Without the backing of 50 Cent and G Unit, I was unsure what The Game could do as his "difficult second album".
On listening through though, "Doctor's Advocate" sees The Game making the sort of album that showcases him well. His background was always streetwise, his attitude is right and his lyrics are still thoughtful but now are much more mature and the overall musical style and tempo is more in keeping with his delivery than the more bombastic approach of G Unit.
The self-indulgence of certain parts of "The Documentary" - possibly due to the heavy influence of 50 and crew - is absent now, though his mixed feelings about the way things happened and the situation as it is now show through repeatedly in his lyrics - for instance, when he refers to "the aftermath of Aftermath" (the label of his first album) and later states he is sometimes tempted to call 50 and talk things over but feels he can't because of "the beef".
The Game has shown here that his style does stand up on its own. "Doctor's Advocate" shows that he can make his own way in the music world - with or without 50 Cent.
If you liked "Dreams" from the first album, and especially if you liked it more than "Hate It Or Love It", buy this album.