The Game raised a few eyebrows earlier this year when he announced his new album is called Drillmatic: Heart vs. Mind, a title that nods to both Nas’ landmark 1994 debut and the popular Hip Hop sub-genre that’s more synonymous with Chicago, London and New York than his hometown of Compton.
But as The Game revealed in a recent interview with HipHopDX, he made sure to get the blessing of both Nas and Chicago drill star Lil Durk before settling on the name.
“Originally, I gave [the title] Drillmatic to Durk because he’s from the Chi and it has the whole drill thing,” he explained. “I text Durk like, ‘Yo, call your next album Drillmatic.’ And he was like, ‘Yo, that’s fire.’ And then two years passed and he didn’t call nothing Drillmatic so I was like, ‘I’ma reel that back in.'”
While The Game’s mid-2000s mainstream breakthrough was overseen by Dr. Dre, Drillmatic: Heart vs. Mind finds him partnering with another West Coast producer, Hit-Boy, who has become Nas’ go-to collaborator in recent years. It was during an early Drillmatic session at Hit’s studio where Game bumped into the Queensbridge MC and secured his approval for his new album.
“Hit-Boy hit me on January 1 and he said, ‘Whatchu doing?’ And I was like, ‘Shit, I’m smoking.’ And he was like, ‘We should do an album,'” he recalled. “So I pulled up to his studio, we did three songs that day, three songs the next day, three songs the next day and we had nine. He’s like, ‘We need a title.’ I was like, ‘Drillmatic.’
“And then Nas was in the room the day after, on the fourth day, working on music with Hit. I ran the title by him and he blessed it, and so then I ran with it. Because I don’t want to step on no toes, especially not with people I look up to. So yeah, we got Nas’ blessing, we started to run it and then it took on a life of its own and now we’re here.”
The Game Says JAY-Z Cleared 7 Samples For His 'Drillmatic' Album
As the title suggests, The Game’s mission with Drillmatic is to bridge the gap between the Illmatic era of Hip Hop that raised him and the contemporary sounds of the drill wave — while adding his own flavor to the mix, of course.
“Drill is now. All these kids, it’s drill this, drill that and so I gotta get they attention because I want the new school to understand my school, we can coexist,” he explained. “Also, when you hear me on a drill beat, it’s gonna be a message in it.
“That’s why my album is called Drillmatic: Heart vs. Mind, because everyday we wake up, we feel indifferent sometimes. We don’t wake up everyday feeling 100 percent. Some days I wake up and I’m happy and I love the world, and other days I wake up and I’m very angry with things that are going on. Every single day is a different challenge for every single human being on Earth.”
Naming an album after Illmatic — still widely regarded as one of the greatest rap albums of all time — carries with it enormous expectations. But The Game isn’t shying away from the pressure, and believes Drillmatic will reign supreme in a year that’s already produced stellar releases from Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Vince Staples and others.
“We’re about to put out the best rap album in, I don’t know how many years,” he declared. “I don’t care who got an album coming out, I don’t care who dropped — nothing’s gonna be better than this album… I put my whole heart, my soul, my mind, everything that I am, I put into this album. I put more work into this album than I did on The Documentary, The Doctor’s Advocate.
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“Drillmatic will not disappoint at all, not a soul. And if it does, then you just lying. You should stop listening to my shit, go look in the mirror and have a talk with yourself about your appreciation of real rap music… It’s gonna fucking blow your mind. You’ve never heard me rap like this ever in your life, and you might never again.”
Drillmatic: Heart vs. Mind is due out later this year. Watch The Game’s interview with HipHopDX below.
Lloyd Banks is better álbum, the Game is wack rapper alive
Nobody cares about Game’s FeatureFillmatic album.
AGAIN WITH THE BABIES ON THE COVER? THATS SUPER PLAYED OUT. CHEERS TO THE MOST UNORIGINAL RAPPER OF ALL TIME.
Better than those non reading skirt wearing rappers u like, you ragged piece of caca, FOH LOSER
YOUNG MAN, WHY ARE YOU SO SOFT AND BUTTHURT FROM MY OPINION? YOU CALLED ME “CACA” LIKE MY 2 YEAR OLD WOULD AND YOU CALL ME A LOSER LIKE ONE OF MY EX BROADS WOULD? LOL. STEP YOUR HATE UP.
True. If you a gangsters rapper put some gangster stuff on the cover
dude hasn’t evolved lyrically. He’s like snoop and all them tired ass lazy rappers that still sound the same. Same flow, same theme, same low ass energy. Shit depressing really. Shit worked for his ass in 2003 not today boi boi
lol ur probably an eminem Stan lol. at least game hasn’t devolved like slim social justice warrior shady has.
Somebody didn’t listen to Documentary 2.
Documentary 2 was average. Only song I truly appreciate off that is Don’t Trip, with ice cube and dre. The beat is nice.
DOCUMENTARY 2 WAS LOADED WITH FAMILIAR AND UNORIGINAL SAMPLES AND WEAK RHYMES. I DON’T LIKE FAN FICTION OR MUSIC MADE BY GROUPIES.
Game made a great album with documentary 2, 1992 was on ?….. say what u say about the game just don’t forget who resurrected the west in 2005…. facts documentary 2 track #6
Looking forward to this album. Say what you want about him, but Game is a beast.
First thing people should do is have everyone count the number of name drops in the album. His first song he released has over 6 name drops lmao. And pointless ones, name dropping to name drop.
Lil’ Durk didn’t use the title cause it’s dumb.
30 tracks!!?? LMFAO, JEEEEZUZ CHRIST, no thanks.
The thing I like about Game is that he’s not at all corny
Lol riiight. Hes very original and doesnt poach other peoples styles ??
Mr Super Gangster at 45?????? That is definitely the corniest thing about him. He does drop some dope shit every once in a while though.
I’m excited to hear Game’s New Album
All he need now is King Tekashi blessing so da album become a hit.
I believe this album is going to change a lot doubters opinion about Games #2 pencil. Bring back the 5?????’s on them G. Salute Salute Salute 3 Capital’S
Such a poser with an identity complex. That thottie took you for all you got on VH1. Nobody checking for a lame game album you had your shot.
There’s a reason Smurk ain’t use that title, sounds corny af
He should really pick the best 10-12 out of the 30 tracks and call it a day
I’m so creative. I got an album titles too. Ready to Lie. This will be an east coast style even though I live in ATL.
Ayy i thought game told nip that he was done dropping albums on welcome home.
You know Game clout Chas everytime he can lol
Black Stan, the love letter to Eminem was very cringy.