Victory Lap (album)

Victory Lap
Studio album by Nipsey Hussle
Released	February 16, 2018 (2018-02-16)
Recorded	2016–2017
Studio	Interscope Studios (Santa Monica, CA) Marathon Studios (Burbank, CA) Paramount Studios (Hollywood, CA)
Length	65:30
Label	All Money In Atlantic
Producer(s)	Nipsey Hussle (also exec.) Puff Daddy (exec.) Blaine Joseph (exec.) Steve-O (exec.) Fatts (exec.) Mark Sanders J Amaire Johnson Brody Brown D.O. Speaks DJ Khalil G Koop IAMNOBODI Kacey Khaliel Mars Mike & Keys Mr. Lee Murda Beatz Ralo Stylez Rance Sap Street Symphony Teddy Walton YNG Josh
Nipsey Hussle chronology
Previous	No Pressure (2017)
Current	Victory Lap (2018)

Victory Lap is the debut and only studio album by American rapper 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. The album debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, selling 53,000 album-equivalent units. The following year, it received a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 61st Grammy Awards. It became certified double platinum by the RIAA in February 2023, the album's fifth anniversary.

Synopsis

From the time he broke in 2008, Nipsey Hussle was one of the West Coast's brightest hopes for a post-Snoop Dogg superstar. Though he'd go on to deliver numerous classic street-level projects in the time since, Victory Lap is officially billed as Hussle's debut. The album is rife with the neo-G-funk sound that made his name ("Last Time That I Checc'd," "Dedication") as well as the platforms he's most proud of: turf-life activism and black business advocacy ("Young N***a," "Million While You Young"). The clout of guests like Puff Daddy, Kendrick Lamar, and Cee-Lo Green is not to be understated, but Hussle's collaborators, no matter their own fame, understand his importance.

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 formal 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."

Singles

Title	Date
"Rap N*ggas"	December 1, 2017
"Last Time That I Checc'd"	January 19, 2018
"Dedication"	February 13, 2018

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	80/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
HipHopDX	4.4/5
HotNewHipHop	8.7/10
The Guardian
Pitchfork	7.8/10
XXL	8/10

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. Will Schube wrote a retrospective review, praising, "a thesis for a life, its history, philosophy, and narrative wrapped into 16 tight tracks."

Ian McQuaid, writing for 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!'s A. Harmony opined that "the album's roughest spots are mostly loaded up front," though concluded that it's "a solid effort with the promise of better to come." Critic Sheldon Pearce for Pitchfork described Victory Lap as "the most gripping record" in the rapper's catalogue, and added: "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 assessed: "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 in a positive review 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."

Accolades

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Result	Ref.
2019	Grammy Awards	Best Rap Album	Nominated

Year-end lists

Publisher	Listicle	Year	Result	Ref.
Billboard	50 Best Albums of 2018	2018	27
Complex	The Best Albums of 2018		6
DJBooth	50 Best Hip-Hop and R&B Albums of 2018		28
Hypebeast	Top 10 Albums of 2018		Placed
Uproxx	50 Best Albums of 2018		21
Vibe	30 Best Albums of 2018		19

Listicles

Publisher	Listicle	Year	Result	Ref.
Albumism	The 110 Best Albums of the 2010s	2019	Placed
Billboard	100 Greatest Albums of the 2010s		94
Uproxx	The Best Albums of the 2010s		50

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Victory Lap" (featuring Stacy Barthe)	Ermias Asghedom Alex Turner Amaire Johnson Jonathan King Stacy Barthe	Amaire Johnson Mike & Keys Sap	3:58
2.	"Rap N*ggas"	Asghedom Michael Cox, Jr. John Groover, Jr. Larrance Dopson Khalil Abdul-Rahman	Mike & Keys Rance DJ Khalil	3:46
3.	"Last Time That I Checc'd" (featuring YG)	Asghedom Keenon Jackson Cox, Jr. Groover, Jr. L. Dopson Christopher Brown Zairyus Jackson	Mike & Keys Rance Kacey Khaliel Brody Brown	3:45
4.	"Young N*gga" (featuring Puff Daddy)	Asghedom Jahron Brathwaite Axel Morgan Clarence Lewis Curtis Mayfield Elgin Lumpkin Jaire Kwayera Groover, Jr. L. Dopson Cox, Jr. Robert Reives Sean Combs Timothy Mosley	Mike & Keys Rance Nipsey Hussle	3:56
5.	"Dedication" (featuring Kendrick Lamar)	Asghedom Kendrick Duckworth L. Dopson Alexandria Dopson Morgan Groover, Jr.Lamar Edwards Cox, Jr. Ralo Stylez	Mike & Keys Rance Mars Stylez	4:05
6.	"Blue Laces 2"	Asghedom Groover, Jr. L. Dopson Leroy Williams Cox, Jr. Willie Hutch	Rance Mr. Lee Mike & Keys	4:10
7.	"Hussle & Motivate"	Asghedom Askia Fountain Charles Strouse Derrick Okoth Groover, Jr. Mark James Martin Charnin Maurice David Wade Cox, Jr. Shawn Carter Torrance Esmond	Mike & Keys Rance Brody Brown Street Symphony D.O. Speaks	4:18
8.	"Status Symbol 3" (featuring Buddy)	Asghedom Groover, Jr. Cox, Jr. Simmie Sims III	Mike & Keys	5:05
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)	Asghedom Braylin Bowman Christian Jones Groover, Jr. Abdul-Rahman L. Dopson Cox, Jr. Jacob Dutton Travis Walton Joshua Conerly	Teddy Walton Jake One Mike & Keys YNG Josh	3:05
11.	"Grinding All My Life"	Asghedom Fountain Shane Lindstrom	Murda Beatz	2:55
12.	"Million While You Young" (featuring The-Dream)	Asghedom Johnson Dutton Groover, Jr. Edwards Cox, Jr. Robert Mandell Terius Nash	Mike & Keys G Koop	4:24
13.	"Loaded Bases" (featuring Cee-Lo Green)	Asghedom Dutton L. Dopson Thomas Callaway	Rance Mike & Keys Jake One	3:11
14.	"Real Big" (featuring Marsha Ambrosius)	Asghedom A. Dopson Groover, Jr. L. Dopson Marsha Ambrosius Cox, Jr. Rebekah Muhammad	Rance Mike & Keys	6:22
Total length:				56:21

Bonus tracks
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"Double Up" (featuring Belly and Dom Kennedy)	Asghedom Ahmed Balshe Alexander Chigbué Morgan Dominic Hunn Walton	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

• "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*gga" 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

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

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

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

• Nipsey Hussle – 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

Certifications

Country	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)	Gold (November 8, 2019) Platinum (January 8, 2020) 2× Platinum (February 16, 2023)	2,000,000Template:Double-dagger
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

Template:Nipsey Hussle