070
  41. ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=4469
  42. ^ http://www.hh411.com/category_feature/spiderloc_01302006.html HH411 interview
  43. ^ http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/8275 URL accessed on July 18, 2006
  44. ^ 50 CENT FUELS FIRE WITH THE GAME URL accessed on June 29, 2006
  45. ^ http://www.hurricanegame.us/index.php?go=tattoos URL accessed on September 27, 2006
  46. ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=6205 URL accessed on October 8, 2006
  47. ^ Audio of the conversation on Power 106 URL accessed on October 11, 2006 The Black Wall Street Forum
  48. ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/features/?ID=1280 URL accessed on July 8 2006.
  49. ^ http://www.illhill.com/content/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=698 URL accessed on July 8, 2006
  50. ^ a b http://www.allhiphop.com/features/?ID=1281 URL accessed on July 29 2006
  51. ^ http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=6140 URL accessed on September 26, 2006
  52. ^ a b http://ca.askmen.com/gossip/the-game/the-game-halloween-arrest.html URL accessed on August 8 2006
  53. ^ http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/45660 URL accessed on November 27, 2006
  54. ^ http://www.westcoastrydaz.com/features/2006/game/ URL accessed on September 22, 2006
  55. ^ http://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-g/game.htm URL accessed on September 29, 2006
  56. ^ http://www.riaa.com/gp/database/default.asp under "The Game" and "album" gives certification as 2x platinum
  57. ^ The Game Continues, prnewswire.com, URL accessed on September 29, 2006
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