We are on the eve of Usher’s Super Bowl performance. What’s particularly cool about it is that we’ll have the opportunity to see one of the greatest R&B acts ever perform his greatest hits and receive the recognition he deserves. I also hope it serves as a reminder of how fantastic the early 2000s era of music was. Other artists who contributed to that era include Jermaine Dupri, Ashanti, Nelly, and Juicy J. On Friday, those four names I just mentioned dropped a new collaboration single they worked on called “This Lil Game We Play.”

I’m not sure 40-year-olds should be talking about s**t like this, but hey, power to them. In “This Lil’ Game We Play,” Nelly and Ashanti spit game at one another, talking about all the freaky stuff they’re willing to do together. To me, they sound like two teenagers eager to get busy after doing four-hour shifts at CVS. Meanwhile, Juicy J talks about the usual: enjoying shaking asses and going over his budget at booty clubs.

“This Lil’ Game We Play” is powered by a beat you will feel like you’ve heard before. You know, that groovy, laidback R&B-type beat that was used on songs like “Shorty Come My Way.” Over the beat, we get passionate vocals out of Nelly and Ashanti (Honestly, they sound terrible in the song), and your typical bouncy raps from Juicy J. All Jermaine Dupri does vocally is hype folks up.

This song would’ve been considered outdated in 2008.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.