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Doctor's Advocate
by The Game

The Game reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 73 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.5 out of 10
based on 20 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 57 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

The rapper's second album is missing contributions from the Dr. Dre / Eminem / 50 Cent clan who helped power 'The Documentary' to success, but it does feature production work by Kanye West, Just Blaze and Swizz Beatz.

LABEL: Geffen
RELEASE DATE: 14 November 2006
DISCS: 1 disc
GENRE(S): Rap

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

90
RapReviews.com
The Game shows lyrical improvement over his major label debut, and even though some accused him of being a "name dropper" back then and still will today, the references seem more in keeping with his "soldier of the West" philosophy and less like a filler for lack of content.
Read Full Review
90
The New York Times
Barring some last-minute surprise, he has made the best hip-hop album of the year. [9 Nov 2006]
85
Prefix Magazine
If anyone questioned whether or not Jayceon Taylor had what it took to stand on his own post-G-Unit, Game answers all of his critics with a resounding yes on Doctor's Advocate.
Read Full Review
83
Stylus Magazine
For the most part Game sounds desperate, raw, and ravenously hungry.
Read Full Review
81
Pitchfork
As rap music, The Doctor’s Advocate is good; as tangled psychodrama, it's better.
Read Full Review
80
NOW Magazine
Unbelievably, the beats on Doctor's Advocate out-bang those on The Documentary, and the Game breathes compelling detail into the severe persona he established on his debut.
Read Full Review
80
All Music Guide
There's no precedent for an album that worships a no-show so hard on one hand, flips the bird to hip-hop protocol with the other, and knowingly refuses to push things forward, even flaunts it.
Read Full Review
75
Entertainment Weekly
It doesn't live up to the nihilistic brilliance of The Documentary... But [The Game] doesn't fall flat on his face, either.
Read Full Review
75
The Onion (A.V. Club)
In spite of the bloated run time, Advocate is far stronger than it has any right to be.
Read Full Review
70
Dot Music
An album that will satisfy everyone who enjoyed his debut.
Read Full Review
70
PopMatters
Ultimately, for all its naked ambition, “Advocate” ends up proving that without the guiding hand of Dre, Game can ... sound like Dre.
Read Full Review
70
Mojo
This record easily beats its predecessor. [Feb 2007, p.105]
63
Los Angeles Times
There's nothing here as catchy as last year's hit "Hate It or Love It," but there's no shortage of good hooks or vigorous rhythms.
Read Full Review
60
The Guardian
The Game has a lot to prove, but rather than establishing his own style he continues in the west coast tradition, with G-funk's squealing synths and endless references to "the chronic".
Read Full Review
60
Billboard
Even though "Doctor's Advocate" has its failings, it's a prescription that comes recommended. [18 Nov 2006]
60
Hartford Courant
Taylor has vastly improved as an MC since last year's "The Documentary," and though his material is still largely built around hip-hop cliches... he shows flashes of mordant wit that are as sly (and smutty) as they are surprising.
Read Full Review
60
Village Voice
Doctor's Advocate isn't really all that dire, especially if you can get past the constant--and constantly labored--airing of, shall we say, grievances.
Read Full Review
60
Rolling Stone
Doctor's Advocate isn't the classic that message boards are calling it, but it is a middling yet pleasurable record.
Read Full Review
60
Observer Music Monthly
Jayceon Taylor's eagerness to live down to a cartoon sketch of what a rapper should be is in danger of obscuring his very real talent.
Read Full Review
54
cokemachineglow
Doctor’s Advocate is essentially a long album of just okay rhymes, just okay rapping, and (without the benefit of best-of-year sublimity like Cool & Dre’s “Hate It or Love It” production) a lot of just okay beats.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this album is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 57 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Barry M gave it a9:
People who discredit this album are either G Unit fan boys or POP music critics. Superb beats, mpre detailed rhymes and an over all triumph, only hampered by the weak track "Bang" and still too much name droppimg.

zelalem gbr gave it a10:
men it's can't be determine "Dreeeeeeeeeeeeams"

Brannon M gave it a9:
Great production, tiring name dropping, great album.

Will P. gave it a9:
Surprisingly, this album is incredibly good. I have to admit that I was not a fan at all of The Game's first album (except for the ridiculously good beat on "Dreams"). That being said, either the Game has greatly improved his flow or he just isn't being tainted by 50 Cent and his awful rapping skills or lack thereof. My only two problems are the fact that he still name drops way too much, and the fact that he decided to cover the beat from Public Enemy's absolutely classic "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos", one of the 10 least-needy-of-a-cover songs ever.

David O gave it a10:
This album is the best rap-album on earth!!!!!!!!!!

Joey D gave it a10:
your album is way better than 50 cent has ever made. keep doing yo thing

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
Thi is one of the best Albums I've listened to in a while.

Read more user comments...

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