As I started to think about this weeks’ post, thoughts about the significance of the term “victory lap” were first in my mind. I needed to know the true meaning of the words. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a victory lap is a celebratory circuit of a sports field, track, or court by the person or team that has won a contest. What comes to mind first is when a driver wins at NASCAR and takes that extra lap after his or her win. Of course, the dictionary started with the word picture of a track meet win, with the winner celebrating by taking that extra run to the cheers of the crowd.
Why the thoughts of the victory lap in this post of Weekly Music Commentary? Well, it’s because we are featuring American rapper Nipsey Hussle. Also, we are looking closely at his dĂ©but studio album titled Victory Lap. There are so many words that could describe Nipsey Hussle, and his album, that made the decision to feature him this week quite easy. Plus the fact the album is nominated for a Grammy award next week rounds out the reasons for this weeks’ post. Still, even though he has achieved success in the music industry, it’s proper that we provide an introduction.
Ermias Asghedom was born August 15, 1985, better known by his stage name Nipsey Hussle (often stylized as Nipsey Hu$$le), is from Los Angeles, California. Nipsey Hussle was born and raised in the Crenshaw neighborhood of South Los Angeles. He was also a member of the then local Rollin 60’s Neighborhood Crips gang. He is of Eritrean descent from his father’s side and African-American descent on his mother’s side.
With a very interesting background, Nipsey Hussle seems like he was born with a story to tell. Throughout my years writing for Weekly Music Commentary I always found artists from Africa, or with close African ties, own an interesting world view that can be heard in their music. Nipsey spoke about growing up with both Eritrean and American influences in an interview with Complex.
“It’s a country in East Africa. My mom is American, so I was raised in her household in my formative years. But as I got older, my pops tried to keep me involved with the culture by telling me the stories of the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, how he came to America, and about our family back home, because all that side of my family, my aunties, grandparents, is in Africa. When I went back home in 2004, I went for three months. That was my first time in Africa at all. My first time meeting my Granny, aunties, and cousins. It was me, my brother, and my pops.”
Nipsey Hussle’s American story might be just as interesting. Although not the first rap artist to come on the scene with ties to a gang, the story moves more toward the music than the gang stories as time goes on. That’s what has happened with Nipsey Hussle. It all started with a series of mixtapes, collaborations, and appearances until his true victory lap.
In 2005, Hussle gave his first mixtape, titled Slauson Boy Volume 1, which soon became the name of his own record label. In 2008 Nipsey released two mixtapes, Bullets Ain’t Got No Name, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, after signing with Cinematic Music Group and Epic Records. In 2009, he released his dĂ©but single, “Hussle in the House”. Later that year, Nipsey released a third mixtape Bullets Ain’t Got No Name, Vol. 3. He then collaborated with Drake on the song “Killer”, and appeared, along with Snoop Dogg and Problem on the song “Upside Down”, which featured on his 2010’s album Malice n Wonderland.
In 2010, Nipsey appeared on the song “We Are the World 25 for Haiti”, and was chosen to be the part as one of the XXL Magazine’s “Annual Freshman Top Ten”, a selection of ten up-and-coming artists. XXL labeled him “Most Determined” of his class, and LA Weekly called him the “next big L.A. MC”.
At this stage in his career it seemed that Nipsey Hussle was ready for the next big event. Hussle was expected to release his dĂ©but album, South Central State of Mind, in October 2010. Prior to release, the album was supported by the single “Feelin’ Myself” featuring Lloyd. However, the music business is never an exact science. The album was postponed and never was released.
After going through trouble with Epic Records, Nipsey was released from the label in late 2010. After his release, he went on to found his own record label, All Money In. On December 21, 2010, he released his first All Money In Records mixtape, titled The Marathon, which features guest appearances from Kokane and MGMT. On November 1, 2011 Hussle released a sequel titled The Marathon Continues, which features L.A. rappers YG and Dom Kennedy.
On October 8, 2013 Nipsey Hussle released one of his most interesting collections of work in the mixtape Crenshaw. He explained the title saying, “This is my area. This is my home town. This is really like where I spent a lot of my time as a youth. Crenshaw is a foundation to my personality and my story. It’s where it took place at.” The mixtape was also released in a limited first edition of 1,000 copies for $100 each including other incentives via his All Money In record label. He explained his decision to RapRadar saying,
“It’s 2013. Whether we accept it or not, buying music is a choice, not a requisite. When I think of the psychology behind what makes me purchase an artists album, it’s always a form of reciprocation. Almost like a token of appreciation after I experience the product. The reason I chose to charge $100 dollars each copy and only start with 1000 units is because I tailor making my music for those who are listening. it’s not about stepping outside of what I’m known for in hopes of new discovery. What that means less is fans that are better served. I’m more or less focused on fully serving the ones that have connected all ready. That being said it’s a value over volume thing. if I’m going to offer a product made with no compromise or concession to the platforms (radio, A&R opinion, label bias) ect…ect..then the way we sale it has to change.”]
At midnight, he begun selling the limited edition hard copies at a pop-up shop in Fairfax, Los Angeles. Upon its release he reportedly sold out at the pop-up shop, selling over 1,000 copies in less than 24 hours, effectively making 100,000 dollars. Notably, Roc Nation the label founded and owned by Jay-Z bought 100 physical copies at the $100 each price tag.
Last year, February 16, 2018 Nipsey Hussle released his début studio album Victory Lap. The album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200, selling 53,000 album-equivalent units. Yes, it received a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 61st Grammy Awards.
The best review I ever read about Victory Lap was from Ian McQuaid of The Guardian. He said 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 clichĂ©s of unstoppable prowess with the conviction of a true believer.”
I’ve followed a few Los Angeles based rappers/singers, and Nipsey Hussle is ready to take his place as one of the formidable rap acts of South Central – and more. The album title Victory Lap is significant in so many ways, and soon may have more meaning. Will Nipsey Hussle take another victory lap at the Grammys? Possibly!