After much anticipation, The Game has finally released his 8th studio album 1992. This is The Game’s 3rd physical studio release over the span of a year and comes right off the heels of several recent soundtracks as well. Clocking in at just over 47 minutes 1992 is a brief 12 track stroll down memory lane as The Game reminisces over his childhood memories as an adolescent growing up in early 90’s Compton L.A. With production reminiscent of the era the album takes its name from The Game retools classic beats such as Ice-T’s ‘Colors’ for ‘True Colors/It’s On’, The D.O.C’s ‘It’s Funky Enough’ for ‘Bompton’ as well as Grand Master Flash’s ‘The Message’ for ‘F*** Orange Juice’ and more. However, the album is not simply just a retooling and recycling of classic Hip-Hop standards but also features production from contemporary producers such as Terrace Martin, Cool & Dre as well as Scott Storch which bring a modern crispness to this tribute to the ’90s.
1992 features only one guest appearance out of the albums 12 tracks, a rarity amongst most contemporary Hip-Hop albums in today’s Rap scene. In stark contrast to The Game’s past catalog which often display a myriad of guest appearances on any given release.
Stand out tracks such as ‘I Grew Up On Wu-Tang’ feature a tribute to one of Hip-Hop’s most iconic super-group while tracks such as ‘Young N*****’ offers up a tale of two childhood friends ripped apart at the hands of senseless gang violence, or ‘Savage Lifestyle’ detailing the 1992 Rodney King uprising which cleverly samples Marvin Gaye’s ‘Inner City Blues’. Other themes observed on the album are typical Game content such as growing up listening to L.A. G-Funk artist and Dr. Dre’s ‘The Chronic’ extensively, slanging drugs, gang violence but others as well such as The Game’s growth from childhood to a teenage adolescent.
The album’s cover art is an obvious nod to Snoop Dogg’s classic debut 1993 album ‘Doggystyle’ which depicts an array of events then taking place in L.A. at the time as well as the inner conflict The Game himself was experiencing coming of age in crack-era L.A.
While 1992 may not be The Game’s strongest album or most original offering, it does deliver a nostalgic dive into The Game’s past that will resonate with fans old enough to remember L.A. of yesteryear as well as younger fans looking for an album that sidesteps the tropes & cliches of most modern Hip-Hop albums.
1992 is available now on iTunes music and in stores nationwide, go out and cop it today!
Photo Courtesy: eOne & Blood Money
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