The Documentary 2
Studio album by
the Game
ReleasedOctober 9, 2015 (2015-10-09)
Recorded2015
StudioRecord Room Studios
(Miami, Florida)
Chalice Recording Studios
(Hollywood, California)
Genre
Length73:18
Label
Producer
The Game chronology
Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf
(2014)		 The Documentary 2
(2015)		 The Documentary 2.5
(2015)
Singles from The Documentary 2
  1. "100"
    Released: June 25, 2015

The Documentary 2 is the sixth studio album by American rapper the Game. It was released on October 9, 2015, by Blood Money Entertainment and eOne Music. The album serves as a sequel to his debut album. The project is first half of a two-piece project with other half The Documentary 2.5, which was released the following week.[1] The album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Kanye West and Future, among others.

Preceded the album release, the album was supported by lead single: "100" featuring Drake.

Background

In 2015, in an interview with Power 106, the Game announced that the album was about 90% complete and once Dr. Dre gets back from his vacation, him and Dre would be finishing recording the album.[2] The Game also said that his children were his motivation to finish the album, speaking about being confident on his growth as a rapper: "I listened to my first album and everybody thinks it's so amazing, but I think I'm better than that. I listened to it and heard all of the flaws of the young me, and I'm like, 'Man I would have never done this song like that today.'"[3] According to the Game, Dr. Dre was excited about the album that he called The Documentary 2 would be the best rap album in five years.[4] On July 21, 2015, the Game revealed that Diddy said The Documentary 2 is "his best album yet".[5]

Recording and production

On April 12, 2015, the Game released a video, titled "The Making of 'The Documentary 2'", and it shows him in the studio with Meek Mill, working on a song, called "Soundtrack". The video also features cameo appearances from Cool & Dre and Travis Scott.[6] During the 2015's BET Awards on North Carolina's Power 98, the Game said that he has been working with these record producers such as Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, Pharrell Williams, DJ Premier, the Alchemist, Mikhail, Jahlil Beats, Just Blaze, Scott Storch,[7] and Mike Will Made It.[8] While the Game was spending the entire week in the studio with Kanye West, the Game stated that "You get a good solid week out of 'Ye if you have history."[2] On July 6, 2015, the Game shared some footage of himself in the studio with DJ Mustard, Eric Bellinger, YG, Ty Dolla Sign, Bongo 'the Drum Gahd', Busta Rhymes and Keyshia Cole. The video features one of the snippets was a song with Game and Kendrick Lamar that was surfaced later. Joe Moses, Jay 305 and Skeme appeared in the video.[9] Many unofficial sites posted possible track lists for the album.[10] On July 21, 2015, the Game posted a picture of himself on the toilet, while recording a song for the album on his Instagram.[11] Few days later, the Game posted another picture of himself working on another song with American R&B singer Tyrese, which he said that this collaboration would be on the album. The Game confirmed that Nas, Lil Wayne, E-40, Scarface, Busta Rhymes and YG would be featured on the second disc for the album, called The Documentary 2.5.[12][13]

Release and promotion

On August 28, 2014, the Game stated that the album would be released on January 18, 2015, and will serve as the 10th anniversary of the first installment.[14] On October 14, 2014, the Game released a compilation album, Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf. On January 30, 2015, a picture of Dr. Dre, the Game, and Ice Cube was posted on Instagram. The inclusion suggested that Dre and Cube were reuniting on the album.[15] On March 12, 2015, the Game announced that the album would be released on June 30, which is his oldest son's birthday. In an interview with Miss Info, Game said spoke about the release of the album. "I feel like I could've released it after The Documentary, but ten years seems perfectly fine. It's my sixth studio album, my sixth solo album, and I think that the 10th anniversary is huge. So, why not put it out ten years later?"[3]

On June 28, 2015, the Game announced that the album would be released on August 7, 2015.[16] Target started promoting the album in stores. The cover shown a new release date of August 28.[17] On July 16, 2015, the Game posted a picture of Tupac with the caption, "Almost time to wrap this album. #TheDocumentary2".[18] On August 30, 2015, he released the cover art for the upcoming album and announced a release date of September 25, 2015. On September 9, 2015, it was revealed that the release date was pushed back to October 9, 2015.[19] On September 18, 2015, the album made available for pre-order, detailing the track listing.[20] On September 22, the Game announced that The Documentary 2 would be a double disc album with a total of 38 tracks, detailing to have disc one releasing on October 9, 2015 and then disc two releasing on October 16, 2015. A documentary about the album, showing how the album was made with studio sessions and video shoots, was released after disc one was released; it is titled The Documentary 2: The Making of the Album.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic75/100[21]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[22]
Billboard[23]
Exclaim!7/10[24]
Pitchfork Media7.2/10[25]
HipHopDX[26]
Consequence of SoundB[27]
The Source[28]
XXL[29]
Zumic[30]
NOW[31]

The Documentary 2 received strong reviews from contemporary music critics. Billboard gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 75, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 13 reviews.[32]

Commercial performance

The Documentary 2 debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, with 95,000 album-equivalent units, which included 85,000 pure album sales.

It serves as the Game's seventh top-ten album in the United States.[33] The album dropped to the number 11 in its second week, earning an additional 28,000 album-equivalent units.[34][35] As of November 2015, The Documentary 2 had accumulated 140,000 album-equivalent units in the United States, with 116,000 being pure sales.[36]

Track listing

The Documentary 2 – Standard version
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"
  • Michael Hernandez
  • Rico Evans
The Mekanics0:58
2."On Me" (featuring Kendrick Lamar)
4:45
3."Step Up" (featuring Dej Loaf and Sha Sha)
Bongo2:47
4."Don't Trip" (featuring Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and will.i.am)
will.i.am4:59
5."Standing on Ferraris" (featuring Puff Daddy)
Jahlil Beats4:11
6."Dollar and a Dream" (featuring Ab-Soul)
  • Cool & Dre
  • iLLA (add.)
  • Just BonaFide (add.)
  • Jones (add.)
5:52
7."Made in America" (featuring Marcus Black)
  • Taylor
  • Ebong
  • Marcus Black
Bongo3:14
8."Hashtag" (featuring Jelly Roll)
  • Taylor
  • David Drew
  • Ebong
  • Bongo
  • Jelly Roll
2:59
9."Circles" (featuring Q-Tip, Eric Bellinger and Sha Sha)
  • Bongo
  • Flippa (add.)
  • JProof[37] (add.)
4:11
10."Uncle (Skit)" 
2:04
11."Dedicated" (featuring Future and Sonyae)
5:45
12."Bitch You Ain't Shit"
  • Taylor
  • Kannon Cross
  • Brandon Broadnax
  • Robert Newkirk
  • Caviar
  • B-Heat
  • KirkKezi
3:05
13."Summertime" (featuring Jelly Roll)
Mike WiLL Made It3:43
14."Mula" (featuring Kanye West)
Sevn Thomas[38]3:55
15."The Documentary 2"
DJ Premier[39]4:38
16."New York, New York"
  • Taylor
  • Nicholas Warwar
  • Tarik Azzouz
  • Streetrunner
  • Azzouz[40] (add.)
2:21
17."100" (featuring Drake)
5:34
18."Just Another Day"
  • Taylor
  • Ebong
Bongo3:50
19."LA" (featuring Snoop Dogg, will.i.am and Fergie)
will.i.am5:27
Total length:73:18

Notes

  • "On Me" features additional vocals from Dr. Dre

Sample credits

Personnel

  • Adam Turchin – saxophone
  • Koofreh Umoren – trumpet

Charts

Collector's Edition

The Documentary 2 / 2.5 (Collector's Edition)
Box set by
the Game
ReleasedJanuary 22, 2016
Recorded2015
Genre
Hip hop
Length147:08
Label
  • Blood Money
  • eOne
Producer

The three-disc collector's edition of The Documentary 2 was released on January 22, 2016.[66] The bonus disc features guest appearances from Trey Songz and Meek Mill. On the chart dated February 13, 2016, Disc 3 debuted on the Billboard 200 chart at number 134.[67]

Track listing

Collector's edition bonus tracks – Disc 3
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Ride Solo"
  • Taylor
  • Valenzano
  • Lyon
  • Jones
  • Jones
  • Cool & Dre
3:11
2."Do It To You" (featuring Trey Songz)
  • Cool & Dre
  • Jones
2:53
3."The Soundtrack" (featuring Meek Mill)
  • BC Beatz
  • Kiid Planet
5:23
4."El Chapo" (with Skrillex)
  • Mr. Bangladesh
  • Skrillex
  • Nastradomas
3:39
Total length:15:06

Weekly charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[56] 134
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[57] 25
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[59] 33

See also

References

  1. ↑ Harling, Danielle (September 10, 2015). "The Game "The Documentary 2" Updated Release Date & Cover Art". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on September 13, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Hanrahan, Tim (June 2, 2015). "Game 'Documentary 2' producers". Archived from the original on December 19, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "The Game Announces 'The Documentary 2' Release Date". March 1, 2015. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  4. ↑ Smith, Trevor (July 6, 2015). "The Game Says Dr. Dre Called "The Documentary 2" The Best Rap Album In 5 Years". HNHH. Archived from the original on July 8, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  5. ↑ Jones, Biz (July 2, 2015). "Game Says Diddy Called "Documentary 2" His Best Album: "Said The Same Thing Dre Said"". SOHH. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  6. ↑ Cyclone (April 7, 2015). "Video: The Game: The Making of 'The Documentary 2". Archived from the original on December 19, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  7. ↑ Gatewood, Nikki (June 2, 2015). "AllHipHop >> Game Talks Release Date & Producers for 'Documentary 2′". Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  8. ↑ Young Pap (June 2, 2015). "The Game Speaks On Bankruptcy, Finding Love & Album 'Documentary 2' [VIDEO]". Hot 97. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  9. ↑ Carley, Brennan (July 5, 2015). "Kendrick Lamar Joins the Game on Rapid-fire New 'Documentary 2′ Snippet". Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  10. ↑ "The Game's 'Documentary 2' Get's Dr. Dre's Blessing". July 6, 2015. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  11. ↑ Wass, Mike (July 2, 2015). "Game Is Recording Songs For New LP 'The Documentary 2′ On The Toilet". Idolator. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  12. ↑ "The Game Discusses Features On "The Documentary 2"". Hiphopdx.com. September 27, 2015. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  13. ↑ "The Game – 'The Documentary 2,5' (Album Cover)". hiphop-n-more.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  14. ↑ Augustin, Camille (August 2, 2014). "The Game Reveals 'The Documentary 2′ Release Date". Vibe. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  15. ↑ Sermon (January 3, 2015). "Dre. Dre & Ice Cube To Reunite On The Game's The Documentary 2?". hiphopearly.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
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  20. ↑ Kevin Goddard (September 18, 2015). "Official Tracklist Revealed For The Game's "Documentary 2" Album". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  21. ↑ "The Documentary 2 by The Game". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  22. ↑ David Jeffries. "The Documentary 2 – Game – Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards – AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
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