The Game Drops His Fourth Album LAX – Today in Hip-Hop

XXL celebrates 50 years of hip-hop with this moment:

Aug. 26, 2008: On this day in 2008, The Game dropped his fourth album LAX via Geffen Records.

The Game had already tasted success with his two critically acclaimed albums, The Documentary (2005) and Doctor’s Advocate (2006), so he didn’t need to prove anything to anyone. But he still wanted to make a difference, so he created a soundtrack for the African-American struggle during a time when the nation was going through a recession.

Several producers who worked on the project include Cool & Dre, Kanye West, Scott Storch, Nottz, Hi-Tek and more. Always one to be known for big guest stars, The Game tapped music heavyweights Lil Wayne, Chrisette Michele, Common, Ice Cube, Keyshia Cole, Ludacris, Nas, Ne-Yo, Raekwon and more for the 19-track collection.

The album’s success was driven by songs like “Dope Boys,” “Game’s Pain” and “My Life. LAX debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 during the charting week of Sept. 13, 2008. The album was released in both a regular and deluxe edition, with two different cover art designs. The first cover featured The Game and his two sons on a couch, while the second cover showed the 42-year-old rapper alone on the same couch holding a black bandana.

Though LAX wasn’t a home run album for The Game, the subject matter of the album, both the profound and profane, kept fans intrigued by the outlandish California rhymer. In a time when the South was ruling the charts with albums like Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III and Bun B’s Ill Trill, The Game represented for the West Coast with unwavering pride and musical candor.

Watch The Game’s “My Life” Video Featuring Lil Wayne Below

Watch The Game’s “Dope Boys” Featuring Travis Barker Below

Watch The Game’s “Game Pain” Featuring Keyshia Cole Below

Watch The Game’s “Camera Phone” Featuring Ne-Yo Below

See Hip-Hop Album Cover Art Fans Hated Over the Last Few Years