Blue Laces 2

## Song by Nipsey Hussle

"**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.
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> 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."
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> 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.
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## 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. *HotNewHipHop* praised, "is more than just a gorgeous musical composition, it has an epic story behind it as well."

## 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

**Lyrics**
[Chorus]

*Oh, aw, baby, it's been so long*

*Oh, aw, baby, it's been so long*

[Verse 1]

Mogul and they know that, logo on my floor mat

Courtside, Chamberlain throwback match my Rolex

Everywhere I go, flex, valet park on some Loc shit

Whole lot of smoke in that 'Rari, that thang potent

Burnin' rubber, wearin' cameras, they was undercovers

Under pressure, made statements, turned on they brothers

Never judge you, but the streets'll never love you

I wonder what it come to in your brain for you to run to

Ones that hate us, handcuff us and mace us

Call us dumb n\*\*\*as 'cause our culture is contagious

Third-generation South Central gangbangers

That lived long enough to see it changin'

Think it's time we make arrangements

Finally wiggle out they mazes

Find me out in different places

I'm the spook by the door, this the infiltration

Double back dressed in blue laces

[Chorus]

*Oh, aw, baby, it's been so long*

*Oh, aw, baby, it's been so long*

[Verse 2]

They killed Dr. Sebi, he was teachin' health

I fuck with Rick Ross 'cause he teachin' wealth

Dropped out of school, I'ma teach myself

Made my first mil' on my own, I don't need your help

All black Tom Ford, it's a special evenin'

City council meetin', they got Hussle speakin'

Billion-dollar project, 'bout to crack the cement

So what if our investments had become strategic?

Summer 0-18, man, it's such a season

'Bout to make my partners look like fuckin' geniuses

We was in the Regal, it was me and Steven

We done took a dream and turned it to a zenith

Anything I wanted, everything I needed

Gotta pace yourself, it's all about your breathin'

You can have it all, it's all about your reasons

I done took my name and carved it in the cement

[Chorus]

*Oh, aw, baby, it's been so long*

*Oh, aw, baby, it's been so long*

[Verse 3]

I flashback on that shootout at the beach, twenty deep

You tried to squeeze, your gun jammed and they released

Blood on your tee, how many stains? I see three

The bitch started to panic, so I made her switch seats

Drivin' now, police chopper, hear it flyin' now

Really not too spooked, calmly asked me, "Am I dyin' now?"

All I know is keep you calm and collected

Crackin' jokes like, "N\*\*\*a, now you gon' be finally respected"

See your blood leakin', got my foot on this gas

Tossed the 40, we pulled up to Daniel Free and see CRASH

You know the alibi, they started shootin', we was standin' by

Ain't see nothing but the flare from the talons fly

I wasn't there, I was passin' by

Matter fact, don't say shit, I'm just gon' drop you in the back and slide

That's your weed, all the cash is mine

I'll take 'em both to the spot plus your phone 'til you back online

[Chorus]

*Oh, aw, baby, it's been so long*

*Oh, aw, baby, it's been so long*

## References

1. ↑ Carmichael, Rodney (February 16, 2018). "Nipsey Hussle Tells the Epic Stories Behind 'Victory Lap,' Track by Track". *NPR*.
2. ↑ Harmony, A. (February 16, 2018). "Nipsey Hussle - Victory Lap". *Exclaim!*.
3. ↑ Jahmal, Karlton (February 21, 2018). "Nipsey Hussle "Victory Lap" Review". *HotNewHipHop*.