After years of dues-paying—along with a gang of mixtapes, show-stealing guest appearances, and assorted major-label drama—Nipsey Hussle has become one of today's most popular and in-demand emcees. He hails from South Central L.A., with a lengthy discography including the Bullets Ain't Got No Name trilogy, Crenshaw, and The Marathon. Released in 2013, Nip Hussle the Great Vol. 1 mines his previous projects for a baker's dozen quality joints, setting the stage for his long-awaited, much-delayed official debut album, Victory Lap. Vivid street stories, effortless swagger, and thick production is the order of the day here, and Nip shares the mike with homies like Drake ("Killer"), June Summers ("Rap Music"), and Cobby Supreme ("Strapped"). It's midtempo and moody yet undeniably funky; highlights include the business-minded "CEO," the Boot Camp–sampling "Questions Freestyle," and the Kris Kross–referencing "Hussle in the House."