Happy new year everyone! The Game made it on the countdown of BET’s Notarized top 100 videos of 2008. Check out the list below.

100. Janet Jackson - Feedback
099. T.I. - No Matter What
098. Sean Kingston - There’s Nothin’ (Remix)
097. N.E.R.D - Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom) [Remix]
096. DJ Khaled - Go Hard
095. Dolla - Who the Heck Is That?
094. Ryan Leslie - Diamond Girl
093. Cassie - Official Girl
092. Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em - Yahhh!
091. V.I.C. - Wobble
090. Pretty Ricky - Cuddle Up
089. Unk - Show Out
088. G-Unit - Rider, Pt. 2
087. Lil Mama - Shawty Get Loose
086. Mary J. Blige - Stay Down
085. Flo Rida - Elevator
084. Kanye West - Homecoming
083. Usher - Moving Mountains
082. Three 6 Mafia - Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body)
081. Nelly - Party People
080. Ludacris - What Them Girls Like
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West Coast rapper The Game is just one of several artists being followed as part of social networking/media site IMEEM’s “Keys 2 The City” series. “Keys 2 The City” was created to give fans a first hand look into the lives and music of some of L.A.’s most well known Hip Hop artists. The series is co-sponsored by HipHopDX, 2DopeBoyz, and URB magazine.

In a video featured on “Keys 2 The City,” (above) The Game discusses L.A women versus Southern women, his inability to gain weight, and of course rap beef all while on the Hollywood set for one of his latest videos.

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The year is almost over, and when you see what we’re bringing to the table in ‘09, you’ll be proud and entertained.

But before we get to next year, let’s reflect a little on the last 350-plus days. A lot of MCs stepped up with quality material, and, wow, so many records floated around that disintegrated the dance floor, straight disrespected the speakers in your car and just about ignited your iPod. Our usual suppliers (Weezy, Jeezy, Rick Ross, Hova, ‘Ye, Fif, Tip) delivered crack music, while new connects (Mr. L.O., Maino and even overseas princess M.I.A.) dropped off face-numbing product.

28 In ‘08: Commercially Released Hip-Hop Singles
1. Lil Wayne - “A Milli”
2. Kanye West - “Flashing Lights”
3. Shawty Lo - “Dunn Dunn”
4. M.I.A. - “Paper Planes”
5. Fat Joe (featuring J. Holiday) - “I Won’t Tell”
6. T.I. (featuring Rihanna) - “Live Your Life”
7. Lil Wayne - “Lollipop”
8. Snoop Dogg - “Sexual Eruption”
9. Young Jeezy (featuring Nas) - “My President”
10. Rick Ross (featuring T-Pain) - “The Boss”
11. Plies (featuring Ne-Yo) - “Bust It Baby Pt. 2″
12. The Game (featuring Keyshia Cole) - “Game’s Pain”
13. Young Jeezy (featuring Kanye West) - “Put On”
14. David Banner (featuring Chris Brown and Young Joc) - “Get Like Me”
15. Maino - “Hi Hater”
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Today The Game turns 29 years old and we would like to wish him a happy birthday and hope that he is enjoying it overseas!

A 10-year-old Soweto boy asked to perform with US millionaire rapper The Game at a concert last week might be on his way to the US to start a career — but his dad doesn’t wholly approve of the artist’s profanity-laced lyrics.

Mbekezeli Ndlovu, dubbed “Gameboy” by the rapper, was spotted by The Game and brought on stage at the concert, which was held at the Standard Bank Arena, in Johannesburg on Thursday.

The artist saw the little boy rapping along in the crowd.

“I was just standing there in the front singing along and he asked me to come up on stage and rap with him,” said Ndlovu.

The boy was given a microphone and entertained the 5000-strong audience with a foul-mouthed rap.

The song includes the phrases: “Back on the motherf**in’ Westside / Y’all know who the f*** I am. I’m free as a motherf**in’ bird I swear.”

Other lyrics feature phrases like “Half these n***s beefin’ with me, I never heard of them. If I was the old me, I would murder them.”

Ndlovu told The Times he has been listening to the artist since he was five. His brother, Ntokozo, 18, with whom he attended the concert, is also a fan.

The boy’s father, Nhlanhla Ndlovu, said he does not approve of the lyrics, but believes his son does not swear intentionally and is simply repeating the artist’s words.

“We are Christian and we teach the children that swearing is bad, but I don’t think he fully grasps that this music is swearing, as yet.”

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As flags across South Africa were flown at half-mast yesterday in honour of the late Miriam Makeba, visiting US music stars, rapper The Game and neo-soul singer Goapele Mohlabane, have added their voices to the chorus of tributes pouring in for Mama Africa.

The rapper told The Times yesterday in Sandton, ahead of a once-off performance last night, that he had great respect for the songstress and anti-apartheid activist.

“I have seen a lot about Makeba’s passing on the news in the past couple of days. I have ample respect for her and what she has done for the people here and abroad. I also want to pass my condolences on to her family,” The Game said. “May her memory live forever.”

Mohlabane, whose father is South African, is best known for her hit single, Closer. She spoke of Makeba as an undying legend.

“Mama Africa is a legend who will live on forever because of the influence and impact she had on the world, because she stepped up [and spoke out] on issues that were affecting her country, even though she was banned from being here,” she said.

The two stars last night performed at the Road to Mamas concert at the Standard Bank arena in the lead-up to the first MTVBase African Music Awards, to be held in Nigeria next week Saturday.

The two also spoke of their US celebrations for the president- elect, Barack Obama, who won the US election early this month.

Mohlabane said: “First it was Mandela, now it’s Obama; it feels so exciting.”

The Game added: “We have seen Nelson Mandela walk out of prison and be the first black man to become president of South Africa. Now we have our own [first black president] to celebrate and it feels good. It was good seeing a black man walk into the White House; though George Bush probably didn’t want to do it with Obama, he knew he had to,” The Game joked.

Other artists who wowed the crowd at the Standard Bank arena concert yesterday included South African artists The Parlotones, Jozi and HHP.

50 Cent’s right hand man and G-Unit brethren, Tony Yayo, has been flooding the streets with new music as of late, including new mixtapes, available on ThisIs50.com.

While on a promo run, doing several interviews, the original G-Unit member has been open about several topics and hasn’t held back when asked about former running mates, Buck and The Game.

In a recent interview on DJ Kay Slay’s Shade45 satellite radio show, Yayo explained that he’s had enough of all the trash talking and warned both rappers that when they run into each other, he promises a physical confrontation.

“This n****s is soft to me, and irrelevant to me. Put it like this, if we see each other, I guarantee it’ll make the newspaper,” the rapper told Kay Slay on the air. “If I bump heads with [Young] Buck or Game, I guarantee it’s gonna make the newspaper. Believe that. It’s not gonna be no ifs, ands, or maybes. It’s just gonna be movies made.

“I know n****s ain’t tough. When n****s start disrespecting me, telling me to suck they d*** and fa****, talking sh** about my moms. I don’t play that,” Yayo continued when asked to why.

Yayo went on to discuss Young Buck’s relevance in the hip-hop industry since being booted from the G-Unit inner circle, claiming that the Tennessee rapper’s run in hip-hop has ended, and no one can save him.

“Blue, whatever this fa**** ass n**** manager is now, is under the impression that he can get some money with Buck, but Buck is finished. Blow the dust bunnies off that n****’s album,” said Yayo. “[Buck] got a wack ass manager. He still owe 50 like three albums. Matter a fact, he’s in a more f***ed up situation … Game is aight. Game … 50 got a percent off his album, whatever. … The n**** Buck is f***ed up though. You owe 50 like … you can’t do nothing.

The New York rapper claims that Buck continues to be financially strapped for cash, and that his only business deals over the past couple years were miniscule compared to the deals he or 50 have landed.

“His watch deal is corny. That sh** wasn’t about nothing. His Sony Red deal (for Cashville Records) was for about 75 grand, and he used that to pay his bills,” Yayo revealed. “He couldn’t even pay the artists. Nobody signed to him. I don’t think The Outlawz or none of them n****s signed to him ’cause he took the $75,000 and he was backed up on the mortgage dog.

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Multi-platinum rap artist, The Game, who has hinted at retiring before, may indeed me putting the mic down indefinitely. The Compton rapper has said before that three albums would be “enough to get his point across” and in a recent episode of L.A. Ink states he plans to take some time off from his musical career.

“’I’m taking time out of rap, probably forever to go be a father,” said The Game who was getting some touch up to his L.A.X. tattoo at the set of L.A. Ink “High Voltage Tattoo”.

He elaborated on his decision stating he may return if he “can still do music, and find that balance, to do it and if not my excuse will be my children.”

L.A. Ink star Kat Von D was shocked at The Game’s decision to step down while he is “at the top of his game.” Yet states it is “commendable” to leave a profitable career to be with ones children.

The west coast rapper has contradictorily stated that he would make a fourth album titled D.O.C.: Diary of Compton, if he could work with desired artists.

The Game’s third album L.A.X. debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 200 Chart on August of this year.

On the heels of Jim Jones being exposed as a Jay-Z stan, The Game revealed why its okay to love Jay and hate him at the same time. During a taping of “The Parker Report,” set to air at a later date, the Cali king expressed the reason he’s always had a tumultuous relationship with the Brooklyn rapper.

“I grew up listening to hip-hop and I was influenced by the music, I like some music of homey’s. I like Jay-Z’s music, if anybody says they didn’t like a song or two that he put out they’d be lying. But that don’t mean you got to be friends with him or really admire the man. He’s just a man like me…”

“I don’t really like cocky rappers,” he added. “I’m not a cocky rapper I’m not like these dudes.”

Aftermath Entertainment recording artist, Bishop Lamont, recently offered some disparaging comments toward former labelmate The Game for what he calls “hating” on the Compton rapper’s part.

In a recent interview with HoodHype.com, Bishop attacked Game for dissing him during a recent radio interview after burying the hatchet with the rapper the night prior.

According to Bishop, he and other up-and-coming West Coast rappers were partying at the same venue in Texas as The Game recently — Game was throwing his own party downstairs, while Bishop was hanging out upstairs for a friend’s birthday party. Later in the evening, he says Game came upstairs, got onstage, and called for him. That followed by the rapper giving Bishop a shoutout and called it a “West Coast moment.”

Bishop was surprised, but says he accepted because he’s about unity for his coast. Something that’s been absent for quite some time.

“[Game] come upstairs, I get right to the front of the stage like ‘What’s happening?’ Cause all this riff raff and talking bad, we trying to show love … ‘What is it my n****?’ ” Bishop explained. “His eyes get big, he call me onstage — ‘Aww Bishop Lamont, it’s all love. It’s a West Coast moment. Glasses Malone, I see you. Get on stage.’

“We all get on stage. As soon as we get on stage, it’s like we all good. It’s all love. I’m trying to push that line, but is it really that? He like ‘It’s all love. That’s the past. We rolling together.’ Everybody all smiles.”

Despite the show of love, the Dr. Dre signee says Game dissed him the very next day.

“Next day on the radio, he dissing me. He’s dissing Glasses,” the rapper said. ” ‘I’m the king of L.A. Yall nothing. Stay in my shadows. I tell you when to blow up.’ Don’t shake my hand, and do some fake stuff. You don’t wanna get your ass beat.

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“Entourage” star Kevin Connolly has been tagged to direct The Game’s upcoming music video, “Camera Phone,” a track off the deluxe edition of his latest album L.A.X.

According to People, the actor/director, who is most known for his role as “E” on the hit show “Entourage,” was recently hired by the popular West Coast rapper to put together the video, which also stars R&B crooner Ne-Yo.

“I got hired on Wednesday (October 29) and we’re shooting on Tuesday,” Connolly told People. “I’ve been scrambling around all weekend.”

“It’s fun because the turnaround is quick,” he added. “You shoot it, you edit that week, and a week later Game will have his video. It’s amazing.”

In an effort to make his video more unique, Connolly plans to mimic the design and feel of Martin Scorsese’s classic gangster movie Goodfellas for the clip.

“He’s gonna be dressed up in suits and that kind of thing,” he added. “I just want to make this different than anything he’s ever done.”

While there is said date for the video premiere, Connolly says it may be out as little as next week.

Known for utilizing various hip-hop elements and themes throughout the show, HBO’s hit series “Entourage” has made a name for itself in the rap community with numerous cameos by rappers including Kanye West, T.I. and Snoop Dogg. Both Saigon and Bow Wow have also earned recurring roles on the show. “Entourage” is currently in its fifth season.

New Orleans fans of The Game were left disappointed over the weekend after the rapper unceremoniously cancelled a scheduled festival appearance, AllHipHop.com has learned.

The multi-platinum artist was listed as one of the headliners of the SAIG Entertainment and International Arts Festival, which took place October 11 and 12, as one of many entertainment-driven initiatives aiming to rebuild New Orleans’ ailing cultural economy.

The bill also featured performances by five-time Grammy nominee Tamia, Reggae band Morgan Heritage and R&B singer Lloyd, who is a New Orleans native.

According to the Festival’s founder Ernest Kelly, event producers received word that The Game had failed to board a 3:30 pm flight on Sunday (Oct 12) for unknown reasons and that his management had cancelled all New Orleans hotel and transportation accommodations.

“The Game not showing up in New Orleans is disheartening,” Kelly said. “This 20-year festival has been the highlight of the community and the funds raised from this festival the past three years have gone toward the rebuilding of The Big Easy. It is a shame The Game disappointed his fans and the City of New Orleans.”

At press time, calls to The Game’s management staff had not been returned.

In related news, sources have told AllHipHop.com that The Game’s sister was shot during a drive by shooting last night (October 14) in Compton.

Sources told AllHipHop.com that the woman was sitting on her front porch when she suffered minor injuries after being grazed by a bullet.

The Game can put criminal battery charges away forever — if he’ll just learn to put a leash on his temper.

TMZ was in court today when a judge agreed to dismiss Game’s battery charges — for allegedly punching a cousin at a family funeral — as long as he does 36 anger-management meetings by February 2009. He could’ve faced clink time if convicted.

The tiff was over money, you’ll remember, and Game’s relative dropped the dime on him at the funeral and made a citizen’s arrest … even before the body was in the ground.

With his video for the hustler’s anthem, “Make The World Go Round” hitting rotation soon, SOHH spoke with famed Queens rapper Nas during a conference call to talk about the new single and his chemistry with West Coast powerhouse The Game.

“Make the World Go Round,” Nas’ second single off his self-titled album is an ode to all of the people across the world who are getting money. Nas admits that he didn’t have to look far to come up with the concept for his new single.

“Look at what’s going on,” Nas said during a conference call. “People with power they gonna to do everything to keep that power, to keep poor people poor. So what poor people gotta do, poor people gotta stand up, get their grind on, get gangsta. Because whether you’re in the streets or you’re in a corporate office, gangstas make the world go round. Ballers make the world go round”

The Queensbridge emcee enlisted the help of young crooner, Chris Brown and California rapper The Game to tell this story.

“CB is young money, young fresh,” he said. “My man Game is the west coast, you got me on the east. It’s a good collaboration right there.”

Nas particularly enjoyed working with The Game on the Cool and Dre produced track and he said he looks forward to doing more work with him in the future.

“Game is a good guy,” Nas explained. “He’s all about the art. He’s all about writing. Every time you see him he’s fun. Dude will make you crack up laughing just telling you street stories and just telling you about his day. It’s easy to work with him because he loves what he does and he’s somebody that makes me feel like I gotta keep writing.”

Nas describes “Make the World Go Round” as a fly radio ready single but he is quick to remind listeners that there’s more to his new album than just fly tracks.

“When you buy the whole album you go from fly to dark to introspective to everything,” he said. “You go all the way through it with me man. You might agree with me on some songs, you might not but I’m just giving you what I’m feeling.

The video for “Make the World Go Round” was shot earlier this month in Los Angeles, California. Director Chris Robinson is currently putting the finishing touches on it and Nas expects it to enter rotation as early as next week.

Nas’ self-titled album is in stores now.

Rapper, actor and former radio host Ludacris reminded fans why he may be one of the most diverse talented entertainers, after a tight squeeze.

This past Sunday Luda headlined Albuquerque’s “New Mexico Take Over,” which featured a plethora of Hip Hop acts ranging from local to top artists. David Banner, who was scheduled to perform, canceled, while The Game could not come because he was sick. Those who attended the event did not receive the information graciously, choosing instead to boo the announcements.

However, Luda was welcomed with open arms as he performed his older hits such as “Southern Hospitality” and “Area Codes,” as well as “I Know What Them Girls Like,” the newest single off of his upcoming album, Theater of the Mind. He even gave lucky fans an extended set, performing longer than was scheduled.

Ludacris, who has featured in films such as Crash, 2 Fast 2 Furious, and Hustle and Flow, has recently expressed his growing interest in the realm of film [click to read], and although fans haven’t seen as much of the rapper as they are used to, the event reinforced Luda’s prominence as a performer, and helped to dispel the notion that he’s leaving the rap game for acting any time soon.

Theater of the Mind will be available in stores on November 11th.