One reason why the N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN hosted interview series Drink Champs hits with hip hop fans is because of the mounds of transparency that the guests show once they’re full of the sin juice (alcohol). N.O.R.E.’s charismatic, laid back style of asking questions has a way of encouraging some of the hardest rappers to divulge information and stories that would’ve, otherwise, never been told.
On the latest episode, Compton artist The Game made some pretty stark revelations about the game (pun intended). The real-life gang member admitted that he naively believed that hip hop and its resulting culture was “real.” His belief in the theatrics started with the legacy of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.
“So, basically, I really thought it was real because two of the best MCs ever, they died. I’m talking about n—-s is off the earth. They’re dead,” The Game said.
He continued, “At that point, it was real for me. So I said I want to be in that because that s–t is like everything I see when I walk out my door. It’s real. I got in it and I guess hip hop spent the block on me because it didn’t end up being real.”
Because the conduits of hip hop wore their claims of mischief so well, The Game was finessed into taking himself too seriously leading to some precarious situations — one being his smoke with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson that resulted in gun violence and dismantled business opportunities.
Watch The Game Speak On Hip Hop On Drink Champs
The Game said he realized it wasn’t real when he went to an awards show and seats for Jay-Z and Beyonce were filled with seat-fillers when the power couple vacated.
“I thought it was real, man. I was hurt. I was hurt when it wasn’t what I thought it was,” he said.
Make no mistake, lives have been lost in hip hop. Born Jayceon Terrell Taylor, 42, The Game has witnessed so many fake issues build momentum and become real problems.
He emphasized the growing dangers for rappers in Los Angeles. Biggie, Nipsey Hussle, Pop Smoke, and Drakeo the Ruler are among the rappers who have lost their lives over rap lyrics, social media, bravado, and people testing their gangster.
The Game’s whole resolve is to be human. Human in the sense that if someone is not really about that life, don’t pretend to be. He claims that being himself no matter the situation is the reason for his longevity.
“We got to be real, we got to talk real,” The Game said. “You know what hip hop has been missing? Me. Because I always say it how I want to say it. I cry when I’m suppose to cry. I fight when I’m suppose to fight.”
Watch the Four-Hour Interview Below
