The Compton Rapper, The Game

The rapper The Game performing

 

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As you can probably tell from his lyrics, The Game is an offspring of the streets. Born as Jayceon Terrell Taylor on November 27th, 1979 in Los Angeles, California, he grew up in a gritty, gang-infested Compton neighborhood. Following in the footsteps of his parents, both gang-affiliated, Game joined the Cedar Block Piru Bloods.

Wake Up Call

The Game (also known as Hurricane Game and Chuck Taylor) wasn't immune to the consequences of running the streets. Though he was reportedly booted off Washington State University's basketball team for alleged drug dealings, things would later take a dreadful turn in the world of Jayceon Taylor. In 2001, he was involved in an altercation that left five bullets in his body. After recovering from a three-day coma, Game ditched his old lifestyle and decided to give rap a shot.

A Student of the Rap Game

In his quest for supremacy, Game began to study several esteemed rap albums including Reasonable Doubt, The Chronic, and Illmatic, paying close attention to the various elements that made those records timeless. Countless mixtapes later, Dr. Dre noticed the young Comptonite and took him under his wings before deciding to split mentoring duties with 50 Cent. Unfortunately, that was also the beginning of what would eventually become the most redundant feud in hip-hop history.

The Documentary

Long before he launched his own G-Unot campaign, Game was considered the west coast arm of 50 Cent's G-Unit crew. His 2005 debut, The Documentary, featured a star-studded lineup: Mary J. Blige, Busta Rhymes, Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent, and Kanye West. The album was well received, even garnering Game and collaborator 50 Cent a Grammy nomination for "Hate It or Love It." But, everything changed after the Game learned (on air) that he had been dropped from G-Unit weeks after The Documentary hit stores. Controversy ensued.

 

The Game vs. G-Unit

Following an altercation outside Hot 97, a member of Game's entourage was shot by a friend of 50's. Interestingly, 50 and Game later denounced their animosity via a press conference, and exchanged hugs as a gesture of truce. But fans were skeptical, dismissing the truce as a publicity stunt. 50 later disclosed that he had written five songs on The Documentary. The Game's true capabilities came under fire. Enter G-Unot, a movement strictly designed to discredit 50 and his G-Unit crew.

Battles and Controversies

Other rappers that have incurred Game's wrath in the past include:

  • Yukmouth
  • Young Gunz
  • Joe Budden
  • Memphis Bleek

Doctor's Advocate

Naturally, the Game switched sides from G-Unit to Geffen for his sophomore set, The Doctor's Advocate. Although the album title is a nod to his mentor Dr. Dre, the good doctor did not contribute to the project in any shape or form.

Discography

  • 2005 - The Documentary (G-Unit/Aftermath/Interscope)
  • 2006 - Doctor's Advocate (Geffen)

The Game in His Own Words

"I'm not trying to replace 'Pac.../After five million records, the Dr. Dre lectures, and three world tours, the west coast's resurrected./ 1/4 of the group till my help was rejected./ And I felt abandoned, so I threw away my necklace." ("My Turn," the Game)