Ask Game... do he want it with Hov?

Here is a battle in which, upon first glance, it seems the average hip hop fan might side with Jay-Z.  He's the legend, right?  The Game is no rookie... but is relatively a young'n by comparison.  Jay is the calm, cool, collected veteran who chooses his battles carefully and can brush off the naysayers who he considers beneath him (aside from that whole Deshawn Stevenson debacle).  Essentially, isn't that what Jay said in his recently revealed "Blueprint 3" intro... "I ain't talkin' 'bout Game..."

The Game, on the other hand, has the reputation as the hot-head with the itchy trigger finger who has just been waiting to get into beef with Jay-Z.  Honestly, didn't everyone already think he was going at him on "Westside Story" talking about not wearing button ups or driving Maybachs?  Even with his attempt to diffuse it by claiming he was talking about Ja Rule (as heard on the title track to his debut album), who really believed him?  And even in subsequent interviews, The Game still tried to play it as cool as possible.

It almost seemed like Jay was waiting to spring the trap.  Like he did with Nas in the infamous Summer Jam freestyle which was the prequel to "Takeover".

But would this battle be as one-sided as Jay would make it out to be?

The Game has proven himself as battle-tested.  Even though we got sick of hearing the umpteenth, 500 bar G-Unit diss, the first couple disses were solid.  I don't think The Game was single-handedly responsible for G-Unit's fall from grace like he wants you to believe... but you have to admit that most thought that a guy who holds as much weight in the industry as 50 could crush Game like a cockroach.  And, as such, that was not the case.  As a matter of fact, Game, even without the aid of Dre and the Aftermath machine, has carved out a pretty solid career for himself.

And if you haven't heard the possible preview yet, check out the diss track that leaked awhile back by Game where he goes at 50, Jay-Z, and *gasp* Suge Knight one verse at a time.  The thing about diss tracks is the most lyrical ones are not necessarily the most effective (compare the tracks in the Joe Buddens/Saigon saga).  Sometimes simplicity sells.  And when I first heard this track, it definitely got solid rotation in my ITunes.  Definitely more than Jay-Z's recent diss tracks including his response to Jim Jones.

These days, diss tracks are a dime a dozen and let's face it, we're all sick of it.  Back in the day, a diss track had everyone listening... now they'd hardly make the average rap listener flinch.  But I will say, this one has piqued my interest.  I'm ready to hear more.  And from the sound of it, seems like Game is too.

UPDATE:  Seems like Game has already responded with a freestyle on tour.