The Game, DJ Drama & Mike & Keys – Every Movie Needs A Trailer (Album Review)

The Game returns with raw storytelling, soulful production, and cinematic energy on “Gangsta Grillz: Every Movie Needs A Trailer.”

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TOP 5

5. Amerikka’s Nightmare

Man, I wish The Game tossed mixtape Lil Wayne on this track. It would’ve fit so well!

“Amerikka’s Nightmare” took me straight back to the dusty mixtape era. The song is muddy, funky (in a very stinky way), and raw to the core. Mike & Keys supply a shifty beat that gives off both Kanye-like textures and straight-up dark energy. The Game responds with his most unapologetic delivery on the project, reminding us how ruthless he gets when you’re on his bad side. It’s definitely an acquired taste, but it hits for anyone raised on that gritty mixtape sound.

4. Head Of State

Based on this track, I can tell The Game is a member of the Radical left.

Call me corny—something I’m sure you’ve done at least once a week this year—but I love a track with a strong theme. “Head Of State” delivers exactly that. Over a soulful, almost timeless beat, The Game uses a stoic, deliberate flow to lay out everything he’d do if he were president: painting the White House red, freeing Larry Hoover, defunding ICE, and handing out blank checks to the unhoused. Based on this manifesto alone, I’d probably vote for him over at least Stephen A. Smith. Aside from the thoughtful lyrics, I love how focused The Game sounds here. At times, he legit sounds like he wants to run for president. I’m sure he has too many felonies under his belt to do it, but hey, dream big!

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3. Rotation (Ft. Jeremih)

Jeremih beat the hell out of COVID and has been making fire hooks ever since.

If any song from this project is destined for radio rotation, it’s this one. “Rotation” rides a commercial hip-hop/R&B beat that would fit perfectly at a pool party. Jeremih comes through with a catchy, passionate hook bragging about how he stands apart from the other guys in her orbit. Meanwhile, The Game delivers his verses with a too-cool-for-school tone, describing in vivid detail why he puts his woman on a pedestal. Ultimately, the vibes and Jeremih’s chorus carry the track; The Game’s part is… aight.

2. Quarter Zips x Matcha

Shoutout the folks with security clearances who don’t know what a quarter zip is.

This track features my favorite beat on the entire project—and it’s one of the simplest. It hits ridiculously hard, is dramatic without trying too hard, and moves with a great tempo. The Game, sounding scratchier and more intimidating than ever, taps into his competitive side as he raps about being ready for war and handing out beatdowns. He also spends a chunk of time bragging about his ice before veering off into a tangent about smashing women (he lost me there). Even so, I love how steadily he flows here, determined to unload every bar exactly the way he intends—almost to the point where he forgets the hook exists.

1. Just Like Me

If you’re borderline demonic, then you’re just like The Game explains 🙂

On “Just Like Me,” The Game lays out the full criteria for being him: you’ve got to be a killer, have cash in the safe, rise up from the mud, keep a roster of bad chicks, and—apparently—fart in pools (OK, he didn’t say that, but that’s some gangsta s**t he probably does). I love the ‘90s-inspired soulful production here, especially with that one effect that reminds me of The Wayans Bros. theme. The Game’s relentless hook works well, and the nonchalant way he delivers savage lines in his verses will f**k around and give you chills.

SONG-BY-SONG RATING

1. Silver Lining (3/5)

2. Cavier x Cartier (3.5/5)

3. Can I (Ft. Eric Bellinger) (4/5)

4. Chrome Hearts (4/5)

5. Amerikkka’s Nightmare (4/5)

6. Clown Emojis (3.5/5)

7. Good Enough (3.5/5)

8. Quarter Zips x Matcha (4.5/5)

9. Rotation (Ft. Jeremih) (4/5)

10. The Coast Guard (4/5)

11. Head Of State (4/5)

12. The Assassination of Candace Owens (4/5)

13. Left Out (3.5/5)

14. Blood Tears (Ft. Mozzy) (4/5)

15. So Contagious (Ft. Latoiya Williams) (4/5)

16. Just Like Me (4.5/5)

17. Scheme (Ft. O.T. Genasis) (4/5)

18. Living (Ft. Hayley Williams) (4/5)

RGM RATING

(77.78%)

I’ve always said The Game is one of the greatest rappers of all time, and Gangsta Grillz: Every Movie Needs A Trailershows off everything that’s kept him sharp these past few years: the name-drops, the reflections on his rugged Compton days, the shots at the competition. His rapping remains razor-focused, with punchlines that feel effortless and a delivery that’s as cold and gritty as ever—proof he still knows how to put up triple doubles in the streets.

What really stands out here is the production. Mike & Keys craft beats with a mix of Kanye-esque flair, Griselda-style grit, soulful textures, raw hip-hop edges, and an overall cinematic feel that makes the album title make sense. Throughout the project, The Game walks the line between OG wisdom, calling out questionable behavior in the younger generation, and full-on conspiracy theorizing. Sure, some of the titles and subjects feel like clout-chasing, but at least they’re entertaining and thought-provoking.

If you’re into hip-hop loaded with catchy hooks or standard trap beats, this album probably won’t hit for you. But if you’re into an artist speaking his mind across 18 tracks, you’ll be right at home.

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