Classic Verse: Game’s “Dreams” (Lyrics & Video)

And now for what I'm sure will be one of the most controversial picks in Classic Verse history. While "don't call me The" Game has earned legions of loyal fans, he's also inspired hatred on a massive scale, mostly from the hip-hop head community. While overall I'm more in the latter group than the former (his "R.E.D." mixtape was decent), I will give it up to the man; "Dreams" was one of the best debut songs by any artist.

Lyrics are below the tracklist:

"The dream of Huey Newton, that's what I'm livin' through
The dream of Eric Wright, that's what I'm givin' you!
Who walk through the White House without a business suit?
Compton had Jerry Curl drippin' on Ronald Reagen's shoes
Gave Mike Lim my demo came here to pay my dues
Started of with Whoo Kid then I started blazin' Clue
It was all a dream like BIG said it be
Don't sleep on me homie I bring nightmares to reality
Rap phenomenon defyin' the rulez of gravity
Studied all the classic start revisin my strategy
Cuz Marshall Mathers made it
Curtis Jackson made it
Head in the clouds wonderin where the hell Marvin Gaye went?
How do I say this, I'm livin' for my son but I can't figure, why I'm at my temple with this gun
Wake up to a Jesus piece like a Catholic nun
The war to be a rap legend has just begun."

Let's get one thing out of the way first; yes, that ridiculously sick Kanye beat probably makes this track sound better than it would otherwise, but how are you docking points because the beat's ill. Moving on. What really makes "Dreams" so impressive is its sense of scale. By referencing everyone from Huey Newton to Tupac, and doing so with skill, throughout the song Game gives the track a sense of history, of weight, that forces you to take it seriously. Of course the lyricism isn't intricate, but it doesn't have to be. Sometimes one hard hook is enough to knock em out, and Game throws a hell of a haymaker, especially on the last line (which, ultimately, is why I'm rolling with the third verse). Has there ever been a more audacious announcement of arrival than "The war to be a rap legend has just begun"? Some might see that as cocky, but I see it as a powerful warning shot, and better yet, Game delivered. You can hate all you want, but I'm rolling with "Dreams" as a classic.