Throwback Thursday: The Game - The Documentary

Image: The Game

We were excited earlier in the week to release details of the selection of tickets we have on sale for rapper The Game, so throwback Thursday this week is all about his first album The Documentary (stream below on Spotify). And what a cracker it is too.

Released right at the every beginning of 2005, The Documentary's build up mirrored one of the most influential figures in his career, 50 Cent. Shot five times in 2001, during his recovery he would study the classic hip-hop albums in great detail in an an attempt to transform his life from drug dealer to rapper. A 2002 mixtape titled You Know What It Is Vol. 1 found it's way into the hands of Sean 'Diddy' Combs and rumours swirled that he would sign him to Bad Boy records, before being eventually being signed to Dr Dre's Aftermath later in the year.

What followed was a steady building of buzz around him, as well as Dre slowly mentoring him rather than unleashing him on the world. Guest verses, video cameos, and making him a member of 50 Cent's G-Unit team all contributed to a tornado of hype around his debut; particularity as he attacked the lyrical combatants of G-Unit with a zealous zeal. And then right at the beginning of 2005 the album dropped.

Although not lyrically perfect, The Game's delivery, confidence and aggression on the mic was matched with arguably the finest set of producers mainstream hip-hop could muster at that time including Just Blaze, Eminem and Kanye West - even the unknown (at that time) production duo of Cool & Dre produced the album's biggest single 'Hate it or Love it'. The album also heavily featured Dr Dre's input, both in terms of production and overall direction, and the overriding feel is of the rappers complete love of hip-hop (this interview remonstrates that passion brilliantly as well).

It created a star, with the Game never failing to be out of the hip-hop headlines since and absolute gold in the live arena. We've got three events with tickets on sale but we'll be at the Liverpool party when he rocks up in The Exclusive Newz Bar for a more intimate showing; more details here. For his other dates check out the below:

Live in Sheffield 13th December.

Live in Middlesbrough 14th December.

Like this? Try The Game to tour the UK this Winter.

Struggling for ideas for New years Eve? Check out our New Years Eve guide here.

Tickets are no longer available for this event