Over at my other hustle, I spent a little time chopping it up Game about his new mixtape, working with Wiz and Weezy, the Lakers, and some pretty interesting insight into hip-hop’s current infatuation with facial art.

“VIBE: You have a big record with hip-hop’s current MVP, Wiz Khalifa, how did you guys connect?

Game: I was just a fan, man. Me and Wiz smoked for probably four hours straight before we recorded anything. He resembles a young Snoop, and I never got to record with a young Snoop [Laughs]. I only got to record with legendary Snoop, that’s the big homie, so it was a no-brainer. Hip-hop always comes 360 degrees. The new generation will always remind you of the pioneers, and it’s a love thing. Just like B.o.B. is to Outkast. We actually did 2 others songs in our session. He’s got another track for his album, and I got one for mine.”

continued after the jump…

Technically, you’re the originator of Taylor Gang [laughs].

I was yelling out Taylor Gang way before the young homie. [Laughs] So people expected me to try and come at him, based off my history and my nature, but it ain’t even about that. I respect Wiz and his artistry. That’s dude’s brand name. It just so happens my last name is Taylor and one of my dead brother’s name is Charles, so I put it together like that before.

Was Wiz in the studio with you when you recorded “I’m The King”, it definitely has his musical feel to it.

Nah, I was in there with my boy Mars from 1500 and the beat was just so bouncy—that’s how my vibe came out. It really sounds LA to me.

Was there anybody that you wanted on the mixtape but couldn’t get?

I really wanted J. Cole on the mixtape. As an artist I can say that I really respect his craft. The music that he makes is stuff that I can get into. In my opinion, he’s one of the next rappers to look out for. We’d have to call it “Cole Game” [Laughs].

You seem pretty confident, but what’s up with the Lakers?

I think that the Lakers should just stop playing regular season games and just wait until the playoffs to beat the shit out of whoever is there. It doesn’t matter what happens in the regular season. All we got to do is make the top 8 and we’ll blow away whoever comes to the championship. They always want to shit on Kobe, but we always take the trophy home.

I don’t know man, Amare and the Knicks are looking tough this year.

Yea, it took yall forty years to finally get right. The Knicks ain’t been shit since Patrick Ewing knees went bad [laughs].

We’ll see during playoffs, man. One last thing, you’re no stranger to getting ink on your face. I was wondering if you had a chance to check out Gucci Mane’s new ice cream cone face tatoo.

I seen Gucci’s new face tat and as soon I did, I thought ‘finally they can get off me about his butterfly/star/LA shit.’ That’s what I thought. But you know what man, I don’t give a fuck about what they say about anybody, a muthafucka could tattoo a butterfly, ice cream cone, apple pie on their cheek. Bottom-line, if you know Gucci, you know he’s real. He been on trial for his life and all of that. He bodied people. So he could tattoo a fuckin’ tampon on his face for all I care. You can’t say he’s buster or whatever. And me I done been shot, stole shit, robbed people, everyth-fuckin’-thing you can think of. Tattoos don’t mean shit, they ain’t nothing but good art.

(Read the full interview at VIBE)

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