The Game’s upcoming album Lax–sorry, L.A.X.–has been pushed back two weeks from its original street date of July 8. His latest single, “Game’s Pain,” is actually his first top ten track on the Rap Singles chart since 2005’s legendarily awful “Dreams” (not to be confused with Big Dreams”), but it has barely dented the Hot 100. Maybe a Keyshia Cole hook isn’t enough to get listeners interested in the Game yet again filling a song entirely with references to other, more successful rappers. In this track we get direct references to Biggie, Will Smith, Nas, Luke, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, NWA, Ice Cube, New Edition, Naughty By Nature, Tony! Toni! Tone!, Wu-Tang Clan, Black Rob, DJ Kool Herc, DJ Red Alert, Jay-Z, and Big Daddy Kane. Cole even ends the song by shouting out to her blatant idol, Mary J. Blige. But how would the verse to “Game’s Pain” read if you took out all the offending couplets?

(verse one)
I swear to God, it feel like every day is my birthday
Let the top down, California’s my birthplace
I’ve been around Hip Hop since ‘85
She had her ups and downs but she stayed alive
Red Kangol hat, red sweat suit to match
Red Adidas, n—a, Game is back

(verse two)
When the cars ride by with the boomin’ system
Two door Mustang and the roof was missing
’cause the house parties stayed rockin’ all night
N—as came through and shot it up but it was alright
Sit back, watch Game throw his money in the sky

(verse three)
Every thing full circle, Game livin’ major
Girls on my hip like a Skytel pager
Now I’m on the top, let the champagne pop
Throw ya hands in the sky ’cause The Game don’t stop
Just a little more change, gotta Benz and the Range
Every rap metaphor always ends in my name
Just like they showed me, my lyrics is O.G
When it’s all said and done, you n—as gon’ quote me.

Saying what, dude? “Throw the pussy like Elway?”

The Games’ L.A.X Moves To July 22nd [The Rap-Up]