Victory Lap (Nipsey Hussle album)

Victory Lap is the only studio album by American rapper Nipsey Hussle .[1] It was released on February 16, 2018 through All Money In No Money Out and Atlantic Records. It was Hussle's first major commercial release after releasing a string of mixtapes for thirteen years.[2] The album debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, selling 53,000 album-equivalent units;[3] It was the last project to be released during Hussle’s lifetime, as he was shot and killed on March 31, 2019. It reached a new peak of number two in April 2019, following Hussle's death. It received a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 61st Grammy Awards.

Victory Lap
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 16, 2018
Recorded2016–2017
Studio
Genre
Length65:30
Label
Producer
Nipsey Hussle chronology
No Pressure
(2017)
Victory Lap
(2018)
Singles from Victory Lap
  1. "Rap Niggas"
    Released: December 1, 2017
  2. "Last Time That I Checc'd"
    Released: January 19, 2018
  3. "Dedication"
    Released: February 13, 2018

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic80/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
HipHopDX4.4/5[6]
HotNewHipHop87%[7]
The Guardian[8]
Pitchfork7.8/10[9]
XXLXL[10]

Victory Lap received widespread critical acclaim upon release. 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, as brash and gleeful as peak-era NWA. It’s visceral west coast rap at its unapologetic finest, as Hussle refreshes cliches of unstoppable prowess with the conviction of a true believer." However he also judged that "At least half the album feels like padding."[8]

Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork labelled 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."[9]

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."[6] 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."[7]

Commercial performance

Victory Lap debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 53,000 album-equivalent units, with 30,000 in traditional album sales in its first week of release.[3] This is Hussle's first top 10 album on the chart. The album also debuted at number three on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[11] Following Hussle's death on March 31, 2019, the album reached a new peak of number two on the US Billboard 200, earning 66,000 album-equivalent units (with 17,000 in traditional album sales) in April 2019, behind Billie Eilish's When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?.[12] Three album tracks, "Double Up", "Last Time That I Checc'd" and "Dedication" also debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the week dated April 13, 2019.[13] On February 16, 2023, the album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over two million units in the United States.[14]

Track listing

Victory Lap[15][16]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Victory Lap" (featuring Stacy Barthe)
3:58
2."Rap Niggas"
3:46
3."Last Time That I Checc'd" (featuring YG)
3:45
4."Young Nigga" (featuring Puff Daddy)
3:56
5."Dedication" (featuring Kendrick Lamar)
  • Mike & Keys
  • Rance
  • Mars
  • Stylez
4:05
6."Blue Laces 2"
4:10
7."Hussle & Motivate"
4:18
8."Status Symbol 3" (featuring Buddy)
Mike & Keys5:05
9."Succa Proof" (featuring Konshens and J-Black)
  • Asghedom
  • Garfield Spence
  • Garnett Flynn
  • Jeret Griffin-Black
  • Groover, Jr.
  • Abdul-Rahman
  • L. Dopson
  • Cox, Jr.
  • Mike & Keys
  • DJ Khalil
  • Rance
3:21
10."Keyz 2 the City 2" (featuring TeeFlii)
3:05
11."Grinding All My Life"
2:55
12."Million While You Young" (featuring The-Dream)
4:24
13."Loaded Bases" (featuring Cee-Lo Green)
  • Rance
  • Mike & Keys
  • Jake One
3:11
14."Real Big" (featuring Marsha Ambrosius)
  • Rance
  • Mike & Keys
6:22
Total length:56:21
Bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Double Up" (featuring Belly and Dom Kennedy)
  • Teddy Walton
  • Axlfolie
  • IAMNOBODI
  • Rance
6:01
16."Right Hand 2 God"
  • Asghedom
  • David Camon
  • Groover, Jr.
  • Edwards
  • L. Dopson
  • Cox, Jr.
  • Mike & Keys
  • Rance
  • Mars
3:07
Total length:65:29

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

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[5]

Performers

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

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[32] 2× Platinum 2,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. Eric Skelton. "Nipsey Hussle's 'Victory Lap' Album Has Arrived". Complex. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  2. "Nipsey Hussle on Kendrick, L.A. Rap, and Why Patience Pays off". April 3, 2018.
  3. Eric Skelton. "The First Week Numbers for Nipsey Hussle's 'Victory Lap' Are In". Complex. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  4. "Reviews for Victory Lap by Nipsey Hussle". Metacritic. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  5. Z. Yeung, Neil. "Victory Lap – Nipsey Hussle". AllMusic. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  6. Clark, Trent (February 15, 2018). "Review: "Victory Lap" Confirms Nipsey Hussle's Marathon Paid Off". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  7. "Nipsey Hussle "Victory Lap" Review". HotNewHipHop. February 21, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  8. McQuaid, Ian (February 16, 2018). "Nipsey Hussle: Victory Lap review – west coast rap at its finest". The Guardian. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  9. Pearce, Sheldon (February 24, 2018). "Nipsey Hussle: Victory Lap Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  10. Glaysher, Scott (February 28, 2018). "Nipsey Hussle Delivers Street Sermons on 'Victory Lap' Album". XXL. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  11. "Nipsey Hu$$le Chart History | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Archived from the original on November 23, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  12. Caulfield, Keith (April 7, 2019). "Billie Eilish's 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  13. "Nipsey Hussle Posthumously Debuts Four Songs On Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  14. "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America.
  15. "Victory Lap by Nipsey Hussle on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com. February 16, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  16. "Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap". Discogs.com. February 16, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  17. "ARIA Chart Watch #519". auspOp. April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  18. "Ultratop.be – Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  19. "Nipsey Husle Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  20. "Dutchcharts.nl – Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  21. "Lescharts.com – Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  22. "Charts.nz – Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  23. "Swisscharts.com – Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  24. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  25. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  26. "Nipsey Husle Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  27. "Nipsey Husle Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  28. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  29. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  30. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  31. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  32. "American album certifications – Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap". Recording Industry Association of America.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.