OKE: Operation Kill Everything

OKE: Operation Kill Everything
Mixtape by The Game
Released October 8, 2013
Recorded 2012-2013
Genre Hip hop
Length 76:40
Label Blood Money
Producer DJ Skee (exec.), Stat Quo (exec.), Cardiak, Critacal, V-Don, Popz, Pilz, SAP, Cool & Dre, Amadeus, League of Starz, DJ Mustard, 2oolman, Burd & Keyz, Big Duke, JPDidThis1, Young Yonny, Shonuff
The Game chronology
Jesus Piece
(2012)		 OKE: Operation Kill Everything
(2013)		 Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf
(2014)

OKE: Operation Kill Everything (also known simply as OKE) is the fourteenth mixtape by American rapper The Game hosted by DJ Skee. The mixtape was released on October 8, 2013, his first project since leaving Interscope Records, following the release of his fifth album Jesus Piece (2012). It was also released in promotion of his upcoming sixth studio album. The mixtape featured guest appearances by Too Short, Schoolboy Q, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Problem, Nipsey Hussle, Juicy J, Young Jeezy, Clyde Carson, Skeme, Stat Quo, and Ty Dolla Sign among others. Production on the mixtape was handled by Cardiak, DJ Mustard, SAP, and Cool & Dre among others.

Background

In December 2012, The Game released Jesus Piece, the final album on his contract with Interscope Records. Just before its release he founded Rolex Records with Stat Quo, which was later renamed The Firm.[1] On May 7, 2013, The Game announced a new mixtape Operation Kill Everything was almost finished recording.[2][3] Later that same day, The Game released a remix to Kendrick Lamar's "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe", which was originally thought to be the first song from the album.[4] Then on July 16, 2013, he released remixes to Migos' "Versace" and TeeFlii's "This D".[5]

On October 7, 2013, The Game released the cover artwork to the mixtape, the title which now just shortened to OKE. He also revealed it would be released the following day.[6][7] On October 8, 2013, The Game announced that he would premiere OKE later that night on DJ Skee's SKEE TV on AXS TV.[8] The mixtape featured guest appearances by Too Short, Schoolboy Q, Diddy, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Problem, Nipsey Hussle, Juicy J, Young Jeezy, Stat Quo, Skeme, Elijah Blake, Shontelle, Clyde Carson, Joe Moses, Stacy Barthe, Fred the Godson, Sam Hook, K. Roosevelt and Ty$.[9][10][11] Production on the mixtape was handled by Cardiak, DJ Mustard, SAP, and Cool & Dre among others.[12][13][14]

Two days after its free release, The Game released a deluxe edition of OKE to iTunes, featuring two bonus tracks, including "Hollywood" a song with Scarface.[15][16] The deluxe edition is free of DJ drops and tags, and includes a digital booklet.[17][18] In the song, The Game takes shot at former G-Unit cohort 50 Cent saying, "Hub City thugs wit me, buck 50/Reunite with G-Unit, bitch fuck 50."[16][19]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Badger Herald[20]
BET[21]
HipHopDX(positive)[22]
XXL3/5 (L)[23]

OKE was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Jake Rohn of BET gave the mixtape a perfect score, saying "OKE is one of his best efforts, album or mixtape. While Game's lyrics are still laced with the angst of feeling slept on, the imposing rhymer shows more willingness to step ever-so-slightly outside his comfort zone, showcasing different tempos and rocking different sounding beats. Game may not be rollin' with Dre anymore, but he shows that he can still drop a classic."[21] Louis Johnson of The Badger Herald also gave the mixtape a perfect score, saying "Overall, OKE combines refreshing instrumentals with classic Game: taking shots at anyone and everyone yet staying original and proactive in his lyrical content. This may be his most focused piece of work since his debut album, The Documentary. Game truly stepped up to the plate this time."[20] Omar Burgress of HipHopDX deemed the mixtape "EP-worthy" saying, "On OKE: Operation Kill Everything, Game is comfortable in his own skin, mixing ratchet material with deeply personal songs all while accommodating his guests."[22]

XXL gave the mixtape a more mixed review saying, "There’s a duality that plays out over the course of the tape that very accurately showcases two extraordinarily different sides of the current West Coast scene. On the one hand, you have the super soulful, rich production more representative of acts like Jake One, THC, Scoop DeVille, DJ Dahi, and The Futuristiks, and on the other hand you have what producer DJ Mustard has affectionately coined “ratchet music.” Both make up solid chunks of the project, but only one finds Game truly in his element. The smooth soul serves as a perfect juxtaposition with Game’s gruff voice and aggressive content, and he flourishes in these instances. But just as you start to settle in, the entire tone of the project changes, and it detracts from the fluidity and the aesthetic value. Experimentation is fine, but sometimes it’s better to stick to your niche."[23]

Commercial performance

The deluxe edition version of the mixtape debuted at number 89 on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 5,000 copies in the United States.[24]

Track listing

No. TitleProducer(s) Length
1. "Kill Everything" (featuring Diddy)Cardiak, Critacal 5:10
2. "Life Is But A Dream" (featuring Elijah Blake)V Don 3:43
3. "Astronaut Pussy / Welcome to California" (featuring Schoolboy Q, Skeme, Stacy Barthe and Too Short)Pops & Pilz 10:46
4. "In the City" (featuring Fred the Godson and Sam Hook)Sap 3:13
5. "F.I.V.E." (featuring Chris Brown and Lil Wayne)Sap, Cool & Dre 2:48
6. "Love On Fire" (featuring Shontelle)Amadeus 3:52
7. "Breakfast With Al Pacino"  Cool & Dre 3:45
8. "Oh Lord" (featuring Shontelle)Pops 2:35
9. "TD" (featuring Problem)League of Starz 3:56
10. "Same Hoes" (featuring Nipsey Hussle and Ty$)DJ Mustard 3:44
11. "Turn Down For What" (featuring Clyde Carson and Problem)League of Starz 3:21
12. "Fuck A Bitch" (featuring Elijah Blake, Joe Moses and Nipsey Hussle)League of Starz 3:50
13. "Compton" (featuring Stat Quo)Sap 3:25
14. "Swerve"  2oolman, Pops 4:18
15. "Super Throwed" (featuring Juicy J)Sap 5:06
16. "You Don't Know"  Burd & Keyz 2:14
17. "Just So You Know"  Big Duke, JPDidThis1, Young Yonny 3:42
18. "Maybe In Another Life" (featuring K Roosevelt)Pops 3:38
19. "Pour Up (Remix)" (featuring Clyde Carson and Young Jeezy)Shonuff 3:34

Chart positions

Chart (2013) Peak
position
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[25] 20
US Billboard 200[26] 89
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[27] 19

References

  1. ↑ Pajer, Nicole (2012-12-01). "Game Launching Rolex Records: 'We're Gonna Do It Big' - The Juice". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-12-10.
  2. ↑ Harris, Christopher (2013-05-07). "The Game Announces New Mixtape 'Operation Kill Everything'". Vibe. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  3. ↑ Lateef "TheIndustryDude" (2013-05-07). "Game Announces New “Operation Kill Everythingâ€? Mixtape Coming Soon". UrbSocietyMagazine. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  4. ↑ "New Music: The Game – ‘Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe (Remix)’". Rap-Up.com. 2013-05-07. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  5. ↑ Thomas, Chris (2013-07-16). "The Game – "Versace" & "This D" [LISTEN/DOWNLOAD". Hip-Hop Wired. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  6. ↑ "Mixtape Cover: The Game – ‘OKE’". Rap-Up.com. 2013-10-07. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  7. ↑ Tardio, Andres. "Game & DJ Skee "OKE" Mixtape Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklisting, Stream | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  8. ↑ Emmanuel C.M. (2013-10-08). "Game Will Release New Mixtape Tonight - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
  9. ↑ Ortiz, Edwin (2013-10-09). "Game "OKE (Operation Kill Everything)" Mixtape". Complex. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
  10. ↑ Weinstein, Max (2013-10-09). "New Mixtape: The Game ‘OKE (Operation Kill Everything)’". Vibe. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  11. ↑ Ritchie, Matthew (2013-10-09). "The Game - 'Operation Kill Everything' (mixtape) • Music / Video •". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  12. ↑ Bustard, Andy (2013-10-09). "Download The Game's New 'OKE (Operation Kill Everything)' Mixtape". Theboombox.com. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  13. ↑ "Game - OKE: Operation Kill Everything - Download & Stream". Djbooth.net. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  14. ↑ James, Jesse (2013-10-09). "The Game – Operation Kill Everything (Mixtape) | Stream & Download". stupidDOPE.com. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  15. 1 2 "iTunes - Music - OKE Deluxe Edition by The Game". iTunes.apple.com. 2013-10-10. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  16. 1 2 Ortiz, Edwin (2013-10-11). "Game is Back to Dissing 50 Cent Again". Complex. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  17. ↑ Baker, Soren (2013-10-11). "Game Disses 50 Cent On "OKE" Bonus Track "Hollywood"". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  18. ↑ "New Music: The Game f/ Scarface – ‘Hollywood’". Rap-Up.com. 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  19. ↑ "New Music: Game Feat. Scarface 'Hollywood'". Vibe. 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  20. 1 2 Johnson, Louis (2013-10-11). "Game's 'Operation Kill Everything' a go". The Badger Herald. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  21. 1 2 Rohn, Jake (2013-10-10). "Mixtape Review: Game, OKE | News". BET. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  22. 1 2 Burgess, Omar (2013-10-11). "Game - OKE: Operation Kill Everything (Mixtape Review) | Read Hip Hop Reviews, Rap Reviews & Hip Hop Album Reviews". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  23. 1 2 "Game Experiments A Little Too Much On 'OKE' Mixtape - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  24. ↑ Tardio, Andres (2013-10-23). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 10/20/2013". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  25. ↑ "2013-10-26 Top 40 R&B Albums Archive . Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Game – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Game.
  27. ↑ "Game – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Game.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, November 16, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.