The Documentary is the commercial debut studio album by American rapper the Game. It was released on January 18, 2005, by Interscope Records, Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and 50 Cent's G-Unit Records. The record serves as his major-label debut, preceded by his independently released debut Untold Story in 2004. In 2001, while the Game was in hospital recovering from a shooting, he decided to pursue a career in music. He released the mixtape, "Q.B. 2 Compton" under his then record label "Get Low Recordz" in 2002, which was later discovered by Dr. Dre and led to him signing the Game to his label, Aftermath Entertainment. The album includes production from high-profile producers such as Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Scott Storch and Timbaland, among others, and guest appearances from 50 Cent, Eminem, Nate Dogg and Faith Evans, among others. This would be the Game's only album on all three labels, as he left them later in 2006 after a feud began between him and fellow G-Unit label-mate 50 Cent.
The Documentary debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 586,000 units in its first week. In March 2005, the Recording Industry Association of America certified the album double Platinum, and by November 2005 the album sold 2.5 million copies in the U.S. The Documentary received generally positive reviews, with critics praising the album's production. It is also often debated by critics between itself and Doctor's Advocate as Game's best album. Since the album's release, the Game was credited as a "driving force" in reviving the once-dominant West Coast hip-hop scene that had since been overshadowed by artists from the East, Midwest and South during the early 2000s. The Documentary remains the Game's best-selling album to date. On June 16, 2014, the Game announced a sequel to the album, The Documentary 2, which was released on October 9, 2015, followed by the release of The Documentary 2.5 a week later. Another sequel, The Documentary III, was then released on August 21, 2026.
Recording After the Game signed with G-Unit, he recorded nine songs with fellow American rapper 50 Cent in his home studio in Farmington, Connecticut, and then went back to Los Angeles, California to complete the album with American record producer Dr. Dre.Reid, Shaheem (March 1, 2005). "50 Cent and The Game — Doomed from the Very Beginning? ". MTV. Accessed October 4, 2007.Reid, Shaheem (February 25, 2005). "All Eyes on 50 Cent: The Sequel ". MTV. Accessed October 4, 2005. While continuing the recording sessions on the album, he began working with rapper and record producer Kanye West on a song, where Kanye did the chorus. However, the song was left on the cutting room floor. The Game was also motivated to revive the West Coast hip hop scene, which had been overshadowed since its heyday in the 1990s by rappers from the East, Midwest and the South."The New Game in Town Generates West Coast Buzz ". The New York Times. Accessed September 7, 2007. In 2005, in the interview with Vibe magazine, 50 Cent stated that he was brought in by the Interscope Records to work on the album, claiming that it was on the verge of being shelved and the Game was being dropped from the label. However, in the interview with Funkmaster Flex, the Game said that his status was never uncertain that he would be dropped from the label.Rodriguez, Jayson (March 1, 2005). "Update: Man Shot Not with 50 Cent; Violator Offices Shot Up". AllHipHop. Accessed October 3, 2007. 50 Cent also wrote 6 choruses of The Documentarys eighteen tracks—"Hate It or Love It", "How We Do", "Church for Thugs", "Special", "Higher", and "Westside Story"Berrios, Martin A. (June 27, 2007). "Streets is Watching: 50 Cent Part Two. and". AllHipHop. Accessed October 3, 2007—and didn't receive proper credit for his work.Susman, Gary (March 9, 2005). "How We Do ". Entertainment Weekly. Accessed February 18, 2008.
According to Aftermath A&R Mike Lynn, an early version of the album was rejected as the music was deemed unsatisfactory; "Dreams" was the only song from this iteration that made it into the album's revised retail release. Both Lynn and Dr. Dre claimed that the track "Dreams" alone proved to them that The Game was capable of putting together a quality record.
Music Lyrics The Game for the album recorded tracks based on his life experiences from his childhood to his success as a rapper. When asked about the album, he stated: The rapper commented on the album's perception before its release, saying, "I know everybody was expecting gang-bang, 40-ounce, low-rider music, but that's not what I gave them... I'm telling a real story, and maybe there are people out there who can relate to my experiences." Rolling Stone observed that "every song has a well-massaged hook and some immediate appeal, and verses that don't waste a lot of time getting to the point."
Production The Documentarys big budget production from high-profile hip-hop producers was well received from critics.McKeating, Scott (January 28, 2005). "The Documentary Review ". Stylus magazine. Accessed October 1, 2007. The first half of the album contains "upbeat, gangsta boogie" tracks with the other half relegating "smoothed out R&B maneuvers".D., Spence (February 2, 2005). "The Documentary ". IGN. Accessed October 7, 2007. At seven tracks, Dr. Dre co-executive produced the album with his "stripped-down cinematic" approach. "Westside Story" contains an "evil sounding piano plink", "Dreams" has a "simultaneously smooth and eerie" beat, and "Hate It or Love It" unveils a "smoothed out R&B funk vibe". "Higher" revolves around a pounding synth blast and "How We Do" contains syncopated hand claps with a beat described as "a hypnotic blast of sinister seduction powered by a deliciously primitive 808 pattern and a slinky synth."Rabin, Nathan (January 24, 2005). "The Documentary Review ". The A.V. Club. Accessed October 7, 2007. "Don't Need Your Love" samples Mary J. Blige's "Not Gon Cry" and is one of the album's more soulful songs.J-23 (January 16, 2005). "The Game - The Documentary ". HipHopDX. Accessed October 1, 2007. "Church for Thugs" delivers a "sing-song stylee over an accentuated sonic bed" and "Put You on the Game" is a club track containing "dark dirge[s] of synth".
Although "Start from Scratch" features R&B singer Marsha Ambrosius, the beat "eschews the traditional R&B vibes" for more "aural intimidation". IGN called it "the most haunting inclusion on the album." "The Documentary" features a "busy backing track" of "crashing symphonics and tinny flares of synth", which one critic believed overshadowed the lyrics. "Runnin is a "dark, Stygian tune augmented by tinges of R&B mellowness." "No More Fun and Games" has a fast-paced beatHamilton, Pierre (February 15, 2005). "The Documentary Review ". PopMatters. Accessed September 29, 2007. that takes inspiration from early 1990s production.Juon, Steve 'Flash' (January 18, 2005). "RapReview of the Week ". RapReviews. Accessed October 1, 2007. "We Ain't", which samples Dr. Dre's "The Watcher", takes Eminem's "chug laden synth gurgle" and is described as "one of the most menacingly catchy numbers on the entire album." Nate Dogg features on two "smoothed out" tracks; "Special" and the G-funk-inspired "Where I'm From".Webb, Adam (February 17, 2005). "The Game - The Documentary". Yahoo! Music. Accessed October 7, 2007. "Don't Worry" is an R&B flavored track and despite its "minimal production", one reviewer wrote the song "still hits hard." The final track, "Like Father, Like Son", is driven by a "melodramatic, string-laden" beat. Originally, Brandy Norwood was supposed to be on "Don't Worry", but Jimmy Iovine did not want a gangsta rapper like the Game on a song with Brandy.
Title The album's title was initially called "Nigga Witta Attitude Vol. 1" (a reference to N.W.A),"Interview with the Game". Aftermath Music (January/February 2004). Accessed September 29, 2007. but was changed to "The Documentary" because legal issues with an injunction filed at the request of Eazy-E's widow Tomica Woods-Wright prevented him from using N.W.A's name in the album title.
Release and promotion
The album was initially meant to be released in October 2004; however, since the other high-profile albums—including Eminem's Encore—were to be released around the same time, it was pushed back to January 18, 2005.Reid, Sheheem (October 5, 2004). "Game Ready to Prove He's Worthy of the Hype ". MTV. Accessed September 7, 2007. On September 28, 2004, the Game released a promotional mixtape entitled Westside Story through Aftermath Entertainment and G-Unit Records. The mixtape was used to promote his major-label debut album, The Documentary. In October 2004, the Game released his first independent album, titled Untold Story, through Get Low Recordz (owned by JT the Bigga Figga). The album sold over 82,000 copies within its first three months. The album featured artists such as Sean T, Young Noble (of the Outlawz) and JT the Bigga Figga. The Game also appeared on various mixtapes, which has been hosted by DJ's such as DJ Kayslay, DJ Whoo Kid and DJ Clue?. The Game also released a second mixtape You Know What It Is Vol. 2 through his own record label and appeared on the video game NBA Live 2004 on a song produced by Fredwreck called "Can't Stop Me". On November 15, 2004, the Game released a promotional mixtape, titled Charge It to the Game: The Mixtape, through Westside Records. The tape was also used to promote The Documentary.The Game's Charge It to the Game: The Mixtape. AllMusic.
Singles "Westside Story" was the first official single to be released from The Documentary. The song features guest vocals from American rapper 50 Cent, while the production was handled by Dr. Dre and Scott Storch. The single entered on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 93, charted at number 55 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and at number 29 on the Rhythmic Top 40 charts. Rolling Stone described it as "a kind of L.A. version of "In Da Club" with "a simple keyboard part, a spare 808 beat and strings that manage to sound both stressed-out and catchy." The Game has stated that this song is a tribute to Tupac Shakur, with a direct reference to him, saying "I got California love fuckin bitches to that Pac shit." The Game also makes references to Tupac's songs "California Love" and "Against All Odds". Other references includes, Nate Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound (D.P.G.) and their song "New York", Westside Connection, Michael Jackson with his album Thriller, DJ Pooh, and Kool G Rap. There is a remix featuring Snoop Dogg singing the hook and a version with both Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent on it.