Game Taps Busta, Mary J. Blige for Mixtape

Compton native Game is prepping the release of his oft-delayed fifth studio LP, 'The R.E.D. Album,' but he plans on breaking his silence before then. The 'One Blood' emcee is gearing up to release his new DJ Skee-hosted mixtape 'Brake Lights'-produced entirely by production maestros Cool & Dre-in the beginning of August, less than a month before the official joint drops on the 24th.

'Brake Lights,' from which the track 'M.I.A.' hit the net last week, was recorded in a hurry, with the Miami production duo sending the rapper a beat CD of 15 instrumentals. Game ripped through the tracks in the recording studio, sending 10 completed songs back to Cool after just three days. Cool then mixed the tracks - an atypical process for non-studio releases.

'Mixtapes, you don't mix them joints,' Game told MTV. "You just throw them out. But Cool wanted to mix them joints, make sure all the vocals and the beats was right, well blended."While the tape is a nice preview of what to expect on 'R.E.D.,' Game shares some of the spotlight with a handful of guest appearances. Busta Rhymes appears on a track called 'Shot Down in Cold Blood' (over a beat originally intended for Kanye West), Mary J. Blige lends her vocals to 'People,' and Lil Wayne, Baby and Waka Flocka Flame all appear on 'Brake Lights,' which sports a more 'soulful' vibe to it.

'It's a lot of soul-sample beats, which we're known for, on the mixtape,' said Dre of Cool & Dre. "There's a lot of gangsta s--- on there. Some 'Big Dreams,' 'Hate It or Love It' type s--- is on there. You're getting a free Game album to get you ready for this R.E.D. Album.'

'The R.E.D. Album' has been in the works for some time, originally intended for a February 2010 release. The project was then pushed back to March, followed by a June 15 release and then July 6. Finally slated for an August 24 release (a move meant to honor Kobe Bryant's number 24), the album is set to include guest appearances from Drake, Robin Thicke, Lady Gaga and more, and is said to feature production from Dr. Dre, The Neptunes, RZA, Boi-1da and more.