The Documentary 2
by The Game
  • Record Label: eOne
  • Release Date: Oct 9, 2015
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 81 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 67 out of 81
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 81
  3. Negative: 8 out of 81
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  1. nirvanafreak
    Oct 16, 2015
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Favourite Songs: On Me (feat. Kendrick Lamar), Don't Trip (feat. Dr. Dre, Ice Cube & Will.I.Am), Standing On Ferraris (feat. Diddy), 100 (feat. Drake)
    Least Favourite Songs: **** You Ain't **** Circles (feat. Q Tip, Eric Billinger & Sha Sha), Dedicated (feat. Future & Sonyae)
    I'm gonna be honest with you I haven't heard 'The Documentary' so I can't compare but based on the hype the first one gets I'm gonna guess that it's better than this sequel. This isn't the first time I've listened to The Game though, I listened to the 'R.E.D Album' and I downloaded 'Jesus Piece' when it came out; I didn't love it but there was some really nice production on a few of the tracks which kept me coming back to it quite long after it came out. On this album the production is perhaps even better but the songs I really like, like 'Don't Trip' or 'Standing On Ferraris', tend to just have really simple beats and instrumental loops throughout the whole song, as well as overused samples. I don't really care that they've been used before, I just think at this point they're kind of uninteresting and there's other songs that have sampled them much better which I'd rather listen to. I didn't really care for the stripped down production either; there's usually not much going on in it. It does work well on '100' though to create a really chilled vibe which is helped by Drake's lazy singey rap thing on the hook. In terms of rapping....I guess it was alright. I'm not a huge fan of The Game's flow and he didn't really say anything he hasn't said before. Most of the time he's just talking about Compton and that's fine but instead of really going into the details he just mentions it a lot. I liked the moments on the album where he tried to tackle racial problems a little bit or tried to become quite thoughtful. However, these moments were overshadowed by some of the more cliched and badly put lyrics on the album. I feel like this would have been a really great album if he'd cut out 4 or 5 of the songs that feel like filler. I don't dislike them they're just eh, although I do dislike the song **** You Ain't **** I think in the modern day world it's a little too misogynistic and he doesn't really justify the **** lyrics with a beat or hook or anything. Not that he ever delivers a good hook really. Any good ones are usually done by guests. And there are a lot of guests. Most of them don't even bring that much to the tracks though I barely noticed Q Tip on 'Circles' and Kanye West was only on for about 15 seconds. So Yh there's a lot of unnecessary features. Future especially, The Game and him have no chemistry it just sounds weird. Also, Will.I.Am. He talks on here like he's been making **** gangsta rap for the past decade so he can fit in with Dr. dre and Ice Cube instead of the radio friendly r&b he's become popular with like 'My Hump'. As long as you don't analyse it too closely though it's a fairly enjoyable album, hopefully 'The Documentary 2.5' will be better though.
    Improvement From Last Project?: Yes
    Try This If You Like: Compton by Dr Dre    … Expand
  2. Jumpman
    Jan 12, 2016
    4
    The game is the corniest rapper alive and he thinks he is top 5 lol, i cannot stand his name dropping *** saying invalid **** and bragging about lies . If it wasn't for the stellar production and some of the features this album would be unbearable, some of the songs already are actually

Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Most Discussed Album of 2015
52
#52 Most Shared Album of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. Rolling Stone
    Nov 11, 2015
    60
    This sprawling album [is] his most solid release since the original Documentary. It's nothing more or less than the complex story of a lifelong hip-hop fan who's happiest when he can see himself as part of the history he embraces so vocally.
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  2. AllMusic
    Nov 9, 2015
    80
    Great news is The Documentary 2 sounds effortless and winds up awesome because of it.
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  3. The New York Times
    Oct 28, 2015
    70
    The Game is literally inseparable from his influences. He doesn’t digest them as other rappers might; instead, he wears them like brands. He too is joined by oodles of guests, a striking show of support for a midcareer rapper who’s pugnacious to boot. Both Kanye West and Drake appear here, and in strong form.
    Read full review
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