Two lyrics from The Documentary III have kept Kendrick Lamar’s name attached to The Game’s press run, even as the Compton veteran insists neither was meant as a diss. References to a “GNX” and “raising the Boogeyman” immediately drew comparisons to Kendrick, but Game says listeners are assigning meanings to bars he wrote from his own history.
During an interview with Real 92.3 L.A.’s The Cruz Show, Game addressed the “GNX” line first. Kendrick used the Buick model as the title and visual centerpiece of his 2024 album, but Game said his lyric came from a car he actually owned. “Think about it. I had a GNX, and my chick at the time, she didn’t really want to ride in that,” he explained. “All black, dark windows. To a pretty girl, that’s like a gang-banging car.”
He also acknowledged why the bar was interpreted differently after Kendrick’s album. “Kendrick dropped the GNX album, so, I mean, it’s one of those things where you can take it how you want.”
The “Boogeyman” reference has drawn even more attention because Kendrick leaned into that image during his battle with Drake. Game maintains that his own lyric was about influence rather than disrespect. “As far as ‘raising the Boogeyman,’ I actually did,” he said. “My music, I came first.”
Read More: Is The Game Baiting Kendrick Lamar Into A Battle?
Rising Tensions About Picking Sides
Game pointed to Kendrick’s own track, where Dot reflected on watching Game rise out of Compton before his own breakthrough. “Kendrick told you himself on ‘Black Boy Fly,’ and countless times of how much he looked up to me and what my career did inspiration-wise,” Game said. “So, it’s like, that’s no cap.”
Those explanations arrive while Game continues pushing back against the idea that collaborating with Drake means he chose a side. The Documentary III includes Drake on “No Brakes,” and several lyrics across the album have fueled debate over whether Game is taking subtle shots at Kendrick. He has denied it throughout the rollout, even as he continues to speak openly about the distance between them.
Game has also said Kendrick does not pick up his calls, while repeatedly emphasizing the support he gave him earlier in his career. That history has become central to Game's explanation of his current position. He does not view working with Drake as a betrayal, nor does he believe acknowledging his influence on Kendrick amounts to a diss.
“That’s just me being transparent after him being transparent,” Game said of the “Boogeyman” line. “But, it’s all love, homie.”
