The Game – Booking

Game, formerly The Game, is an American rapper. He rose to fame in 2005 with the success of his debut album, The Documentary, and his two Grammy nominations. Since then, he is considered to be a driving force in bringing back the West Coast hip hop scene into the mainstream and competing with many of his East Coast counterparts. Aside from releasing two albums that debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, Game has gained notoriety for involvement in feuds with other rappers.

Studying various influential rap albums, The Game developed a strategy to become a rapper himself and with help from Big Fase, they founded The Black Wall Street Records. The Game first gained prominence when he attended a hip-hop summit hosted by Russell Simmons and Louis Farrakhan, releasing his first mixtape « You Know What It Is Vol.1″
in 2002, followed by a record deal with the independent label, Get Low Recordz. Originally Sean Combs of Bad Boy Records was going to sign him to his label, but The Game’s mixtape found its way into the hands of Dr. Dre, who proceeded to sign him to Aftermath Entertainment. To capitalize on the gowing buzz, The Game continued to release music. In October 2004, he released his first album « Untold Story » through Get Low Recordz. The Game also appeared on other various mixtapes. He also released a second mixtape « You Know What It Is Vol.2″ through his own record label and appeared on the video game NBA Live 2004 on a song called « Can’t Stop Me. »

[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W85TPepF8Rg[/tube]

The Game was originally signed as an Aftermath Entertainment artist, but Interscope Records CEO Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre decided to have The Game also work with 50 Cent and G-Unit. The arrangement was to help build a growing buzz around The Game which would also fuel interest in G-Unit. Since then, he made numerous cameo appearances in music videos. Even at this early stage in his career, he was embroiled in rap feuds associated with G-Unit, including those with Joe Budden, Ja Rule, and Memphis Bleek. His first appearance on a single was Jim Jones’ « Certified Gangstas », before his own single « Westside Story » was released in 2004.

[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ5S6w_7iqU[/tube]

« The Documentary » debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was the tenth best selling album of 2005 in the United States. It also debuted at number seven in the United Kingdom and sold over five million copies worldwide. Due to his disputes with 50 Cent, The Game left Aftermath Entertainment and signed with Geffen Records to terminate his contractual obligations with G-Unit in the summer of 2006. The rapper’s second album Doctor’s Advocate was released on November 14, 2006. This album was set out by The Game to prove that he is able to make good music and be a successful artist without the help of Dr. Dre or 50 Cent. The album debuted at number one in the U.S., selling over 358,000 copies its first week. In may 2007, The Game said while filming Beef IV that his third album, L.A.X., would be his last, explaining that three albums will be enough to have allowed him to « get his point across ».

[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGbqGRWy7Zw[/tube]