Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf

Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf
Studio album by The Game
Released October 14, 2014
Recorded 2013–14
Genre Hip hop
Length 60:05
Label Blood Money Entertainment, eOne Music
Producer The Game (exec.), Cash Jones (exec.), Stat Quo (exec.), Boi-1da, Cozmo, Duke Dinero, Dre of Cool & Dre, Isabella Summers, Jereme Jay, Jordan Mosley, Dupri, Matthew Burnett, The Mekanics, Nottz, OZ, Ocean & Nova, Rey Reel, Sap, SRKN, Yung Ladd
The Game chronology

Jesus Piece
(2012)		 Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf
(2014)		 The Documentary 2
(2015)
Singles from Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf
  1. "Bigger Than Me"
    Released: June 16, 2014
  2. "Or Nah"
    Released: July 1, 2014
  3. "Really"
    Released: September 23, 2014
  4. "Black On Black"
    Released: September 29, 2014

Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf is the sixth studio album by American hip hop recording artist The Game. The album was released on October 14, 2014, by Blood Money Entertainment and eOne Music.[1]

Background

In December 2012, The Game founded a new record label, Rolex Records along with rapper Stat Quo.[2] Following its founding, he bought his entire team at the record label Rolex watches. After a six month legal battle with Rolex, he was forced to change the name and logo of the record label. He officially would then change the name of the label to The Firm.[3] Which then became Blood Money Entertainment.[4] The label signed West Coast rappers Skeme and Dubb as its first two artists.[5]

Promotion

On June 16, 2014, The Game released the album's first single "Bigger than Me".[6][7] The song heavily samples rock group Poliça's 2013 single "Warrior Lord". The second single off of Year of the Wolf, titled "Or Nah" was released on July 1, 2014[8][9] The album was originally scheduled to be released on September 16, 2014 but was pushed back a month for last minute touches and changes.[10] The Game held a contest in which the fans could design the album cover. He found it so difficult to pick a cover that he pushed back the winners announcement twice. Finally, on September 4, 2014 he announced that Instagram user "xoramos661" had made the cover he would use for the album.[11]

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [12]
HipHopDX [13]
XXL 4/5 (XL)[14]

Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf received mixed reviews from music critics. David Jeffries of AllMusic said, "More a misrepresentation than a failure, Blood Moon is a loose label comp that would do fine living in the forgiving lands of stopgap and second tier. Labeled as a Game album proper, it's a serious dip."[12] Kellan Miller of XXL stated, "While not a concept album in the strict tense, Blood Moon: Year Of The Wolf fails to resonate on the rare occasions where The Game strays from the somber tone to lighten the mood, such as “On One,” “Take That,” and “Married To The Game.” Not only do they steer the album away from a solid state of cohesion, but aside from a disastrous radio campaign with “Or Nah,” these tracks are the textbook definition of filler. They provide troublesome roadblocks to the magnetism of the wolf-spirited trajectory evidenced on real gems like “Trouble On My Mind” and “The Purge.” With a heavy heart and head against the backdrop of soulful, funereal sounding instrumentals, The Game puts together two of the deepest, enduring cuts in his entire catalog."[14] Dean Mayorga of HipHopDX said, "Blood Moon: The Year of the Wolf, however, is a project that is as fragmented and meandering as Game’s public persona can seem to be. Torn between proving his veteran status and his investment in new trends; torn between Blood Money's style and the heavy features; the album ultimately fails in establishing a balance and plunges into unfocused aggression."[13]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, with sales of 33,000 copies in the United States.[15] In its second week, the album dropped to number 31 on the chart, selling 9,000 copies, bringing its total album sales to 42,000 copies.[16]

Track listing

No. TitleProducer(s) Length
1. "Bigger Than Me"  Jordan Mosley 5:31
2. "F.U.N."  Matthew Burnett 3:05
3. "Really" (featuring Yo Gotti, 2 Chainz, Soulja Boy & T.I.)The Mekanics, OZ 5:27
4. "Fuck Yo Feelings" (featuring Lil Wayne & Chris Brown)Ocean & Nova 3:36
5. "On One" (featuring King Marie & Ty Dolla Sign)Isabella Summers 3:14
6. "Married To The Game" (featuring French Montana, Dubb & Sam Hook)Boi-1da 4:40
7. "The Purge" (featuring Stacy Barthe)Cozmo 5:14
8. "Trouble On My Mind" (performed by Dubb & Jake&Papa)Cash Jones, Stat Quo, SRKN 2:58
9. "Cellphone" (featuring Dubb)The MeKanics 3:59
10. "Best Head Ever" (featuring Tyga & Eric Bellinger)Dupri 3:39
11. "Or Nah" (featuring Too Short, Problem, AV & Eric Bellinger)Dre 4:14
12. "Take That" (performed by Tyga & Pharaoh Prophet)Jereme Jay 3:04
13. "Food For My Stomach" (performed by Dubb & Skeme)Duke Dinero 4:16
14. "Hit Em Hard" (featuring Bobby Shmurda, Freddie Gibbs & Skeme)Amadeus 4:41
15. "Black On Black" (featuring Young Jeezy & Kevin Gates)The MeKanics, Yung Ladd 5:11

Charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[18] 7
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[19] 8
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[20] 1
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[21] 2
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[22] 14

References

  1. ↑ "Game "Year Of The Wolf" Release Date, Tracklist, Cover Art". HipHopDX. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "Game, Stat Quo Launching New Record Label - XXL". Xxlmag.com. December 2, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Game Loses Legal Battle Over 'Rolex Records' Name, Renames Label - XXL". Xxlmag.com. July 27, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Game Addresses 50 Cent, G-Unit Reunion & Lil Durk Beef". HipHopDX. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Game Signs Skeme And Dubb To Blood Money Entertainment". XXL. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Bigger Than Me - Single by Game". iTunes. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "Listen to The Game Diss Rap’s ‘New Generation,’ Frank Ocean on ‘Bigger Than Me’". Radio.com. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  8. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Or Nah (feat. Too $hort, Problem, AV & Eric Bellinger) - Single by Game". iTunes. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  9. ↑ "Game "Year Of The Wolf" Release Date, Tracklist, Cover Art". HipHopDX. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  10. ↑ Navjosh. "The Game Pushes Back ‘Year Of The Wolf'; Announces ‘The Documentary 2′ Release Date". Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  11. ↑ "Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 David Jeffries. "Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf - Game - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 HipHopDX. "Game". HipHopDX. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "The Game Sounds Hungrier Than Ever On His Album 'Blood Moon: Year Of The Wolf' - XXL". XXL. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  15. ↑ Tardio, Andres (2014-10-11). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Game, Hoodie Allen, Chris Brown". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
  16. ↑ Tardio, Andres (2014-10-29). "Hip Hop Album Sales: T.I., Logic, Game". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2014-10-29.
  17. ↑ "Blood Moon: Year Of The Wolf PA - CD - Best Buy". Best Buy. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "Game Album & Song Chart History" Billboard 200 for Game. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Game Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Game. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Game Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Game. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Game Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Independent Albums for Game. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Game Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Tastemaker Albums for Game. Retrieved October 23, 2014.