nipsey

Nipsey’s dope. The thing is I just don’t think a lot of people realize it yet. Whether through his own merit or the unwillingness of non-West Coasters to truly embrace a new name from the Left Coast, Neighborhood Nip has yet to receive the acclaim and admiration other newcomers have garnered.

Without questioning his work ethic, one thing I would like to see from dude is him jumping on or getting the opportunity to appear on more mainstream artists’ (noteworthy) records. Mixtapes and remixes are great avenues to build a buzz. However, it is the guest feature spot which can open up eyes to a segment which normally doesn’t listen to “street compilations.” It’s just the natural progression of the game: mixtapes (often more than two), guest features and finally the album. Rinse, cycle, repeat. Some live to see successful careers by utilizing this cycle, others fall by the wayside.

While Nip did jump on the remix to Dorrough’s hit and appears on Snoop’s latest album, it is his collaboration with Game on “They Roll” from Bullets Ain’t Got No Names Vol. 2 which serves as the best example of what I’m attempting to portray. This record had the “feel” of an album cut and could have been used as a single had it been released under different circumstances. Maybe not the lead, but at least a second or third. It wasn’t a club smash, but it was catchy enough to the point where it could have gained mainstream love and generated a quality video. Unfortunately, since Jay “supposedly” sent Auto-Tune on a permanent exile, who really knows how the hook would have been perceived.

Again, I’ll never claim to be an A&R and I don’t know the inner workings of the industry. I can only merely speak from a fan’s perspective. Hopefully, in the future, Nipsey can continue to land beneficial roles to further his career. Until that happens, Kobe & Co. will likely remain the hottest ticket in town.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download — Nipsey Hussle Feat. The Game – “They Roll”

In closing, and a completely irrelevant side note, doesn’t it seem like Arnold has been the governor of Cali for 15 years now?