#TBT: Young Nipsey Hussle

Nipsey Hussle's Slauson Boy Vol. 2 mixtape arrived two weeks ago and eleven years after his debut mixtape Slauson Boy Vol. 1. Now 31 years of age, Nipsey is no longer the swaggering Snoop Dogg disciple of yore. He has several chapters yet to write, and with his debut album Victory Lap on the way, he is in some ways currently in the most exciting stage of his career. But nothing will ever again compare to the time in the late '00s when Nipsey emerged as a technical street rapper from South Central, whose combination of precision and hunger few rappers in the country could match.

Click through the gallery to revisit the first half of Nipsey Hussle's career, from 2005 to 2011, up until he turned 26.

On "Grams and Goldchains," 20-year-old Nipsey demonstrates humor, storytelling ability, and composure on the mic. Backed by DJ Quik synths and creeping piano stabs, he takes you on a journey through a Saturday night in Los Angeles in his shoes. By the time he would release his next mixtape, Bullets Ain’t Got No Name, in 2008, he'd have inked a deal with young Jonny Shipes and Cinematic.

The leadoff/title track on Bullets Ain’t Got No Name Vol. 1 is a good example of the sort of influence 50 Cent had on young rappers in the late '00s. ScHoolboy Q's first mixtapes, released around the same time, is another good example. 50 really had the rap game in chokehold.

Nipsey Hussle is kinda like Lil Wayne circa Da Drought 3 -- he can rap over anything. Though his bars do not cover quite as much ground as Wayne, he is well-equipped to tackle the primitive G-funk whine of Kriss Kross' 1992 megahit "Jump." 

"Walk in My Shoes" feat. Yung Brodee & Rimpau | Bullets Ain't Got No Name Vol. 3.1 (2009)

By the time he dropped Bullets Ain't Got No Name Vol. 3.1 in 2009, Nipsey had signed to Epic and had officially been tapped as L.A.'s next big thing. Now with a few notches on his belt and knows what is required to get money, he schools these youngins on "Walk In My Shoes." It has the feeling of a movie -- a big budget blockbuster.

Arguably the greatest Nipsey Hussle song in existence, "Keys 2 the City" is more than a coronation. It is a realization that Nipsey could easily be in jail, and that makes his success all the more sweet.

"Forget about the risk we took, I never can
Rebel in this white man world until they bury him
Being broke is so un-American."

It's difficult to sound bad on Jay-Z’s "A Million And One." The original was produced by DJ Premier; this flip was produced by Cookin Soul, whom Nipsey needs to collaborate more often. Nipsey raps about his quest for net worth, to supplement his self-worth, which he always had.

Organized around an organ loop and pocket bass line, "Blue Laces" sounds like something that could have been made in the South. Southern rap and Los Angeles rap have always meshed uniquely well. Maybe it has something to do with the ubiquity of cars and passionate car culture their expansive metropoii -- LA, Houston, Atlanta. Maybe it's the hot weather.

The screaming organ chord progression on "Love" has two parts -- one that's resolved and one that's open-ended -- the specter of death, and the knowledge that life goes on. 

Nipsey had left Epic at this point, an admirable and mature move that boded well for his independent wealth but not necessarily his prominence as a rapper. Not that Nipsey cared: "We made some plans, most of em' stuck / Tell me one good reason I should give a fuck." The Marathon continues. 

Another contender for GOAT Nipsey song, "Rose Clique" comprises of an incredible beat and three minutes of unadulterated bars. Nipsey is so good at what he does, he doesn't necessarily need to take a ton of lyrical risks, but when he does -- "pastrami round her pee-hole" -- the results can be breathtaking.