Hate it or love it, The Game has done a lot for hip-hop. Besides being one of the only superstars to emerge from the genre in recent memory, he single handedly resurrected West Coast hip-hop and put the spotlight on sunny California once again

While The Game has taken his share of lumps in the industry from people picking on every move he makes to his never ending feud with G-Unit, he is still here and he is still one of the most viable acts in music, period.

With two albums, albums who many people would deem classic efforts under his belt, The Game is getting ready to drop his third album L.A.X on July 22nd.

Sixshot.com caught up with Compton’s finest to discuss his upcoming album, how the slumping sales in hip-hop affect him, and who he feels is repping the West Coast correctly.

The single with Keyshia Cole is different from what you usually hit us with. Were you consciously trying to do something different?

I just wanted to go left man. I just wanted to go left. I usually put out street shit. The first album was “Westside Story”. The second album was “One Blood”. I just decided to switch it up this time around. We wanted to come out with a single that was gonna tear up the radio and the best record I had for that was the joint with Keyshia Cole on it. It’s about to be top 10 on Billboard. It’s number one on 106 and Park. It’s doin’ crazy online and on the radio. It’s just a good song man.

Aight man so tell us, L.A.X. Where does it stand compared to the Documentary and the Doctor’s Advocate?

Man I won’t say, I’ll let ya’ll do that. That’s what ya’ll do, the critics and the media. I just do the best I can trying re-create classic albums. When my album comes out on the 22nd it’s up to you guys to give it thumbs up or thumbs down. Ask me that question a week or two after the album drops and I’ll probably have something to say about it.

You’re one of the most successful if not the most successful artist to come out within recent years. What do you think it is that made that possible, that put you in that position?

I kept it one hundred since the beginning man. People like real, they like real shit that they could relate to. We like people that don’t lie to us and don’t try and sell us no bullshit. That’s what I am and that’s what I’ve been since the early stages of my career. That’s what I remain. We got a lot smarter man. We won’t latch onto and buy bullshit. If it’s not a hundred percent then people aren’t going to the store. Every time I drop an album people go to the store for me and I appreciate it. I just try to give them what they go for which is classic album after classic album.

As one of the few rap “superstars” in the game I wanted to know if the decline in record sales affects an artists of your caliber?

Nah, I don’t feel the sales slump. It don’t affect me. I get my money on tours. I got big deals. I got shoes. I’m doing movies. I get my millions in other places. Plus the rap game is pennies anyway. If you don’t tour overseas and get caked up which most artists don’t. It’s really only the big ones. You ain’t gonna get your money if you don’t do that. That’s just what I do. I don’t care if I sell one album this joint. I’m gonna go to Europe, make a couple million dollars, and come back here like I sold three million.

Are the crowds a lot different overseas?

Yeah because over here we’re too fuckin' spoiled, we get it everyday. We are hip-hop; this is where it comes from. New York is the Mecca of hip-hop. L.A. is the Mecca of gangsta rap. We got so many artists over here. In Europe it’s one at a time. You might get Snoop today and the next day you might get 50 or Eminem. You might get Kanye or Alicia Keys. They’re just so appreciative because it’s not there everyday. We’d be like that too if the artists were over there instead of over here.

You’re a worldwide artist but I also notice that you take advantage of all your outlets in terms of Myspace and your website. Do you feel like that helps put you in better contact with your fans?

I’m not sure man, I don’t know. I’m pretty sure that the internet helps out with a lot of stuff but I’m not sure because I haven’t really been keeping tabs on Myspace and shit. I honestly don’t think it helps me that much.

What’s good as far as your acting career goes?

Yeah when they send the script I read it and if it’s something official I’ll go with it, do the best that I can, and make everybody happy.

You have a lot of talent on your roster right now. What’s the plan for Black Wall Street?

My plan is just to record the music behind the curtains and hopefully somebody jumps out and if they do I’ll support them a hundred percent. I got my producer Trey Beatz who produced two or three songs on L.A.X. He’ll probably the first one to see some money and superstardom. Other than that I’m working with a couple artists and once they jump you’ll know.

There seems to be quite a few artists coming out of Cali, the Bay area and Los Angeles. Who are you feeling?

The only one is Nipsey Hussle. You heard of him? He’s dope. He’s real hood and real street. He kind of reminds me of like a Snoop Dogg. He has crazy lyrics. Not Snoop Dogg’s voice but his swag. His lyrics are crazy and he’s young and rough and I already know what’s gonna come. Understand that everybody else, it’s just smoke and mirrors with these cats. They don’t have no respect, loyalty, and they don’t understand what needs to be done to truly resurrect West Coast hip-hop. Nipsey is one of the cats that does and it’s not like I owe him that or nothin’.

How about outside of the West Coast?

If it ain’t Kanye or Lil Wayne or shit, that’s about it basically right now for me. Nas too is he comes with another album but if it ain’t those three then it’s whatever.

In terms of hip-hop do you ever think it’ll get to the point where fans love the artist again because right now it just seems like the fans hate on the artists more than they enjoy their music?

Yeah you right. Its more people saying he a punk or he ain’t hood instead of he dope. (Laughs) But that’s cool man, I think hip-hop has its uprisings and it’s low points. Right now it’s at a low point but somewhere in the next five years you’ll see it go up again. Everything is up and down. Nothing is steady forever.

I feel like a lot of people are real interested in your personal life. I even saw you on TMZ. Does it bother you that people wanna focus on your personal life instead of solely on the music?

Once you become a superstar you either accept that role or just don’t be a superstar. It comes with the territory. The camera phones are gonna be there. The video cameras are gonna be there. The websites, the media, and the news are all gonna be there. Kids are gonna want pictures so take the motherfuckers or sell less records than me. That’s just it, those are the choices.

Aight Game, the album is dropping, what do you want to say to the fans?

July 22nd, hate it or love it. You can buy my shit however you want man, I don’t care.