Blue Laces 2

"Blue Laces 2" is a song by American rapper Nipsey Hussle, released as the sixth track from his debut studio album, Victory Lap (2018). It samples the 1974 song "Hospital Prelude of Love Theme" by Willie Hutch, and is the sequel to his 2010 song "Blue Laces" from his The Marathon mixtape.
== Background ==
Hussle revealed the backstory of the track to NPR:
Lebron James, when he won that first championship, they got footage of him on YouTube in the locker room before the game started and he was playing a song in his headphones. When he took his headphones off, I got the song blast through the headphones and it was "Blue Laces" off the original Marathon. I was real flattered. So I'm like, I wanna make a "Blue Laces 2" on Victory Lap. So I called Mr. Lee from Texas. He's a legendary producer from down south [in] Houston. I was introduced to him by Jonny Shipes, who owns Cinematic Records and originally signed me. Lee's like Rick Rubin with his ear; he's got an incredible hip-hop ear. We did the original "Blue Laces." As I'm wrapping up Victory Lap, I called him and I'm like, "Bro, make me a 'Blue Laces 2.' " He made it in two days and sent it to me. I was blown away. And I just went in the booth again and started talking.
Me and Big Reese from Lincoln Park in San Diego became really close, he's like an O.G. He's been around forever, but he just turned into a real positive dude that came up out the struggle. He was part of Xzibit's movement. So I was in the studio working on "Blue Laces 2," and by him being a part of Mike & Keys' production group, we had a studio together. So he was always in the studio with me. He heard when I did my first verse and he was like, "That's tight Hussle, where you goin'?" I'm like, "Leaving. Come back tomorrow." He's says, "Don't leave. Do the second verse right now." I did my second verse and he's like, "D*** that's tight, bro. The second one is harder than the first verse." He's like, "Finish the song right now, Nip. You've got a certain spirit right now. Don't leave."
I went and I did the third verse and the third verse blew me away; it was hard for me to get it out. I was overwhelmed because of how truthful it was and how real it was to him. I was in the booth having a moment. I got out the booth and I'm like, "Damn, bro. You was utilized by some higher power today." 'Cause I would have left and the verse wouldn't have been the same. I know it. So I gotta give Reese his credit on that one. That's one of my favorite records. I can binge listen to that over and over and over. It's just real natural and it's real honest. The third verse, especially, is about a moment in my life.Carmichael, Rodney (February 16, 2018). "Nipsey Hussle Tells the Epic Stories Behind 'Victory Lap,' Track by Track". NPR.
== Critical reception ==
Exclaim! called it "a testament to Hussle's growth," where they found it to be "a more mature, polished version" compared to its prequel.Harmony, A. (February 16, 2018). "Nipsey Hussle - Victory Lap". Exclaim!. HotNewHipHop praised, "is more than just a gorgeous musical composition, it has an epic story behind it as well."Jahmal, Karlton (February 21, 2018). "Nipsey Hussle "Victory Lap" Review". HotNewHipHop.
== Personnel ==
* Adam Aderbraun executive producer
* Cyrus "NOIS" Taghipour assistant mixing engineer
* Dave Kutch mastering engineer
* Derek "MixedByAli" Ali mixer
* Ermias "Nipsey Hussle" Asghedom vocals, writer, executive producer
* Garnett "G" Flynn engineer
* John Groover Jr. writer
* Joya Nemley A&R administrator
* Larrance "Rance" Dopson writer, additional producer, additional programmer
* Leroy "Mr. Lee" Williams writer, producer, programmer
* Matt Jacobson assistant mixing engineer
* Michael Cox Jr. writer
* Mike & Keys additional producer, additional programmer
* Samiel Asgehdom executive producer
* Sean "Diddy" Combs executive producer
* Stephen Donelson executive producer
* Steven "Steve-O" Carless executive producer
* Tyler Page assistant mixing engineer
* Willie Hutch writer
== Lyrics ==
== References ==
Category:2018 songs
Category:Explicit songs
Category:Songs
Category:Victory Lap