Album Preview: Nipsey Hussle "South Central State of Mind"
Ever since The Game debuted in 2005 with The Documentary, there haven't really been any prominent new West Coast rappers to emerge. Enter Nipsey Hussle. The lanky, Los Angeles-raised, Rollin' 60s Crip has kept heads noddin' with his vicious Bullets Ain
"South Central State of Mind (Intro)"
Produced by: Lamar (of 1500 Or Nothin) & Detroit Red
Although this track is still unfinished, we liked what we heard. The title track to Hussle's debut album starts off with a sinister sound, but slowly builds into a more triumphant one with Nipsey spitting lines like,
"Keys To The City"
Produced by: Djay Cas
According to Nipsey, this song is supposed to be the next single, and we can see why; the beat is an epic banger worthy of the likes of Rick Ross. It
"Blue Laces"
Produced by: Mr. Lee
This is a somewhat standard
"The Hussle Way"
Produced by:
Bullets Ain't Got No Names Vol. 3Strapped
"Untitled"
Produced by: Big K.R.I.T.
No title? No hook? No problem. The song features a hard-hitting piano loop, which makes it a fairly West Coast-sounding track, considering a dude from Mississippi made it. But it's more of an extended verse than anything else.
"Feelin' Myself (I'm So Fresh)" f/ Lloyd
Produced by: 1500 or Nothin
Nipsey is positive about the order of the first five tracks on his album, but he doesn't have a definitive order for the rest of the songs, including this, the lead single. If you haven't heard it before, the song features heavy synths, an R&B feature, and a full-on display of Nipsey's commercial aspirations. We're kinda on the fence about whether or not we're actually feeling it in the context of the album, but we understand its purpose.
"New Money"
Produced by: J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
Another unfinished song. We're not totally sure, but we think the hook is all Auto-Tuned up. This track is in the same vain as "Feelin' Myself," and doesn't fit with the darker tracks opening the album, which we liked the best of everything we heard. Nip still keeps it gangsta, though, with lines like, "Ask BET if I was backstage blazing!"
"Hustler State of Mind" f/ Kevin Cossom
Produced by:
"I Don't Give A Fuck"
Produced by: QD3
Despite this song being recorded years ago, Nipsey claims he has long planned on making it the outro to his debut. Produced by his homeboy QD3, Nipsey's delivery is reminiscent of the song that got us to first notice him, "Bullets Ain't Got No Names." Thankfully, the song also returns to the darker roots planted in the opening of the album.
BONUS: "Hussle In The House"
Produced by: Detroit Red
Nipsey said he was considering adding this as a bonus cut for all the heads who missed out on it thanks to all the moms who called up L.A. radio stations complaining that it promoted gang banging. Who is you, C. Delores Tucker? Look, maybe we've secretly Crip-walked to a Nipsey or a Snoop song while in the safety of our homes, but that doesn't mean we're gonna cop a blue rag and hurt somebody.