Avg Rating: 
4.7 ( 6 total votes )
There was a time when the west coast was king, when the entire nation was smoking the chronic, drinking gin and juice and believing that today was a good day. That golden era of gangsta rap is over. While the west coast never disappeared - how could it with the likes of Snoop and Dre roaming its streets? - it has lost its status as a hip-hop epicenter. With the notable exception of The Game, L.A. hasn’t seen a single young rapper blow up the national scene in more than a decade. But that doesn’t … ...Read the full album review
DJBooth Album Review
There was a time when the west coast was king, when the entire nation was smoking the chronic, drinking gin and juice and believing that today was a good day. That golden era of gangsta rap is over. While the west coast never disappeared - how could it with the likes of Snoop and Dre roaming its streets? - it has lost its status as a hip-hop epicenter. With the notable exception of The Game, L.A. hasn’t seen a single young rapper blow up the national scene in more than a decade. But that doesn’t mean the west is sleeping; and if it is, it’s a sleeping giant. America’s eyes and ears may currently be focused on Atlanta and Chicago, but the leftest coast is teeming with hordes of young rappers busy building a lyrical battle plan, ready to reclaim their position as a capital of hip-hop nation. Standing at the foreftont of this new west movement is Nipsey Hussle.
When we talk about the west coast we’re really talking about L.A., and right now you can’t talk about L.A. without talking about Nipsey Hussle (you can’t be from anywhere but the city of angels with a name like Nipsey Hussle). While Nipsey’s long-awaited debut album, South Central State of Mind, continues to be awaited (it’s currently slated to drop this December), Slauson Ave.’s favorite son is continuing to build his buzz with the latest addition to his Bullets Aint’ Got No Names series. His latest offering, Vol. 3, is his strongest offering yet, a wide ranging mixalbum that proves Nipsey has the potential to translate his substantial street presence into widespread national success.
Diamonds are a hustlers’ best friend, so it’s no surprise that Nipsey does some of his best work on the Biggie-influenced Diamonds. Diamonds cruises along on typically laid-back west coast production, a sparsely relaxed beat that holds hints of menace, while Nipsey shows that even at his toughest he can still be lyrically inventive. At one point he even compares himself to French explorer Jacques Cousteau, and still sounds dope. (Although calling yourself a “lyrical Tracy McGrady” might not have been the best choice, considering the man’s playoff record). NBA analogies aside, if anything can be considered a prototypical Nipsey Hussle track it’s Diamonds, except for maybe Speak My Language. Language is Vol. 3’s certified banger, a cut that can’t truly be appreciated unless played at full volume. Nipsey absolutely kills the track, and as an added bonus Lloyd Banks and Cory Gunz add some serious lyrical pyrotechnics. Time and time again on the mixalbum, from the blunted Gangbanging to the creeping Strapped, Nipsey shows that he’s got the potential to be a champion rapper; not as a heavyweight but as a featherweight, dodging and ducking, stinging the track with jabs, fearless, relentless.
The modern music game being what it is, you can’t be successful without some widespread appeal, and gaining that large scale success without losing your core identity is a challenge most rappers can’t handle. Can Nipsey become a national force without losing his distinctly regional style? The jury’s still out. Gotta Make It is the mixalbum’s most radio ready track, a hustler-as-inspirational-figure track featuring a supremely smooth chorus from Lloyd. Nipsey could have easily softened his verses but he doesn’t flinch, spitting the same concrete hard flow he dropped on Diamonds, showing that Nipsey’s decided that if he’s going to make it, he’s going to make it on his terms. That doesn’t mean that Nipsey’s above dropping the requisite ladies jam, in this case the sparkling Rich Roll. It’s not that Rich Roll is a bad track, lord knows there’s nothing wrong with making the ladies happy, but on Roll Nipsey could be almost anyone, any aspiring rapper who can put together a “girl you so fine” line. Unfortunately some auto-tune even creeps in. The road to success is paved with danger and Nipsey needs to be careful to keep making his music, not everyone eles’s music, as he navigates it.
As always we won’t know the true extent of Nipsey’s abilities until South Central State of Mind finally drops. Will he revive the west coast? Will hip-hop nation once again turn its eyes towards Los Angeles? It’s far too early to tell. But he’s the best hope the left coast’s had in years. Make no mistake, the west coast is coming back. You can hear it.
Listen to More: Nipsey Hussle Written by Nathan S.
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Member Reviews and Ratings
Average Member Rating: Total Ratings: 6
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11866 |
Rating:
 DOPE! I've had this on repeat for the last 5 days. Nathan was spot on in his review. It's just a matter of time before we will be able to completely evaluate the potential next West Coast giant...
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| Posted on Aug 06, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
mixtape hot
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| Posted on Aug 07, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
this is that classic west coast hiphop with a 2012 vibe 2 it. this nigga is hotter than game he got the west next
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| Posted on Aug 07, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2281 |
Rating:
I'm listenin to that bucketheads track and that shit is insane. Nipsey seems to be the Next out of my city. He is making a strong push lately with all these bangers he hit us with in a quick flurry. The production he is rhyming over is great on this mixtape. His style as well as his distinctive voice works well on them. This is without a doubt something that makes me proud. WESTSIDE!!!!! I can't find a song on here that ain't on point not 1 but here are 5 of my favs. This may be the best west coast album since, My Ghetto Report Card by E 40. What you think?
1.PAYBACK 2.Bucketheads 3.Shed a Tear 4. CEO 5.The Hustle Way |
| Posted on Aug 08, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 303 |
Rating:
Nipsey is definately for real! I was really feeling this mixtape and now I am anticipating his debut. After listening to this one and Vol. 2 I was hooked.
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| Posted on Aug 12, 2009 |
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Professional  Total Ratings: 18 |
Rating:
COMING SOON!!
DJ 2REK - NIPSEY HU$$LE GANGSTERISATION HOSTED BY NIPSEY HU$$LE BIG$BIZNES EDITION FIRST DJ TO COME WITH A NIPSEY REMIX! only math i like is counting money.. OFFICIAL MIXTAPE DJ FOR TRUE MAGAZINE L.A. |
| Posted on Aug 17, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
how do i download the mixtape?
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| Posted on Sep 02, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
Nipseyhussle is the next one up. All money in no money out is the motto cinematic is the slogan. So @*#$! the haters
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| Posted on Sep 03, 2009 |
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