Artist: The Game



Is it true there's no more beef? Is it right he's seeking a 50-free, friendly, family-man life? And, more importantly, is Jayceon Taylor really retiring? Hattie Collins heads to L.A.X to find out...

First things first; the new album, L.A.X?
You know what I'm about, I'm about making real albums and making them make sense, keeping the concept and the format. The concept is that, at this point in my career, I'm pretty much a statue in hip hop, I can't be moved. So L.A.X is basically, if you're coming to LA, you gotta go through me, like the airport.

What does LAX think?
They know what's up. Every time I come through there, they know I can' t be stopped. I'm the king of LA.

Yeah?
I don't think there's any artist in hip hop that's better than me. There's artists in hip hop that compliment my teamship, they can be in my court. Jay-Z in his peak was better than I was, and so was Nas, Ice Cube and Snoop, but they're legends, they're in a different class. But of the new-skool, I'm pretty much the leader.

What, even over Lil Wayne?
Lil Wayne would be the Nas to my Jay-Z ship. You got some people who say Jay is better, others that say Nas is better, and I think that's the same with me and Wayne. Only difference is me and Wayne never beefed and probably never will, cos he's a good friend of mine and a real dope MC.

You have a line about breaking into Dre’s house - is it beef?
Nah, Eminem used to do that all the time. It's not a diss, it's more poking fun at the guy that made my existence possible as far as hip hop is concerned. It's just me poking fun. I respect Dre for giving me the opportunity to exist in hip hop.

You must be disappointed he’s not on L.A.X though?
No, that was the last album. I'm over that. I've completed more albums without Dre than with Dre. Me and Dre will probably never have a working relationship again. I never knew why and at this point, I don't really care. I wish him luck with the Detox album and if he calls maybe I'll answer and maybe not.

Is Marsha Ambrosius on L.A.X?
Of course. Marsha and Busta are on every album. I love her, she's like a sister to me. I really want to record with Amy Winehouse. She's like the biggest fiend ever though.

What do you spend your money on?
I got a shoe problem. I have maybe 1000 pairs. The Air Max 95 and the Nike Blazer are my favourites.

What's the best Game album to date?
My favourite is The Doctor's Advocate, cos I knew what it took to make it, I knew what I was fighting against and I won that battle. I had to go up against Dre and 50 and fight my label and I overcame all the bullsh*t and I showed them.

How's your new son, King?
He just turned one on 25 April so yep he's doing good, walking. I'll show you some pictures. Oh, [gets out iPhone] this is me and David Beckham at the Lakers game. That was about a month ago. He's cool man, he's a fan of mine.

What's Beckham like?
He's cooler than I thought, really down to earth. When I see him at a Lakers game, he's got both of his boys with him. They're a good family, I love them. They're great people. David Beckham is really little to me, small. But black chicks dig him, white chicks dig him; it's his jaw structure, it's perfect. He's got like a superhero face structure.

Given your background as a Blood, what do you think could help the rise in UK gun and gang crime?
I think the American artists who are big over there in the UK need to step up. I think my response to your question would be a start, but I think that it's not a positive thing to repeat or re-enact what's going on over here. I've been in the UK and it ain't really no reason for anybody to be killing anybody. I think the kids over there have got it pretty good.

How was your recent experience of prison?
Prison is no place for anybody. Nobody in jail wants to be in there and I don't think I'll go back. Lesson learnt. With rap, you a target, that's why I went to jail; someone tried me and I bit the hook and the bait. You know, hip hop stole my normalness.

Is that why you're going to retire?
Nope. I'm going to retire because I love my family more than I love music. I love them more than what hip hop gives me.

So this is real retirement, not Jay-Z style?
Yep. This is L.A.X and gone.

What legacy do you think you've left?
People won't give me what is due or owed to me until five or seven years after I'm gone. When you look back on my career and think about all the things I accomplished and I faced and I overcame, my beef with 50 Cent was just as big as Tupac and Biggie, but we just didn't die. But you'll look back and respect 300 Bars. No one gives you three solid albums, three classics. People don't do that. They don't do that cos they're not me.

So what will you do? Play golf? Drink cappuccinos?
I'm going to maybe be a radio personality. But I'll always be the Game though.

L.A.X. is out 8 July. Check out videos, audio and exclusive content on Thisizgame.com

RWD Magazine

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