The Game is denying allegations that he and his business partner Trillz scammed multiple up-and-coming artists into compensating him in exchange for a feature on one of his SoundCloud mixtapes.

During an interview with HipHopDX, the “How We Do” emcee said he understands what it means to be an unsigned artist trying to make it and was only trying to help. “Trillz came to me and said he had a unique opportunity for underground artists,” Game told the outlet. “I was once an underground artist, so I understand it. No one services underground artists and unsigned artists in the manner that he and I do. No one cares, right? You find Lil Baby by chance and he blows up, but what about everybody else? So, what Trillz has created with me and other artists is just a sort of engine to power you in the early stages of your career. What it would have meant to me to have a video drop from Ludacris in the beginning of my career.”

Game continued, “So, when someone that doesn’t happen with some unsigned artists, well that person is mad, right? Because they thought that this drop or this mixtape slot was going to change their lives — when in reality it’s just a step on the ladder. Use it as you may and get as much as you can off of it, but it’s not going to make you DaBaby. Basically, I’m just trying to uplift artists with dope opportunities.”

The unsigned artists accused The Game of charging $500-$1,000 to get a spot on one of his SoundCloud mixtapes. However, they claim that he uploaded the EP’s to a SoundCloud account that has less than 300 followers — instead of his verified account. Additionally, he allegedly doesn’t appear on any of the songs and hasn’t posted any promo for the mixtapes.

The Compton rapper and Trillz believe the allegations originated from the aspiring artists’ unrealistic expectations. They also think it’s a smear campaign against them.

“It was a group of people who at first loved the services that were going on and they wanted to get involved with it — with their PR behind it,” Trillz said. “And we respectfully declined and they said, ‘Oh really? Watch us demolish what you got working.’ And that’s what they’re trying to do.”