Victory Lap (Nipsey Hussle album)

Untitled
chronology
No Pressure (2017) Victory Lap ()

Victory Lap is the debut studio album by American rapper Nipsey Hussle. It was released on February 16, 2018 through All Money In No Money Out and Atlantic Records. It is Nipsey Hussle's first major commercial release after releasing a string of mixtapes for thirteen years. The album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200, selling 53,000 album-equivalent units.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
HipHopDX	4.4/5
HotNewHipHop	87%
The Guardian
Pitchfork	7.8/10
XXL	XL

Victory Lap received positive reviews from critics 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."

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."

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." 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."

Track listing

Victory Lap

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Victory Lap" (featuring Stacy Barthe)	Mike & Keys Sap Amaire Johnson	3:58
2.	"Rap Niggas"	Mike & Keys Rance DJ Khalil	3:46
3.	"Last Time That I Checc’d" (featuring YG)	Mike & Keys Rance Kacey Khalil Brody Brown	3:45
4.	"Young Nigga" (featuring Puff Daddy)	Mike & Keys Rance Nipsey Hussle	3:56
5.	"Dedication" (featuring Kendrick Lamar)	Mike & Keys Rance MyGuyMars	4:05
6.	"Blue Laces 2"	Rance Mr. Lee Mike & Keys	4:10
7.	"Hussle & Motivate"	Mike & Keys Rance Brody Brown Street Symphony D.O. Speaks	4:18
8.	"Status Symbol 3" (featuring Buddy)	Mike & Keys	5:05
9.	"Succa Proof" (featuring Konshens & J-Black)	Mike & Keys DJ Khalil Rance	3:21
10.	"Keyz 2 the City 2" (featuring TeeFlii)	Teddy Walton Jake One Mike & Keys JustJosh Music Group	3:05
11.	"Grinding All My Life"	Murda Beatz Mike & Keys	2:55
12.	"Million While You Young" (featuring The-Dream)	Mike & Keys	4:24
13.	"Loaded Bases" (featuring Cee-Lo Green)	Rance Mike & Keys Jake One	3:11
14.	"Real Big" (featuring Marsha Ambrosius)	Larrance Dopson Mike & Keys	6:22

Bonus tracks

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"Double Up" (featuring Belly & Dom Kennedy)	Axl Folie IAMNOBODI Teddy Walton Larrance Dopson	6:02
16.	"Right Hand to God"	Lamar Edwards Mike N Keys Larrance Dopson	3:07
Total length:			65:30

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.

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

Technical

• Andrew Grossman – mixing assistant
• Dave Kutch – mastering
• Derek Ali – 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
• Axel Folie – production
• Brody Brown – additional production
• D.O. Speaks – production
• DJ Khalil – production
• G Koop – production
• Jake One – production
• Kacey Khalil – additional production
• Larrance Dopson – production
• Mike & Keys – production, additional production
• Mr. Lee – production
• Murda Beatz – production
• My Guy Mars – production, additional production
• Nipsey Hussle – production
• Ralo Stylez – production
• Rance – production, additional production
• Sap – production
• Street Symphony – production
• Teddy Walton – production

Additional personnel

• Askia Fountain – A&R
• Dallas Martin – A&R
• Ermias Asghedom – executive producer, composer
• Jimmy Fontaine – photography
• Jorge Peniche – creative director, photography
• Joya Nemley – A&R
• Natalie Apadula – project manager
• Rob Gold Art – manager
• Roosevelt Harrell – A&R
• Samiel Asghedom – executive producer
• Stephen Donelson – executive producer
• Steve Carless – executive producer
• Tanya Lawson – A&R
• Virgilio Tzaj – art direction, design