The Game and Big Hit open up 2024 with nothing but real-ass bars.
STREAM
TOP 3 SONGS
3. The Game Won’t Stop
A little bit of soul, a little bit of humility, and a little bit of bragging is what drives “The Game Won’t Stop.”
My favorite Big Hit performance is featured in “The Game Won’t Stop.” He blesses us with a hook that is powerful and incredibly catchy. I also love how The Game slyly spits his bars over the soulful beat, being candid about his personal life, unique upbringing, and lavish lifestyle.
I wonder how literally this song’s title is supposed to be taken. Does it mean we’ll get ten more albums from the Compton rapper?
2. Happy Ru Year
N***as don’t sound all that happy in this song, but I get it.
“Happy Ru Year” hits from every single angle. The beat is mean as hell, the hook, which is delivered by The Game, is smooth but will still get you hyped, and Big Hit drops an excellent verse in which he sounds extra aggressive and ready for war. I also rock with how The Game slid on the beat in his lone verse, delivering trill lyrics while sounding like he was getting a deep tissue massage. All in all, I feel like “Happy Ru Year” is the most complete track on this project.
1. Backfade
This is the perfect buddy-buddy gangsta track.
If you were skeptical about the chemistry between The Game and Big Hit, all you need to do is listen to the intro to this album, “Backfade.” In the track, the two rappers finish each other’s sentences, discuss being each other’s protectors, and bring up their commonalities. Though it’s The Game’s sly, grungy raps that sound excellent over the cold, LA-inspired beat, Big Hit’s goon-like energy solidifies the song’s gangsta.
SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN
1. Backfade (4.5/5)
2. Paisley Dreams (4/5)
3. P Fiction (4/5)
4. Bang Freestyle (4/5)
5. Cutthroat (Ft. TeeFLii) (4/5)
6. The Game Won’t Stop (4.5/5)
7. Crisis (Ft. Dom Kennedy)(4/5)
8. Happy Ru Year (4.5/5)
9. Body For Body (3.5/5)
OVERALL RATING
(B) (80%)
We got an excellent hip-hop album to start the year. Thank you, Hit-Boy, The Game, and Big Hit!
The history of West Coast hip-hop music likely can’t be documented without acknowledging The Game and Hit-Boy. I genuinely appreciate their commitment to showcasing their West Coast roots by crafting beats that exude LA vibes and delivering raps that vividly depict LA’s dark history. That said, Paisley Dreams stands out as a fantastic nine-track body of work that proudly represents Southern California. Throughout the project, Big-Hit and The Game discuss the stripes they’ve earned navigating the streets, authentically conveying their gangsta lifestyle, readiness for smoke, and the respect they command wherever they go.
As anticipated, The Game’s raps in this album are outstanding. I appreciate how he keeps name-dropping to a minimum, complements Big Hit’s goonish energy, and often provides the album with consistent flows. While Big Hit’s rap prowess might not reach The Game’s level, he contributes real n***a quotables and animated deliveries to the project.
When it’s all said and done, Hit-Boy’s beats steal the show. I admire the impactful beats that hit hard and encompass a range from soulful to Cali to old-school vibes. All in all, this project could signify that 2024 might be the West Coast’s year.
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
This Post Has 9 Comments
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Solid project. A little more variety in subject matter would have been appreciated.
I really like this project. I thought what they were talking about was definitely interesting. It’s only 9 tracks, so their subject matters didn’t get too old for me. But I definitely see where you’re coming from.
this man game claimed he wouldn’t drop another album after the last one. always name dropping, the “i got more hits than..” controversy, and the content he raps about. i’m tired of the game
Aside from the name-dropping (Which The Game has admitted he has a problem doing lol), I think he’s a great rapper that makes some pretty good projects. But I definitely feel where you are coming from. He lost a lot of fans after that weird Eminem diss record.
i agree, The Game was one of my favorites. his rap style is universal and definitely deserves some kind of respect. it’s just at this point he’s constantly shooting himself in the foot. both the industry and his fans are not the same from 2009
I really enjoyed this project. Game has always been one of my favorite rappers but I was really disappointed with his last project Drillmatic I thought it was too long with waaaaay too many features that didn’t really add to the album. I liked that this album only had Teefli and Dom and seemed like it had more of a direction to it than Drillmatic. I think Game found the winning formula on this one minimal features, solid bars less name dropping and excellent production. I was really pleasantly surprised. 4.5/5
Very very well said and I agree with every point that was made. When The Game plays underdog, his albums are usually great listens.
definitely agree with this. it’s not a bad project it’s just how he goes about his recordings. less name dropping means he has to create more content for both us and himself