Victory Lap (album)

## **Singles from *Victory Lap***

1. "Rap N\*\*\*as"
Released: December 1, 2017
2. "Last Time That I Checc'd"
Released: January 19, 2018
3. "Dedication"
Released: February 13, 2018

***Victory Lap*** is the debut and only studio album by Nipsey Hussle. It was released on February 16, 2018, by All Money In and Atlantic Records. It was the last project to be released during Hussle's lifetime, as he was shot and killed on March 31, 2019. It received a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 61st Grammy Awards.

## Background

Hussle broke down the track listing to NPR, stating, "When they [read] this interview, they'll be able to go through and listen to the album and really break down my point of view. That'll give them an insight on who I am and what I believe in more than any tweet or statement or Instagram post. When they hear the music, they'll hear what I believe in and what I choose to promote. And I think that's the most important thing."

Upon being nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards, he revealed to *Rolling Stone* that he "heard things" but didn't look into it until the "official announcement." He continued, "I wouldn't want to anticipate something and then get let down. I caught the official word 5:30 this morning at the gym. I been working on an early morning program."

## Critical reception

*Victory Lap* received generally favorable reviews upon release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 80 based on 6 reviews. Ian McQuaid of *The Guardian* commented that Nipsey Hussle "effortlessly claims his place as crown prince of G-funk's new school," adding that "his brags rasp as hoarse and righteous as a man in the middle of a three-day bender, riding beats built from oozing bass swagger and slinking Compton synths." However, he felt that "At least half the album feels like padding." *Exclaim!* opined that "the album's roughest spots are mostly loaded up front" though concludes that it's "a solid effort with the promise of better to come."

*Pitchfork*'s Sheldon Pearce described *Victory Lap* as "the most gripping record in his catalog," also adding: "The hour-long album honors all the work he's put in and looks back at all he's achieved, but it also looks forward to all he has yet to build and all those he can still inspire. His tactics can be tone-deaf and without nuance, but he knows exactly who he's speaking to and for." Trent Clark of *HipHopDX* concluded: "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." Online publication *HotNewHipHop* stated that *Victory Lap* "toes the line between classic and contemporary hip-hop. It captures the emotion of now, this victorious moment for Hussle, while still pushing for the permanence of a hip-hop classic. It's hard to tell whether *Victory Lap* offers a transient infectious feeling or life-long addiction, but this album should age well. The production is masterful, the features are well-placed, and Nipsey raps like he just won a marathon. The race for the victory paid off."

## Track listing

* Ahmed Balshe
* Alexander Chigbué
* Morgan
* Dominic Hunn
* Walton
* Axlfolie
* IAMNOBODI
* Rance
* David Camon
* Groover, Jr.
* Edwards
* L. Dopson
* Cox, Jr.
* Rance
* Mars

**Notes**

* "Succa Proof" originally didn't feature credited vocals by Konshens and J-Black.
* "Victory Lap", "Hussle & Motivate", and "Real Big" features additional vocals by Lauren London.
* "Dedication" features additional vocals by Alexandria Dopson and Garren Edwards.
* "Hussle & Motivate" features additional vocals by David Wade.
* "Million While You Young" features additional vocals by Brian Morgan.
* "Real Big" features background vocals by Alexandria Dopson and Rebekah Muhammad.
* "Double Up" features additional vocals by Axl Folie.
* "Double Up" and "Right Hand 2 God" features additional vocals by Zacari.

**Samples**

* "Victory Lap" contains an interpolation from "Knee Socks", written by Alex Turner, and performed by Arctic Monkeys.
* "Last Time That I Checc'd" contains an interpolation from "Money, Power & Respect", written by Jason Phillips, Sean Jacobs, David Styles, Earl Simmons, Herb Smith, Deric Angelettie, and Ron Lawrence, and performed by The Lox.
* "Young N\*\*\*a" contains a sample from "West District", written by Jahron Brathwaite and Noah "40" Shebib, and performed by PartyNextDoor, which itself samples "Only When Ur Lonely", written by Elgin Lumpkin, Timothy Mosley, Robert Reives and Clarence Lewis, and performed by Ginuwine; and elements from "(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go", written and performed by Curtis Mayfield.
* "Blue Laces 2" contains a sample from "Give Me Some of That Good Old Love", written and performed by Willie Hutch.
* "Hussle & Motivate" contains a sample from "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)", written by Shawn Carter, Charles Strouse, and Martin Charnin, and performed by Jay-Z.
* "Million While You Young" contains excerpts from *A Little Bit of Business (Part 1)* (2012), performed by Kyle Donovan and Don Peebles, courtesy of NV Magazine and New York Life Insurance Company.
* "Right Hand 2 God" contains a sample from "Getting Over You", written by David Camon, and performed by The Controllers.

## Personnel

**Performers**

* Nipsey Hussle – primary artist
* Alexandria Dopson – background vocals
* Brian Morgan – vocals
* David Wade – vocals
* Garren Edwards – vocals
* J-Black – vocals
* Lauren London – vocals
* Rebekah Muhammad – background vocals
* TeeFLii – featured artist
* Cee-Lo Green – featured artist
* Kendrick Lamar – featured artist
* Konshens – featured artist
* Puff Daddy – featured artist
* Stacy Barthe – featured artist
* YG – featured artist

**Technical**

* Andrew Grossman – mixing assistant
* Dave Kutch – mastering
* Derek Ali – mixing
* Cyrus "NOIS" Taghipour - mixing
* Ethan Stevens – engineer
* Garnett Flynn – engineer, scratching
* Jeremy Brown – engineer
* Mario "Wizzo" Fernandez – engineer
* Matt Jacobson – mixing advisor, mixing assistant
* Matt Schaeffer – engineer
* Matty Rich – engineer
* Ralo Stylez – engineer
* Rich Keller – mixing
* Roger Butler – engineer, programming
* Tarik Johnston – engineer
* Zachary Acosta – mixing assistant

**Musicians**

* Brody Brown – keyboards
* Dave Forman – guitar
* DJ Battlecat – talkbox
* Doc Allison – cello, strings
* Eric Choice – keyboards
* Mike & Keys – bass arrangement
* Rance – keyboards
* Uncle Chucc – guitar

**Production**

* Amaire Johnson – production
* Axelfolie – production
* Brody Brown – additional production
* D.O. Speaks – production
* DJ Khalil – production
* G Koop – production
* Jake One – production
* Kacey Khalil – additional production
* Rance – production
* Mike & Keys – production, additional production
* Mr. Lee – production
* Murda Beatz – production
* Mars – production, additional production
* Nipsey Hussle – production
* Ralo Stylez – production
* Rance – production, additional production
* Sap – production
* Street Symphony – production
* Travis Walton – production

**Additional personnel**

* Ermias "Nipsey Hussle" Asghedom – executive producer, composer
* Jimmy Fontaine – photography
* Jorge Peniche – creative director, photography
* Natalie Apadula – project manager
* Samiel "Blacc Sam" Asghedom – executive producer
* Stephen "Fatts" Donelson – executive producer
* Steven "Steve-O" Carless – executive producer
* Sean "Diddy" Combs – executive producer
* Virgilio Tzaj – art direction, design

## References

1. ↑ Carmichael, Rodney (February 16, 2018). "Nipsey Hussle Tells the Epic Stories Behind 'Victory Lap,' Track by Track". *NPR*.
2. ↑ Leight, Elias (December 7, 2018). "Nipsey Hussle Wasn't Thinking of the Grammys When He Made 'Victory Lap,' But He Got a Nomination Anyway". *Rolling Stone*.
3. ↑ "Victory Lap by Nipsey Hussle". *Metacritic*. February 16, 2018.
4. ↑ Harmony, A. (February 16, 2018). "Nipsey Hussle - Victory Lap". *Exclaim*.
5. ↑ Leight, Elias (December 7, 2018). "Nipsey Hussle Wasn't Thinking of the Grammys When He Made 'Victory Lap,' But He Got a Nomination Anyway". *Rolling Stone*.
6. ↑ "Billboard's 50 Best Albums of 2018: Critics' Picks". *Billboard*. December 10, 2018.
7. ↑ "The Best Albums of 2018". *Complex*. December 5, 2018.
8. ↑ "50 Best Hip-Hop and R&B Albums of 2018, Ranked". *DJBooth*. December 11, 2018.
9. ↑ "Top 10 Albums of 2018". *Hypebeast*. December 20, 2018.
10. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2018". *Uproxx*. December 3, 2018.
11. ↑ "Debate Us: The 30 Best Albums Of 2018". *Vibe*. December 18, 2018. Archived from the original on September 9, 2018.
12. ↑ "ALBUMISM SELECTS: The 110 Best Albums of the 2010s". *Albumism*. November 3, 2019.
13. ↑ "The 100 Greatest Albums of the 2010s: Staff Picks". *Billboard*. November 19, 2019.
14. ↑ "All the Best Albums of the 2010s, Ranked". *Uproxx*. October 7, 2019.

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