Ain’t no love in the heart of the city. At least when The Game comes to town.
The West coaster lashed out against G-Unit members yesterday (June 5) during Hot 97’s Summer Jam concert — nearly overshadowing a surprise appearance by “the god MC” Jay-Z — in Game’s first New York performance since 50 Cent booted him from his camp over allegations of disloyalty and arguments regarding songwriting credits.
“G-g-g-g-u-not!!!!” The Game sneered throughout his set, as he appeared at Giants Stadium, which is actually in New Jersey, decked out in a matching Mets fitted cap and baseball jersey.
“I ain’t no solider and I don’t follow suit like Yayo and Lloyd Banks,” he continued to a mixed reaction of boos and cheers. [Click here to see some of the pictures from The Game and Hot 97’s 2005 Summer Jam. ]
Performing selections from his multi-platinum album The Documentary, including “How We Do” and “Dreams,” The Game made sure to rework lyrics on the tracks in order to avoid celebrating his one-time affiliation with the Gorilla Unit, 50’s collective featuring Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, and Young Buck.
“Enough of that n***a, now listen to Game,” he rapped over 50’s verse on the duo’s#### collaboration, “Hate It or Love It.”
But the insults weren’t left solely to songs. A mascot resembling a rat appeared on stage wearing a G-Unit tank top, to which Game remarked: “My n***a 50 Cent,” before beating down the rodent and declaring: “I ran out the rat hole and got my cheese.”
The Game also challenged Banks and Yayo as he told the sun-sweltered audience he would knock the Queens rappers out, only if, he asserted, Yayo would come out the house, making light of his court-mandated house arrest. Game took another stab at 50, asking the audience if they missed the “real” King of New York, Biggie Smalls. The rapper then punctuated his scathing set when he snidely commented on 50’s relocation to Connecticut and later tossed his G-Unit necklace into the crowd.
“F**k this chain,” he yelled as he sent his pendant airborne.
If The Game’s performance was about exiting on bad terms, then Jay-Z’s surprise act was an ode to leaving when the going is good.
Kanye West and his conscious crew of emcees, Common and Talib Kweli, performed a medley of hits from West’s debut and Com’s recent album, Be. But after West ran through his latest, “Diamonds,” which celebrates the Roc reign, the Def Jam president and Roc-A-Fella CEO stepped forth to rouse the mostly doormat audience. Though he only performed The Black Album’s “P.S.A.” and “Encore,” Jay received a thunderous applause from the tough crowd.
“No disrespect to nobody, but we run this sh*t,” he said over the ostentatious roar after he and Kanye posed in silence following Hov’s swan song.
Lil Jon got things crunk as the ATL led an ensemble of entertainers. The King of Crunk anchored an all-star line up, which centered on his bottom-heavy production. Daddy Yankee, Elephant Man, and Pitbull formed a Caribbean connection over Jon’s beats, while Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley rode his horn-heavy riddim for “Jam Rock” Lil Jon protégés Lil Scrappy and Trillville, along with the Ying Yang Twins and Ice Cube, also took their turns attempting to get the surly Tri-State audience to bounce.
Ludacris and Disturbing Tha Peace’s resident crooner, Bobby Valentino, slowed things down with a worthy effort. R&B songstresses Amerie and Ciara, however, drew little reaction with their chart-topping singles “1 Thing” and “Oh,” respectively.
The Diplomats and D-Block thugged out the early proceedings, so much so, in fact, that each group’s microphones were prematurely muted to end their sets, as was the show’s closer, Snoop Dogg. Before Snoop was cut short, however, the Top Dog continued his efforts to reunite the West Coast, as Dogg Pound members Daz and Kurupt joined him on stage.
Summer Jam will air June 24 on the Fuse network at 9PM EST and 6PM PST.
