The Game

Rick Ross, Drake, Meek Mill Sign On For Game's California Republic

28 Mar 2012 13:38:58 EDT

'Everybody appreciates the California sun and everything under it,' Compton MC tells MTV News of concept for new mixtape.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Felicia Morris

Game doesn't want to nail down a release date for his upcoming F.I.V.E. album, but that doesn't mean he isn't hard at work. Before the next LP drops, the Compton MC will release a new mixtape, and judging from the star-studded guest list, it should be a pretty big deal.

"I got a mixtape coming called California Republic, so everybody from Waka Flocka to Meek Mill, Wale and Ross and Drake [will be on it]," Game told MTV News during an interview in Los Angeles last week. "Just callin' in hip-hop favors to get my fans some free music."

Though the tape will be Cali-themed, Game isn't limiting his features to Golden State artists. "Basically, California Republic, it's an umbrella. People come here to do music, a lot of stars are in and out of town for countless awards and what not and everybody appreciates the California sun and everything under it," he explained of the concept. "From the good green, the women, ya know, just our lifestyle. That's pretty much what it's about."

The "Hate It or Love It" rapper has only one more album left on his current contract with Interscope. So he'll be a free agent after he delivers F.I.V.E., which has yet to get an exact release date. Game endured multiple push-backs before his 2011 The R.E.D. Album and that has him understandably hesitant about publicizing a specific time frame for release. "What I learned from this last album is to never give anybody a date to anything; I'll let the label do that when it's time," he said.

Game will eventually have a major career decision to make about what label, if any, to call home. He told us he was thinking of another direction.

"Independent," he said. "That seems like a really, really good move where I can capitalize off of all the finances being made off of my music for once. But, I don't know, I kinda like having a lot of help, a lot of assistance from a big label," he admitted. "I don't know, maybe we'll have a meeting about a lot of money or I'll be talking to my conscience."

Who else should Game collaborate with on California Republic Tell us in the comments!

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Game Calls Trayvon Martin Death Proof 'Stupidity Still Exists'

27 Mar 2012 13:27:51 EDT

'We as a people have always been targeted,' Compton MC tells MTV News of teen's racially charged shooting death.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Felicia Morris

The tragic killing of Trayvon Martin has had Americans across the country rallying for justice. But rapper Game believes, as others do, that the 17-year-old's death is part of a deeply rooted racial issue.

"I think that from the beginning of mankind, we as a people have always been targeted," the Compton MC told MTV News on March 22.

On February 26, Martin was shot dead by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman as he walked back to the home of a family friend in a gated Sanford, Florida, community. Zimmerman told police that he believed Martin — who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt — looked suspicious. After a call to 911, the dispatcher advised him not to pursue Martin. But Zimmerman reportedly ignored those instructions and pursued Martin anyway.

When police arrived on the scene, the teen was dead. Although Zimmerman admitted to the shooting, police declined to arrest him citing the state's Stand Your Ground law, which allows a person to kill in cases of self-defense. Trayvon's parents, community leaders and protestors were outraged and have been crying for justice ever since.

"For some, reason people don't think that they need any excuse to kill us, beat us, hit us, run us over, disrespect us or anything like that," Game said of the country's history of racial tension and violence.

"I'm far from racist," he continued. "I'm very educated and intellectual and I understand how life works and how people of all colors exist under the sun, but it just seems like more than not black people are, I don't know, there's always some negative occurrence that goes on in our existence. This is just another reminder that stupidity still exists."

On Monday, the Orlando Sentinel reported that unidentified investigators in the case told them that Zimmerman had a different take on the events of February 26. The 28-year-old told law enforcement that Martin struck him and bashed his head on the ground before he shot the teenager in the chest, killing him.

Share your thoughts on the Trayvon Martin case in the comments below.

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Dr. Dre/Rick Ross Collaboration 'Kinda Crazy,' Game Says

26 Mar 2012 13:09:36 EDT

'Ross, his career just hit a launchpad and then went to the moon, so I think it would be a dope collaboration,' Game tells MTV News.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Felicia Morris

Why wouldn't the Hottest MC in the Game and hip-hop's most iconic producer work together? While rap fans are understandably excited to hear Rick Ross over some of Dr. Dre's beats, the collaboration may rub some the wrong way — particularly 50 Cent, who is signed to Eminem's Shady Records and Dr. Dre's Aftermath label, but has had a well-documented rap beef with Rozay.

"I don't know, that's kinda crazy," Game answered MTV News after a long pause when asked how he thinks Fif feels about the Dre/Ross union.

Game knows both Dre and 50 very well. He was mentored by and still collaborates with Dre, and at one time he was signed to 50's G-Unit, but the two ended up in a war of words after Game befriended two of Fif's former rivals, Jadakiss and Fat Joe.

"I think Dre knows what he's doin'," Game continued. "Ross, his career just hit a launchpad and then went to the moon, so I think it would be a dope collaboration. I would love to hear Rick Ross over Dr. Dre's production."

Though the "Hate It or Love It" MC is usually outspoken, he chose to politely back out of what could potentially turn into a problem. "I can't speak too much for 50 Cent or Dre's intentions, but yeah, I don't know," he said.

No telling where the Ross/Dre records will end up, but it's a safe bet that there will be at least one on Rozay's upcoming God Forgives, I Don't LP and Dre's Detox. "We making some things happen, man — we just gonna see where the pieces fall," Ross told MTV News when he walked the Grammys red carpet in February. "But we most definitely putting in major work."

What do you think of a Rick Ross/Dr. Dre collaboration? Leave your comment below!

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23 Mar 2012 20:34:23 EDT

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Game Says Going Independent May Be A 'Really, Really Good Move'

23 Mar 2012 20:15:55 EDT

Rapper's fifth LP, F.I.V.E., could be his last album with Interscope.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Felicia 'The Poetess' Morris

Game only has one LP left on his Interscope contract, and after he drops the follow-up to 2011's The R.E.D. Album, the platinum-selling Compton rapper will contemplate his musical independence.

"Independent. That seems like a really, really good move where I can capitalize off of all the finances being made off of my music for once. But, I don't know, I kinda like having a lot of help, a lot of assistance from a big label," Game told MTV News on Thursday. "I don't know, maybe we'll have a meeting about a lot of money or I'll be talking to my conscience."

Earlier this month, Game announced his new album title, F.I.V.E., to XXLMag.com, but it may be some time before it hits shelves. "I haven't even started working on it yet. I first came up with the album title, which is F.I.V.E., and then came up with its acronym, which is Fear Is Victory's Evolution," he explained to MTV News. "It's got a good concept, and once the budget is open on that I'll get to rolling."

Game, who was the subject of Thursday night's "Behind the Music" on VH1, is reluctant to offer up anything resembling a release date due to the multiple push-backs that he's experienced with The R.E.D. Album. "You what I learned from this last album is to never give anybody a date to anything; I'll let the label do that when it's time," he said.

On Wednesday, Game released his "The City" video with Kendrick Lamar. But it looks like that will be the last single he drops off of The R.E.D. Album. "Personally I'd like to just move on and get the budget open for my fifth album, which is something I don't think Interscope is too much in a rush to do, being that it's my last contractual, obligated album on the label," he said. "I would love to just keep it rolling."

Should Game go independent or stick with Interscope? Leave your comment below!

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Game Didn't 'Hold Back Anything' On 'Behind the Music'

22 Mar 2012 18:59:51 EDT

'My life is an open book,' rapper says about tonight's VH1 special.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Felicia 'The Poetess' Morris

Whether through his music or interviews, Game is an open book. The Compton, California, rapper has been candid about his gang affiliations, his tumultuous family life and his beef with rival rappers like 50 Cent.

Tonight (March 22) at 9 p.m. ET, Game will once again open up on a new episode of VH1's critically acclaimed show "Behind the Music."

"I think it's real big, and I'm so appreciative for VH1 just reaching out to us and sort of just championing my career and appreciating me," Game told MTV News this morning.

Game is a big fan of the show, which has famously profiled musicians like Bon Jovi, Mary J. Blige and Game's mentor Dr. Dre. "I've seen a lot of episodes that were about figures that I thought to be bigger than life. I didn't think I was halfway there, just 30, and still trying to find my way through hip-hop," he said.

When the show airs, the "Hate It or Love It" rapper will watch on television like so many of his fans. "I haven't seen any edits or anything. I'm just gonna sit on the couch and watch it with the fam," he said. "They are so thorough in their interviews and the people they talk to. They went back from the early stages of my life, even earlier from before I was born. They talked to my mom, my parents, my grandmother, so I think there are a lot of things that will be uncovered [that] people will appreciate knowing."

Nas will also be a subject of a "Behind the Music" episode this season, and when thinking about himself in relation to the Queensbridge MC, Game imagines that he is much more open than his friend and frequent collaborator.

"I didn't hold back none. You know me; I don't hold back anything," he said. "I can see Nas being a little bit guarded. ... You know, Nas is a bit of a thinker. Me, I'm just a little more wild and reckless, so, you know, my life is an open book."

Don't miss Game's "Behind the Music" tonight at 9 p.m. ET on VH1.

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Game Ordered To Pay $5 Million To North Carolina Police

22 Feb 2012 14:45:31 EST

Five officers filed a defamation suit against Game in 2006 following the MC's arrest at a North Carolina mall.
By Rob Markman

Game's pockets are about to become significantly lighter. On Tuesday, a North Carolina appeals court judge ruled that the Documentary MC pay $5 million in damages to five Greensboro police officers upholding a 2006 ruling, according to a report for local North Carolina affiliate My Fox 8.

The suit stems from an October 2005 incident, when Game was arrested at the Four Seasons Town Centre mall in North Carolina. Originally, Game was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct when he went into the mall to sign autographs wearing a mask. Mall security said that the rapper was wearing a full-face Halloween mask and cursing loudly. When Game was asked to leave, he refused and was arrested soon after.

The rapper's crew filmed the arrest and included an edited portion of it in a DVD titled "Stop Snitchin', Stop Lyin'," a documentary-style film Game co-produced. The five officers filed a defamation suit against the rapper in 2006. The suit accused Game and Bungalo Records Inc. (a second producer of the film) of libel and slander, claiming their identities were wrongfully used.

Now, the five arresting officers (Hien Nguyen, Matthew Brown, Ryan Childrey, Romaine Watkins and David Gregory) will receive $1 million each for compensatory damages. The officers are also seeking an additional $10 million in punitive damages, but the appeals court decided a new trial would be set for that particular ruling.

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Game Says 'It Was Time' To Propose To His Girlfriend

12 Oct 2011 21:57:14 EDT

'You kinda gotta step up and be a family man, and she deserves it,' newly engaged MC tells MTV News.
By Matt Elias

INGLEWOOD, California — You would never consider rapper the Game "soft," especially on his home turf of Los Angeles. But the MC showed us his vulnerable side by proposing to longtime girlfriend Tiffany Cambridge on Wednesday afternoon (October 12).

Game staged the big surprise at Frank D. Parent Elementary School, where Cambridge works as a teacher. The school's principal even got in on the plan, calling Cambridge to an afterschool "meeting" where Game was waiting anxiously with the couple's two children.

Cambridge arrived with a big look of suspicion on her face to a room full of people. As family, faculty, media and the couple's bishop looked on, Game got down on one knee and said, "I just wanted to ask you: Would you marry me?"

Game's girl immediately answered with, "Oh, yes, Jayceon" (his actual first name), and the two embraced to a cheering crowd.

"I'm just, like, in shock right now, so excuse my expression," Cambridge told the room. "I am the deer-in-a-headlight type of person."

The same could be said for Game. For an artist who exudes confidence, it was rare to see the rapper nervous — well, as much as he would let on. But he admitted prior to popping the question that he was pretty anxious.

"As a man, this is that day where you throw your player card away and you kinda gotta step up and be a family man, and she deserves it," Game told MTV News immediately following the proposal. "It's been a long run, and we've been together at least seven years. We've been off, we've been on, we've been arguing, we fought. We had good times and bad times, and I think that at the end of the day, as a man, this is something that I owed to her and I owed to my family, so it was time."

While the proposal seemed planned to the very last detail, you would be surprised how it all came together.

"The planning was all quick, last minute. I woke up today with a different headspace, and I just started planning this at 10 a.m., and we pulled it off by 2 [p.m.]. Four hours to pull all these media outlets, get the school in line, the principal, the bishop from the church to come down. The sun came out, obviously [I'm] sweating here, crazy."

With Game's success at prepping all these details, he might even get in on the wedding planning himself. Well, maybe.

"No, no, no — I'm gonna stay on the Xbox, I'm gonna play 'Madden,' I'm gonna let her plan it all the way out, and then I'm gonna go overseas and get whatever she needs so she can successfully have the wedding of her life," Game said.

So what's the next step for the engaged couple? "Hopefully a nice dinner and some lovemaking!" Game joked.

This caps a successful couple of months for the rapper, whose R.E.D. Album debuted at #1 in late August.

Share your well-wishes for the newly engaged couple in the comments!

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Game Scores #1 Debut With R.E.D. Album

31 Aug 2011 12:40:11 EDT

Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne drops to #2 on Billboard chart.
By Gil Kaufman

After more delays than a space shuttle launch, Compton rapper the Game will finally have his reward next week when his endlessly pushed-back fourth effort, The R.E.D. Album, debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. According to figures provided by SoundScan, the disc moved just under 98,000 copies, enough to grab the top spot but well below the first-week figures for his 2008 album LAX, which opened with 239,000 in sales.

Either way, it's just enough to beat out Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne, which drops to #2 in its third week, as sales dove 47 percent to 94,000 for a three-week total just north of 707,000. Among the new entries in the top 10 is a Barbra Streisand collection, What Matters Most — Barbra Streisand Sings the Lyrics of Alan and Marilyn Bergman (#4, 66,000), the debut from country supergroup Pistol Annies, Hell on Heels (#5, 44,000), which consists of Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe, and Angaleena Presley, and Muppets: The Green Album (#8, 30,000), with modern interpretations of the lovable puppets' songs by OK Go, Weezer, My Morning Jacket, Amy Lee of Evanescence and the Fray.

The rest of the top 10: Adele's 21 (#3, 82,000), NOW 39 (#6, 44,000), Luke Bryan's Tailgates & Tanlines (#7, 35,000), Jason Aldean's My Kinda Party (#9, 29,000) and Eric Church's Chief (#10, 24,000).

Further down the line, Pavement singer Stephen Malkmus and his band the Jicks come in at #43 with Mirror Traffic (8,000), and 30 Seconds to Mars land at #76 with their new Unplugged set (6,000). Lil Wayne immediately jumped to the top of the iTunes album charts after Tha Carter IV dropped digitally following the VMAs on Sunday. He was followed by the Pistol Annies, Game, Adele, Jay and Kanye, Mumford & Sons' Sigh No More, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' I'm With You, the Muppets album, Foster the People's Torches and Rihanna's resurgent Loud.

Maroon 5 continue to dominate the singles chart with "Moves Like Jagger," while Foster the People are right behind with "Pumped Up Kicks," Gym Class Heroes make a strong showing with "Stereo Hearts" (featuring Maroon's Adam Levine) and Rihanna has plenty to toast as "Cheers (Drink to That)" comes in at #4. Rounding out the tally: Bad Meets Evil's "Lighters," LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem," Wayne's "She Will," Lady Gaga's "You and I," Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" and OneRepublic's Good Life."

Things will surely be shaken up next week when Wayne's Tha Carter IV crashes the charts with estimates that it could sell nearly 1 million copies. Also debuting are the Chili Peppers, as well as David Guetta, VMA pre-show performers Cobra Starship and Lenny Kravitz.

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Game 'Putting On Boxing Gloves,' Producer Mars Says

22 Aug 2011 07:45:28 EDT

The R.E.D. Album follow-up 'coming along crazy,' 1500 or Nothin' producer tells Mixtape Daily.
By Alvin Blanco

Behind the Beats: Mars

Don't let his relatively young age fool you: La Mar "Mars" Edwards is already an accomplished production veteran at only 26 years old. The California native's production discography includes placements with A-list clients like Kanye West, Snoop Dogg and Chris Brown, to name a few.

Mars and some fellow church musicians started a band and officially formed 1500 or Nothin', now a conglomerate of sought-after songwriters and producers, shortly after high school. Mars linked up with T.I., who was looking to work on his own production craft, around 2004.

"We had the same attorney," Mars told Mixtape Daily about T.I. "Tip always did beats, but he didn't have time to do it while he's rapping and doing business stuff, so he talked to my attorney about finding somebody that could help him form a company and produce with him as well as somebody he could learn from and possibly teach some things to. It was a no brainer for my attorney.

"I got out there [to Atlanta] on the next plane smoking that day. Ever since then, he treated me like a brother," Mars continued. "He'll call me to talk about life. It's more to it than me being his production partner and having Smash Factory."

T.I. and Mars, along with Lil C, formed the Smash Factory in 2005. The production team has since hooked up tracks including Nelly's "She's So Fly" and T.I.'s "I Can't Help It." While Tip has been incarcerated, Mars has asserted himself, most recently by earning an executive producer credit, alongside the likes of Dr. Dre, on Game's just-released The R.E.D. Album.

Although he produced a good chunk of the album — including the Tyler, the Creator- and Lil Wayne-assisted "Martians vs. Goblins" and "California Dream" — he was still surprised about the distinction.

Mars said the Compton rapper granted him the executive producer nod because "[Game] seeing that it wasn't about trying to get however many songs or just going up there and sending beats and just leave like other producers would." "I just wanted to be there every day to make sure there's input," he added. "Even if it was songs I didn't produce, I made sure I was vocal about it. He respected different things I would suggest."

Mars continued, "We'd been working on The R.E.D. Album for three years. Just seeing my name on the credits right when you open the album, that was pretty exciting. As well as being in good company with Pharrell and Game and Dre, that's the icing on the cake. Especially being a producer, growing up listening to their sounds and them being a big influence on my production."

As for his upcoming projects, Mars didn't offer any details on the new Will Smith album he and 1500 or Nothin' are reportedly creating. He did mention working on a 1500 or Nothin' compilation album, on Snoop Dogg's daughter's album and on Game's next album.

"Me and Game was in the studio yesterday," Mars revealed. "We did two songs. That's coming along crazy. We're going to have no features: It's just him rapping. No name dropping, no little things people say is cliché about Game. It's just putting on the boxing gloves and going for what we know."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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