The Game rocks with fans at Jake’s

With the room dark, the stage at Jake’s Nightclub filled with smoke as the Billboard Chart-topping rapper The Game came out in a Louis Vuitton-wrapped, Jason Voorhees-replica mask.

The crowd screamed in excitement as this was the moment everyone in the building had been anticipating. Dressed in jeans, a Louis Vuitton belt, a black T-shirt, red and black Nikes and a thick ’80s-reminiscent gold rope necklace, the ladies were swooning as they reached out to grab him.

Jake’s was packed shoulder-to-shoulder with fans. Performing songs from all three of his albums, The Documentary, Doctor’s Advocate and LAX, fans repeated lyric after lyric from some of the artist’s biggest hits.

“If you take a look in my eyes you’ll see I’ll be a gangsta til I die,” were the lyrics The Game screamed out as he walked back and forth across stage performing “Westside Story,” his first single from the early stages of his career.

Temperatures were scorching and people were fanning themselves, but nevertheless The Game gave a 110 percent performance. The crowd also weren’t detered, waving their hands in the air and moving from side to side.

Like most rappers, The Game was accompanied by an entourage that was a major presence on stage. They popped bottles of Grey Goose and allowed women to drink from their bottles, all while rapping along with the songs.

“Tell me what album I put out that ain’t sick,” he rapped. “I am not the doctor but I produce the same hits.”

The Game then allowed the overflow of fans to join him on the stage and the women tried their best to dance or be recognized by the rapper and his entourage.

Throughout his career, The Game has been known to pay homage to rap pioneers. He even dedicated an entire song on his latest album LAX, titled “Game’s Pain,” to artists who he says have paved the way for him. In honoring some of those rappers, he played songs by Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg and others. The crowd went crazy when he played “Gin and Juice,” which was one of Snoop’s biggest hits from his debut album.

Unlike some stars, The Game interacted with the fans, giving them fist bumps, allowing them to join him on stage, and even talking to some fans directly.

“My Life” was the final song of the night and a major hit with the crowd. Minutes after The Game exited the stage he returned and said the club owner told him the party isn’t over until The Game says it’s over. The DJ then played regular club music as fans danced on the stage, and The Game stood behind the DJ booth nodding his head to the music, partying with his fans.

Overall, The Game’s performance far exceeded my expectations. His voice, delivery, song selection and engagement with the crowd made his performance laudable.

“The sound was better than I’ve heard at any club,” Joi Redmon, IU-Purdue University Indianapolis sophomore said. “He put on the best show I’ve ever seen in Bloomington.”

After the partying was over, The Game was laughing and joking with his friends and loved ones. In contrast to the gangster image the media has given him, he was articulate and friendly.

“I figured the people in Indiana would be rocking with me,” he said.