LA born rapper Jayceon Terrell Taylor AKA The Game burst onto the scene 2005. After a rough childhood caught between his father’s world as a prominent member of the Crips and his older brothers as part of the Bloods, The Game became involved in the drug trade. A home invasion in 2001 caused an epiphany in the young man who believed there was a reason he had been spared and he vowed to pursue a rap career.
His early career was spent studying influential rap albums by artists such as Tupac, Biggie, NWA and Ice Cube. He absorbed the styles of these rappers – Biggie’s clear delivery and breathtaking visuals, Tupac’s articulate rage, NWA’s don’t give a damn attitude, and Ice Cube’s ability to balance ghetto politics with gangsta tales – and made them his own.
In 2003 he was discovered by Dr Dre who signed The Game to his label Aftermath Entertainment.
The resulting album The Documentary went to number one on the Billboard Charts and is considered one of the strongest debut albums in hip hop history. It features production by Dr Dre, Kanye West, Just Blaze, Cool and Dre and Timbaland and guest vocals from 50 Cent, Nate Dogg, Eminem, Mary J Blige, Bustra Rhymes and Faith Evans among others.
Success brought movie roles in films like Waist Deep (opposite Tyrese) and a memorable cameo in the Rockstar video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
But success also brought tension with rival rappers and a massive public fallout with 50 Cent and G-Unit followed. Though their rivalry stayed musical (through YouTube stunts and diss songs), by the time it was over, The Game had moved from Dr Dre’s label to Geffen Records. His sophomore effort saw him working with Kanye West, (Wouldn’t Get Far), Scott Storch (Let’s Ride) and Will.i.am (Compton) and The Doctors Advocate was another hit debuting at number one on the Billboard Charts and selling in excess of three million copies.
The Game’s third album LAX was released in 2008 and features the singles Game's Pain with Keyshia Cole, My Life featuring Lil Wayne, and Camera Phone featuring Ne-Yo. Despite the albums rave reviews, rumors are that LAX will be The Game’s last album.
