The West Coast never left. Today, Nipsey Hussle and Kendrick Lamar have teamed up to unleash "Dedication," a new single off Nipsey's upcoming Victory Lap project. Borne of a Axel Foley-induced deliberate miscommunication, "Dedication" opens with a vintage, DJ Quik inspired instrumental, over which Nipsey Hussle lives and breathes his geographical roots. In the same way that Atlanta became synonymous with trap, the West Coast is an artist unto itself, with sonic staples that have spanned across generations; it's always refreshing to hear Kendrick Lamar over beats of a particularly Western ilk, like "King Kunta" or "You Ain't Gotta Lie."
Both rappers are in fine form, trading verses while remaining on equal lyrical footing. Nipsey's Victory Lap has been long overdue, and with its actualization on the horizon, we can finally get a sense of what the project might sound like. If "Dedication" is any indication, we good.
Quotable Lyrics
How long should I stay dedicated?
How long till opportunity meet preparation
I need some real n***a reparations
Fore' I run up in your bank just for recreation