Victory lap

"Regardless of how much or little you know Nipsey's background, the fact remains that his studio debut album, Victory Lap, serves as the ultimate starting point for the Crenshaw native; a coveted distinction for any artist in a well-established era where mixtapes, unofficial singles and yes, even Instagram, can all yield the same spotlight. From the onset, the album's brassy and conspicuous score (handled largely by longtime collaborators Mike & Keys) establishes its wish to be a primetime Hip Hop event, without the reliance on pop sensibilities or hooks tailor-made for radio".

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"The long-awaited debut from the Los Angeles rapper cashes in on its promise. It's the most gripping record in his catalog ... Debuts are usually albums of firsts, but Victory Lap is full of sequels and standards. When it isn't heavily indebted to his West Coast forebears Snoop Dogg, Ice-T, and Dj Quik, or literally adding a follow-up in a song series-"Blue Laces 2," "Keyz 2 the City 2"-it is returning to Nipsey's well for hard-nosed bully rap".

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