To honor Nipsey Hussle’s legacy, we’re taking a trip down memory lane to look back at some of his sickest tracks. Hussle, born and raised in the Crenshaw area of South L.A., used his music to speak out against gun violence and put the West Coast hip-hop scene back on the map. Alongside other artists like Kendrick Lamar, Hussle made a massive impact on the rap game.
In this article, we’re ranking the top 5 Nipsey Hussle tracks that made the biggest impact and contributed to his lasting legacy.
5. ‘Forever On Some Fly Shit’ (2011)
If you’re looking for some chill hip hop to vibe to, Nipsey Hussle’s ‘Forever On Some Fly Shit’ is a must-listen. The track was produced by the talented L.A.-based duo THC, and it’s got an ambient, floaty beat that’s reminiscent of the sounds you’d hear from artists like Wiz Khalifa or Curren$y.
This song is off of Nipsey’s album The Marathon Continues and really captures the essence of hip hop in the early 2010s. It’s just amazing how Hussle effortlessly raps over the beat, making you want to nod your head and vibe along with him.
Now, some folks might have mixed feelings about the hip hop scene in that era, but one thing’s for sure – Nipsey’s talent was undeniable. So why not give ‘Forever On Some Fly Shit’ a spin and see for yourself?
4. ‘Keys 2 The City’ (2010)
‘Keys 2 The City’ is one of Nipsey Hussle’s most iconic songs that put him on the map as a true Los Angeles artist. With a sample from The Dynamic Superiors’ ‘Happy Song’, the track exudes a larger-than-life energy that resonated with Angelinos who embraced the song and paved the way for Nipsey’s success.
Listening to this classic record is a bittersweet experience as it showcases the raw talent Nipsey always had while reminding us of the artist he could have become.
3. ‘Hussle & Motivate’ (2018)
Llet’s talk about “Hussle & Motivate” from Nipsey Hussle’s last album, “Victory Lap.” Now, if you’re familiar with Nipsey’s music, you know that this song is a little different from what he usually puts out. He teamed up with a bunch of producers – DO Speaks, Street Symphony, Brody Brown, Larrance Dopson, and Mike N Keys – to sample Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life” and create something fresh.
It’s clear that Nipsey was destined for greatness and “Hussle & Motivate” is proof of that. Unfortunately, we’ll never get to see where his talent could have taken him. Rest in peace, Nipsey.
2. ‘Go Long’ (2013)
If you’re a fan of Houston rap legends Slim Thug and Z-Ro, then you’re going to love “Go Long” by Nipsey Hussle. This melodic track was featured on Hussle’s 2013 mixtape Crenshaw, which was hosted by the one and only DJ Drama – the same dude who hosted all of Lil Wayne’s mixtapes, by the way.
Now get this: Hussle decided to sell limited edition physical copies of Crenshaw for a whopping $100 each. And guess what? He actually sold out, making a cool $100,000. And then he went and pressed more CDs, because why not?
The crazy thing is, it only cost Hussle 75 cents per unit to press the CDs. So, each sale of Crenshaw represents a gross profit margin of more than 1300% before recording costs. No wonder he’s received praise from big names like E-40 and Jay-Z for this savvy move.
Overall, “Go Long” is a real banger from back in the day, and it’s definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already.
1. ‘Racks In The Middle’ (2018)
If you’re a fan of Nipsey Hussle, you’ve probably heard his chart-topping song ‘Racks In The Middle’. Produced by Hit-Boy and featuring Roddy Rich, this track was Nipsey’s last release before he passed away, and it’s now considered his most popular song to date.
In fact, the song even won a Grammy for ‘Best Rap Performance’, which is no small feat! Following Nipsey’s death, his music sales skyrocketed by nearly 3,000%, and his streams in the United States increased by a whopping 1,773%. Can you believe it? ‘Racks In The Middle’ alone racked up a whopping 3,000 units, or 11.8 million streams.
Not only that, but the song was also Nipsey’s first-ever Platinum-certified record, which is a huge achievement for any artist. It’s clear that ‘Racks In The Middle’ will always be a beloved track among Nipsey’s fans, and it’s a testament to his incredible talent as a rapper and musician.
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