Nipsey Hussle's Victory Lap has arrived, leading the charge for a 2018 West Coast renaissance. The California rapper has kept true to the sonic influences of his hometown, with callbacks to G-Funk and the raw arrangements of The Chronic. While plenty of singles have already been in rotation, one of the deeper cuts stands out as a mid-album gem. "Hussle & Motivate" finds Nipsey going in over a chopped up sample from "Hard Knock Life"; you might recall Jay-Z having previously rocked this one back in 98, but after two decades, is it not fair game?
Producers DO Speaks, Street Symphony, Brody Brown, Larrance Dopson & Mike N Keys joined forces on this one, layering the Annie sample with some ominous piano progressions. Nipsey himself is in fine form, delivering a laid back flow as he flexes his revered status in the Los Angeles hierarchy.
Quotable Lyrics
Hit by the rules like a fuckin' ref
I got respect in like a hundred sets
Too many chains, need another chest
Playin' no games if it wasn't chess
