Game Delivers a Soulful Warm-Up with DJ Drama’s ‘Gangsta Grillz’

Released: December 5th, 2025

I’m a big Game fan, for better or worse. Many know this. And I’d been expecting The Documentary 3 for a minute now. Recently, this project with DJ Drama and Mike & Keys was announced as a holdover until Doc 3: Game’s first Gangsta Grillz installment, Gangsta Grillz: Every Movie Needs A Trailer. It’s an almost hour-long project that was apparently assembled somewhat quickly. Plenty to get into, so let me dive in.

There are a lot of soulful sounds and samples throughout this project. Sometimes, not just on this album but in general, that vibe can feel a bit forced—like an “elevated” hip-hop sound. While I do think the music here is good, it can also feel like Game is reaching just a bit. That, along with his abundance of references to stuff he’s far past the age for, is noticeable.

That said, I do enjoy the tone and vibe here. Mike & Keys always do great work, and Game’s lyrics and bars are quality enough for this project to more or less fly by for how long it is. “Can I,” “Chrome Hearts,” “Good Enough,” “Quarter Zips & Matcha,” and many more are great songs, bringing laid-back sounds packed with strong bars.

I do wish there was a bit more aggressiveness here at times. Game is an aggressive MC, and he brings it, but the beats don’t as much. Songs like “Amerikkka’s Nightmare,” “Clown Emojis,” “The Coast Guard,” and “Scheme” are the standouts and fit right into what I like best from Game: hard-hitting West Coast beats, with verses and songs to match.

This was a good project; it felt like a mixtape, and that’s alright. It gave me the same feeling Purp & Patron did back in the day. Only I think DJ Skee is much less annoying than DJ Drama (lol). But Game & Mike & Keys was a solid combination, and this is a great holdover as us fans wait for The Documentary 3.

Standout Tracks: “Can I,” “Amerikkka’s Nightmare,” “Clown Emojis,” “Good Enough,” “Quarter Zips x Matcha,” & “The Coast Guard”

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 (8/10)