By conventional rap wisdom standards, Nipsey Hussle isn’t supposed to be at the point where he’s releasing a major label blockbuster — complete with a feature from this generation’s torchbearer (i.e. hood testimonial “Dedication” with Kendrick Lamar) and sizing himself up to be a marquee player in Hip Hop.
Here is an artist — *ahem* — gangsta rapper (according to conventional rap wisdom standards) who experienced his freshman renaissance nearly a decade ago and seemed rooted in his independent shuffle. The California Crip’s biggest claim to fame was for spearheading a Proud 2 Pay campaign where he doled out physical copies of a $100 mixtape that prompted JAY-Z himself to buy 100 copies in support of the movement.
Regardless of how much or little you know Nipsey’s background, the fact remains that his studio debut album, Victory Lap, serves as the ultimate starting point for the Crenshaw native; a coveted distinction for any artist in a well-established era where mixtapes, unofficial singles and yes, even Instagram, can all yield the same spotlight. From the onset, the album’s brassy and conspicuous score (handled largely by longtime collaborators Mike & Keys) establishes its wish to be a primetime Hip Hop event, without the reliance on pop sensibilities or hooks tailor-made for radio.
Such a wish is made apparent on the one-two punch of the title-track opener and leadoff single “Rap Niggas.” The former is a scenic tale of rags-to-riches ascension overtop Stacy Barthe’s hallowing vocals and a downshifting keyboard labyrinth. The latter is a proverbial line drawn in the sand between the bottomless pool of rappers made possible by Neighborhood Nip’s throaty growls — that allows for the end bar of “nigga” to emote a melodic effect — and 1500 or Nothin’s obvious nod to past West Coast gangsta anthems with high-frequency piercing sonics.
From there, Victory Lap brings on the type of onslaught that will have listeners flip-flopping on their favorite record. Nimble lyricism is hyper-flexed on tracks like the Diddy-backed “Young Niggas” (“Ballin’ since my brother used to hustle out the Von’s/ A couple hundred thousand up, he took the shovel to the lawn/ No exaggeration for the content of my songs/ When he went to dig it up, shit, a hundred-something gone”). Others sport an ideal fusion of cadence, as heard on the excellent Dom Kennedy and Belly bonus cut, “Who Knew,” which proves songs about reliving past struggles will never rust when coupled with intoxicating production.
The trilogy-completing “Status Symbol 3” encompasses the best of both worlds with its pleasantly obnoxious bass knocks, guest star Buddy’s dazzling “Drip! Drip! Drip! Drip!” hook and Nipsey’s swaggy intellectualism. Such a record is not only great for discography building but it’s bound to pull in some new fans with its catchiness.
Victory Lap’s aspiration to be validated as a classic Hip Hop album never sways and it checks off a ton of boxes, from the rhyme-heavy bars on “Grinding All My Life” to the artistically ambitious “Bases Loaded,” the CeeLo record that broaches new territory for the Crenshaw councilman.
Nipsey doesn’t come off as an innovator as much as he does an enforcer upholding time-tested blueprints. Taking on that role leaves room for growth in his approach to song themes, like the bullying “Succa Niggas,” a solid record in its own right but that lacks a wide-reaching appeal. Or the YG-assisted “Last Time That I Checced,” where they exhibit the same chemistry as when they took the blue and red stitches from the American flag and used it to towel whip Donald Trump almost two years ago, but regress this time around by resorting back to the block party.
Minor potholes aside, Victory Lap not only boosts Nipsey’s stock but it raises expectations for the next time he eyes a checkered flag. The benchmark for quality has been set and the race to officially hit the championship podium is only getting revved up.
Wow 1 Day to review an album. You guys are fast
Right!
I said something like this before but someone replies to me saying they get copies before the release date! Who knows!
The album still isn’t out so it likes like they do
This is definitely going to be in the album of the year category. How long will the West get blackballed in hip hop and mainstream? We have the best artists and have been the most consistent for the past 5 years, ie, Kendrick, (arguably the best in the world right now) schoolboy, yg, Tyler, nipsey, crooked I, ty dolla sign, etc.
Lmao stfu Kendrick not even the best on his own label you stans are so extra
Who is in your opinion? Ab-Soul? Just curious, he’s a beast, they all are!
Nipsey is just a shitty ass swag rapper, he soudns pretty much like everyone else out there, is no lyricist, and lacks much of a West Coast flavor (aprt from some of the production here). He’s no C-Bo, Lynch, Snoop, or even Mozzy. I can’t figure out why he’s so popular in SoCal, out here in NYC no one gives a fuck about this trashy clown. Mozzy is way better.
shut the fuck up DUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No you shut de FUCK UP, SAMBO!!!!
Yaw got Nip fucked up. He’s number one in the rap game right now. And stop comparing him to Mozzy. He’s Mozzy favorite rapper Mozzy said it himself
Mozzy’s saying that because Nipseys a successful West Coast artist with influence. Nipsey’s getting that bread, sure, and in 2017 that appears to be the way to gauge whether someone is a worthwhile rapper. Mozzy’s lyrics are so much more real than Nipsey’s, Nipsey is just selling out to current trends, Mozzy’s keeping it a buck for a change. Mozzy’s real and Nipsey is fake af. Sure his swag game e off the charts but who gives a fuck. Drake is number one in the rap game now anyway, so because suburban america downloads his shit and goes to his concerts, he’s the best rapper around?
By that standard Blackbear and Russ are worthwhile rappers cause they’re getting way more bread than Nipsey, poor standards. Nipsey’s OKAY, got a few great songs with good replay value on the album, but its not a front to back amazing tracklist worth waiting nearly 5 years to drop.
If anyone is not convinced I suggest going back thru his extensive catalogue a bit. This might be a major-label debut but Nip has been dropping one amazing album after another. Go listen to Crenshaw, Mailbox Money and the No Pressure album with Bino. If you like westcoast rap and you havent heard these albums you are missing a lot of quality music
Has he made a bad song? lol I’m waiting to buy a copy of this but you’re right, everything he’s got is quality, especially if you’re a big West Coast music fan like myself!
Nipsey can’t rap, is a hoe, and flaunts the same played out banger swagger that stays dragging the West down. This album is boring af, typical modern day swag rap with no soul. Kendrick is 10000x the artist Nipsey is. Sheeit, I’d rather listen to Tekashi 69 than this fool, and that says a LOT!!!
Nipsey is wack as fuck. wack flow, wack cadence, wack delivery, wack voice, wack music. The prime example of how having a career in Hip Hop today is based off how hard you hustle and and how big of a following you can create, quality of music is irrelevant.
Shut up. Just shut up. You little anger crybaby. Caught up in your feelings and emotions just because you’re a loser and are jealous. What are you doing to make hip hop better and the world better for that matter. Stop being overslly critical. This album is substance and a straight banger. Top notch production especially the track by Swizz Beatz!
Is it necessary to make hip hop, or the world better in order to state an opinion? Your logic seems pretty weird. And being critical does not mean you are also jealous, or a loser. Obviously, this Nipsey guy can’t teach you even basic logic and just judging by his fan base, his music must be wack – no intelligent human being is able to make the assumptions from your post. Take it whatever way you want – hatred, jealousy, etc, I don’t give a f*ck.
Slauson/Van Ness got respect for the boy
Trill one’s knew what out is already salute hood
Nipsy just sounds as all other rappers. Nothing special. Boring lyrics about im this and im that. Check the wack videos driving around in a expensive cars some motorbikes. This dude is not Original or creative. Just the next gangsta rapper. Another example that hiphop is dead.
Who cares if he is a hustler. Im talking about hiphop as an artform! He is a cheap gangsta rapper.
Besides that who are you? So because if you are a husler you are the only one with struggles? Try to raise a family with 2 jobs, thats a HUSTLE!!!!!!!!
You signed up for them kids. You ain’t no hustler you’re doing what you’re supposed to do when you have kids. Get over yourself.
At least he knows how to write a paragraph dumb fuck!
Music, production and musical concept is pure fire. The weakest point is NH as his charismatic tone of voice is far not enough to be charismatic rapper. Listen to previouse 2018 releases – Cozz, Dave, Mark Battles, Skyzoo – they are far more true in what and how they do. Anyway, this is still a good album. 4!
I WATCHED THE TIDAL CONCERT LIVE IN LA… AH… HE WAS OKAYYY THAT’S ALL I CAN SAY. NOT GOOD OR OVERLY BAD. THERE WERE NO “BARS” THAT MADE ME WISH I COULD REWIND, OR MAKE A STINK FACE OR ANY OF THAT…. ALL THE BEATS ARE PRETTY SOLID, HIS CHARISMA AND FLOW IS PRETTY SOLID, JUST NOTHING AMAZING AS A PERFORMER OR SONGWRITER…. I THINK HIS BIGGEST DRAW IS THAT HE IS A SELF MADE HUSTLER, SO PEOPLE CONNECT TO THE MESSAGE MORE THAN THE QUALITY OF THE MUSIC IN THIS CASE. THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN WITH PINK HAIR SINGING IN A ROBOT VOICE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, AND A MAN NAMED MOZZY WHO WAS RAPPING BUT HIS MIC WAS OFF, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PLAYING HIS BACKGROUND VOCALS, I’M NOT CERTAIN. NIPSEY WAS RAPPING LIVE FOR THE ENTIRE EVENT.
Not a bad debut album, but I was expecting something more my taste from him. He’s had songs prior to this album that I was really rocking with, but I couldn’t really say the same for many of the songs on this album.
So what your saying is you like Cocks and butt sex? If so give me a ring at
(909) EAT-DICK
If hip hop had progressed from the 90s to now how it should have then albums like this should be today’s standard. No funny hair, no autotune, no questionable dress sense and no mumbling.
sonically this almost reminds me of blueprint by Jay Z. Lyrically i feel he has never sounded better. This album is not just a local album but an album with a worldly perspective through the eyes of an aspirational American from the bottom. His career to date epitomises what hip hop is about.
I think we are witnessing the emergence of an icon who will make waves on many levels not just music. This is his victory lap but I think he is just getting started. 5!
half of the concert had a guy singing auto tune…. with pink hair…. so check that…. the rest of your statement is pretty accurate
All I got to say to that is hairy ball sacks bro all day
Mom, is that you?
Has like 4 decent songs out of 16, no replay value, nothing special.
You like Penis
Instant classic. I fuck with it.
G A R B O
worst album all year!!!! nipsey loser!
Man I hate you lame ass rap nerds.
Nipsey Got it once again!
This ain’t that weirdo rap shit you MFs used to!
This album a classic, easy 5/5 for real heads! sorry for you idiocracy if you dont bump this and bust wheels on the corner!
The best album dropped this year
Alright album, not a classic, certainly not a 4.4 out of 5. Maybe a 3 or 3.5 out of 5. Nothing too memorable and unfortunately no bangers.
Worth the wait
Always hard to justify such a long wait, but the whole album was crazy
We ignoring Hustle & Motivate?
Unsung realest lyrical brother
Nipsey is just a shitty ass swag rapper, he sounds pretty much like everyone else out there, is not a lyricist, and lacks much of a West Coast flavor (apart from some of the production here). He’s no C-Bo, Lynch, Snoop, or even Mozzy. I can’t figure out why he’s so popular in SoCal, out here in NYC no one gives a fuck about this clown. Mozzy is way better, as, of course, is Kendrick and so many other West Side heads ehy is this fool getting so much shine? What’s the big fucking deal here?
Sz the punk lil biattttch hiding behind his key board
3.3/5. After first listen. I f*ck with Nip. He is a great businessman. I’m not sure how people are calling this a classic based off good music. Crenshaw & mailbox money those are classics. Best song off here is blue laces 2. Especially the last verse. where’s the songs for the women. & He usually picks better beats then this as well. I know he can bounce back. Much respect. Keep working ✊?.
The roll out for this album was definitely classic. No denying that though.
This is album is straight Motivation….Salute to Neighborhood Nip
da hell is this trash fam?!!
Could be album of the year
Thanks Nip. I needed some real shit.. fuck these pussified haters. Album is fire
Album is fire. nice to hear someone talking about real shit and speaking on positivity, responsibility and building empire in a real way.
Album is pretty solid. Nipsey Hussle doesn’t have to compromise for the younger audience on this album and he sounds authentic unlike many of these new Jacks.
What rap music is, was, and will be when it’s all said and done. Respect! I love the album. Hussle and Motivate is my anthem. Love it.
?????
5
This real rap
Finally, a rap album that’s actually about rap.
This record is raw West Coast at it’s fullest. Gangsta, intelligent lyrics, beats are something that makes you max your stereo, lyrics that make you think and enjoy music
Ok it’s been a month. Gotta say this is album of the year so far
As a young black business owner, I wake up and go to sleep to this album.
This some real rap tho
Dameee this album is So sick on some real rap though dropped knowledge on tha god thanks Nip needed this real talk make a millliii while u young…bangin this album deff gonna go cop the hard copy. 805 Calilife playa..
Real Rap
Yup it’s a classic. Hearing it months after the release. When it first dropped, However didn’t think so, as you can read my older review. I was expecting it to sound like his older work, but if you take that out of consideration, and just listen to the music it’s very good.
Deserves to win a grammy
Nip, at least this album got some of the recognition it deserved. Rest In Power, you went out musically improving while dropping knowledge at the same time. Peace be with your fam, your message will ver die.
*never