Born 2 Rap

The Game announced Born 2 Rap as his final album, stating on social media: "I've had a great run & surpassed my rap goals a long time ago. It will always be 'QUALITY' over 'QUANTITY' from where I stand. The REAL music will always prevail & this album will cap off an amazing run".{{cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2021/01/17/the-game-not-retiring-30-for-30-project|title=The Game Is Not Retiring, Readies New Project '30 for 30'|work=Rap-Up|date=January 17, 2021|accessdate=February 6, 2021}}

In 2019, The Game was found guilty of sexually assaulting Priscilla Rainey, a contestant on She's Got Game. Rainey was awarded $7,000,000 in damages, plus the royalties to the album. The Game's manager Wack 100 claimed that he owned all the royalties to the album, and that he doesn't owe her anything.{{Cite web |last=Espinoza |first=Joshua |title=The Game's 'Born to Rap' royalties and record label seized to pay $7 million to accuser. |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/cmplxjoshua-espinoza/the-game-royalties-record-label-seized-seven-million-accuser |access-date=June 21, 2024 |website=Complex |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |date=April 18, 2020 |title=Wack 100 Says The Game's 'Born 2 Rap' Royalties Are His: 'I Don't Owe That Bitch A Dime' |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.55504/title.wack-100-says-the-games-born-2-rap-royalties-are-his-i-dont-owe-that-bitch-a-dime |access-date=June 21, 2024 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}}

{{Album ratings

| MC = 82/100{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/born-2-rap/the-game/critic-reviews|title=Born 2 Rap by The Game|last=|first=|website=Metacritic|language=en|access-date=December 20, 2020}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/born-2-rap-mw0003340909|title=Born 2 Rap - The Game {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|last=Thomas|first=Fred|date=|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213101638/https://www.allmusic.com/album/born-2-rap-mw0003340909 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=February 13, 2020}}

| rev2 = HipHopDX

| rev2score = 3.4/5{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3580/title.review-the-game-jogs-through-a-marathon-on-born-2-rap|title=Review: The Game Jogs Through A Marathon On 'Born 2 Rap'|last=McKrell|first=Aaron|date=November 30, 2019|website=HipHopDX|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201132004/https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3580/title.review-the-game-jogs-through-a-marathon-on-born-2-rap |archive-date=December 1, 2019 |access-date=December 2, 2019}}

| rev3 = NME

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-born-2-rap-review-2580259|title=The Game – 'Born 2 Rap' review|last=Lavin|first=Will|date=November 29, 2019|website=NME|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201023055/https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-born-2-rap-review-2580259 |archive-date=December 1, 2019 |access-date=November 29, 2019}}

| rev4 = RapReviews

| rev4score = 9/10{{Cite web|url=http://www.rapreviews.com/2020/02/the-game-born-2-rap/|title=The Game :: Born 2 Rap – RapReviews|last=Juon|first=Steve 'Flash'|date=February 11, 2020|website=www.rapreviews.com|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213101642/http://www.rapreviews.com/2020/02/the-game-born-2-rap/ |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=February 13, 2020}}

}}

Born 2 Rap was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 82, based on four reviews.

RapReviews.com critic Steve 'Flash' Juon said, "Both the length and the effort he put into it justify why it took over three years for it to come out and all the bases are covered here. ... It's hard to find anything to complain about". AllMusic's Fred Thomas said, "It's a dense volume of street storytelling and especially reflective lyricism from this rap MVP, and even at its extensive running time, Born 2 Rap delivers lots of highlights". Will Lavin of NME said, "Born 2 Rap isn't just a library of classic records blended together: it's a lesson in storytelling, something The Game has never received enough credit for. ... There's a flawless project somewhere among the album's 25 tracks, which could certainly do with trimming". Aaron McKrell of HipHopDX said, "As it stands, Born 2 Rap is a proclaimed swan song that feels more like a playlist. Let's hope Jayceon has one more in him".

{{Track listing

| headline = Born 2 Rap track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = City of Sin

| note1 = featuring Ed Sheeran

| writer1 = {{hlist|Jayceon Taylor|Ed Sheeran|Stanley Benton|Cash Jones|Titus Johnson|Tyron Douglas}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Buddah Bless|Titus E Johnson}}

| length1 = 1:43

| title2 = No Smoke

| note2 = featuring Miguel and Travis Barker

| writer2 = {{hlist|Taylor|Miguel Jontel Pimentel|Travis Barker|Benton|C. Jones|Nima Jahanbin|Paimon Jahanbin|Amir Motamedi|Edgar Panford}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Wallis Lane|Travis Barker|Nabeyin|Prince Productions}}

| length2 = 3:19

| title3 = Five Hundred Dollar Candles

| note3 = featuring Dom Kennedy

| writer3 = {{hlist|Taylor|Dominic Hunn|Benton|C. Jones|N. Jahanbin|P. Jahanbin|Amir Motamedi}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Wallis Lane|Prince Productions|Mike Wavvs}}

| length3 = 4:47

| title4 = The Light

| writer4 = {{hlist|Taylor|Benton|C. Jones|Brandon Sewell|Bruce Malament|Norman William Harris|Robert Caldwell}}

| extra4 = Brandon "Tec Beatz" Sewell

| length4 = 3:18

| title5 = Carmen Electra

| note5 = featuring Mozzy, Osbe Chill and TOBi

| writer5 = {{hlist|Taylor|Timothy Patterson|Irshaad Boothe El|Oluwatobi Ajibolade|Benton|C. Jones|Sewell|Christopher Martin|Michael D'Angelo Archer}}

| extra5 = Brandon "Tec Beatz" Sewell

| length5 = 4:16

| title6 = Dead Homies

| note6 = featuring Red Café

| writer6 = {{hlist|Taylor|Jermaine Denny|Benton|C. Jones|N. Jahanbin|P. Jahanbin|Amir Motamedi}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Wallis Lane|Prince Productions|Mike Wavvs|Reske}}

| length6 = 2:53

| title7 = Gold Daytonas

| note7 = featuring Dom Kennedy

| writer7 = {{hlist|Taylor|Hunn|Benton|C. Jones|N. Jahanbin|P. Jahanbin|Amir Motamedi|Chris Anthony Malloy Jr.|James Bedford|Roy Ayers|Sylvia Striplin}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Wallis Lane|Prince Productions|Chris "Big Duke" Malloy}}

| length7 = 2:37

| title8 = West Side

| writer8 = {{hlist|Taylor|Benton|C. Jones| N. Jahanbin|P. Jahanbin|Amir Motamedi|Chris Anthony Malloy Jr.}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Wallis Lane|Prince Productions|Chris "Big Duke" Malloy}}

| length8 = 2:50

| title9 = 40 Ounce Love

| note9 = featuring Just Liv

| writer9 = {{hlist|Taylor|Olivia Walker|Benton|C. Jones|Sewell|Johnson|Elbernita Clark}}

| extra9 = Brandon "Tec Beatz" Sewell

| length9 = 2:57

| title10 = Gucci Flip Flops

| writer10 = {{hlist|Taylor|Benton|C. Jones|Kasseem Dean|David Willis|Lonnie Liston|Nasir Jones|Peter O. Phillips|Shawn Carter|Terry Holloway}}

| extra10 = Swizz Beatz

| length10 = 3:43

| title11 = Born 2 Rap

| writer11 = {{hlist|Taylor|Benton|C. Jones|Sewell|Malloy Jr.|Johnson}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Brandon "Tec Beatz" Sewell|Chris "Big Duke" Malloy}}

| length11 = 4:00

| title12 = Welcome Home

| note12 = featuring Nipsey Hussle

| writer12 = {{hlist|Taylor|Ermias Asghedom|Benton|C. Jones|Lamont Dozier}}

| extra12 = BongoByTheWay

| length12 = 4:33

| title13 = Help Me (Interlude)

| note13 = featuring Sly

| writer13 = {{hlist|Taylor|Sylvester Jordan}}

| extra13 = Sly

| length13 = 2:18

| title14 = I Didn't Wanna Write This Song

| note14 = featuring Marsha Ambrosius

| writer14 = {{hlist|Taylor|Marsha Ambrosius|Hunn|Benton|C. Jones|Bernard Edwards Jr.|Larry Blackmon}}

| extra14 = Focus...

| length14 = 4:21

| title15 = The Code

| note15 = featuring 21 Savage

| writer15 = {{hlist|Taylor|She'yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph|Benton|C. Jones|Sewell|Amir Motamedi|Malloy Jr.|Reuben Bell|Jerry Strickland}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|Brandon "Tec Beatz" Sewell|Prince Productions|Chris "Big Duke" Malloy|Titus E Johnson}}

| length15 = 5:49

| title16 = Stay Down

| note16 = featuring Bryson Tiller

| writer16 = {{hlist|Taylor|Bryson Tiller|Benton|C. Jones|Malloy Jr.|Johnson|William Michael Coleman}}

| extra16 = {{hlist|Chris "Big Duke" Malloy|Titus E Johnson|Mike Zombie}}

| length16 = 3:36

| title17 = Hug the Block

| writer17 = {{hlist|Taylor|Walker|Benton|C. Jones|N. Jahanbin|P. Jahanbin|Amir Motamedi}}

| extra17 = {{hlist|Wallis Lane|Prince Productions}}

| length17 = 4:57

| title18 = Ask for Me

| writer18 = {{hlist|Taylor|C. Jones|Khalil Abdul-Rahman}}

| extra18 = {{hlist|DJ Khalil}}

| length18 = 2:38

| title19 = Stainless

| note19 = featuring Anderson .Paak

| writer19 = {{hlist|Taylor|Brandon Paak Anderson|Nazir Assad|Claydes Charles Smith|Dennis Thomas|George Brown|Otha Nash|Richard Westfield|Robert Bell|Robert Mickens|Ronald Bell}}

| extra19 = Track King Cole

| length19 = 3:59

| title20 = Gangstas Make the Girls Go Wild

| note20 = featuring Chris Brown

| writer20 = {{hlist|Taylor|Chris Brown|Benton|C. Jones|N. Jahanbin|P. Jahanbin|Malloy Jr.|Johnson|Linda Creed|Thomas Bell}}

| extra20 = {{hlist|Wallis Lane|Chris "Big Duke" Malloy|Titus E Johnson}}

| length20 = 2:48

| title21 = Blood Thicker Than Water

| note21 = featuring Trey Songz

| writer21 = {{hlist|Taylor|Tremaine Neverson|Benton|C. Jones|Nicholas Warwar|Roscoe Corner}}

| extra21 = {{hlist|Streetrunner|Azzouz}}

| length21 = 3:47

| title22 = Rewind II

| writer22 = {{hlist|Taylor|Benton|C. Jones|Malloy Jr.}}

| extra22 = Chris "Big Duke" Malloy

| length22 = 2:24

| title23 = One Life

| note23 = featuring J. Stone and Masego

| writer23 = {{hlist|Taylor|Micah Davis|Randy Green|Benton|C. Jones|N. Jahanbin|P. Jahanbin| Amir Motamedi|Nina Simone}}

| extra23 = {{hlist|Wallis Lane|Prince Productions}}

| length23 = 5:14

| title24 = Cross on Jesus Back

| note24 = featuring D Smoke

| writer24 = {{hlist|Taylor|Daniel Anthony Farris|C. Jones|N. Jahanbin|P. Jahanbin|Malloy Jr.|Coleman}}

| extra24 = {{hlist|Wallis Lane|Chris "Big Duke" Malloy|Mike Zombie}}

| length24 = 3:28

| title25 = Roadside

| note25 = featuring Ed Sheeran

| writer25 = {{hlist|Taylor|Benton|C. Jones|Tyrone Lindo}}

| extra25 = Ed Sheeran

| length25 = 3:56

| total_length = 90:12

}}

Notes

• "Born 2 Rap" features outro vocals by Nipsey Hussle
• "I Didn't Wanna Write This Song" features additional vocals by Dom Kennedy

Sample credits

• "Five Hundred Dollar Candles" contains an excerpt from Crips and Bloods 80s Interview (2016), courtesy of CBS News, and uncredited elements of "If Light Escapes", written by April George and Matthew Thompson, and performed by April + VISTA.{{cite web|url=https://www.okayplayer.com/music/the-game-uncleared-april-vista-song-born-2-rap-album.html|title=The Game Gets Called out for Sampling Uncleared April + VISTA Song on 'Born 2 Rap'|work=okayplayer.|last=Mowatt|first=Robyn|date=December 9, 2019|accessdate=January 8, 2020}}
• "The Light" contains samples of "Open Your Eyes", written by Bobby Caldwell, Norman Harris and Bruce Malament, and performed by Caldwell.
• "Carmen Electra" contains samples of "Devil's Pie, written by Christopher Martin and Michael D'Angelo Archer, and performed by D'Angelo.
• "Gold Daytonas" contains a sample of "Get Money", written by Roy Ayers, James Bedford, Lamont Porter, Sylvia Striplin and Christopher Wallace, and performed by Junior M.A.F.I.A.
• "Gucci Flip Flops" contains a sample from "Dead Presidents", written by Shawn Carter, Davis Willis, Lonnie Liston Smith, Nasir Jones and Peter O. Phillips, and performed by Jay-Z.
• "Welcome Home" contains samples from "Shine", written and performed by Lamont Dozier.
• "I Didn’t Wanna Write This Song" contains a sample of "I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto" by 2Pac.
• "Hug the Block" contains interpolations of "Selfish", written by Aretha Franklin, R.L. Altman III, Jason Powers and Kanye West, and performed by Slum Village.
• "Stainless" contains an uncredited sample of "Winter Sadness", written by Robert "Kool" Bell and Claydes Charles Smith, and performed by Kool & the Gang.
• "Gangstas Make the Girls Go Wild" contains a sample of "People Make the World Go Round", written by Thom Bell, Linda Creed and George Perry, and performed by the Stylistics.
• "Rewind II" contains a sample of "Rewind", written by Nasir Jones, William Mitchell and Rick Rubin, and performed by Nas.
• "One Life" contains an excerpt from That Blackness, performed by Nina Simone, courtesy of the Estate of Nina Simone.
• "Roadside" contains elements of "Happier", written by Ed Sheeran, Ryan Tedder and Benny Blanco, and performed by Sheeran.
• "Blood Thicker Than Water" contains elements of "I Shall Wear A Crown" written by Deleon Richards

{{Reflist}}

{{Discogs master|1693170|Born 2 Rap}}

{{The Game}}

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Category:2019 albums

Category:E1 Music albums

Category:The Game (rapper) albums

Category:Albums produced by Focus...

Category:Albums produced by DJ Khalil

Category:Albums produced by Swizz Beatz

Category:Albums produced by Travis Barker