Music Lists

The 7 Best Nipsey Hussle Features

Two years ago today, we lost the incomparable Nipsey Hussle.

Deep Reverence

Two years ago today, we lost the incomparable Nipsey Hussle.

In addition to the obvious slew of amazing solo projects, Nip also contributed a modicum of amazing guest features throughout his career. He gave YG's anti-Trump anthem a grounded call-to-action that caused the Secret Service to reach out and try to quell the track's existence. He also linked up with Drake early on in the OVO crooner's career and made a moody leaked single that somehow never found a home. For fans of Nip and his pithy lyrics, here are some of the rapper's stand-out guest appearances.

What It Be Like (Feat. Nipsey Hussle) – Stalley

Off of Stalley's underappreciated debut effort Ohio, "What It Be Like," with its fanfare and smooth percussion, fit Nipsey's slick street poetry like a glove. Nip uses his spot to speak on his city, and how things are never what they seem. The "city of three strikes" is full of rats "in this race for a cheese slice," all while the broke and well-intentioned of his community try to "visualize their dream life" while escaping poverty and jail.

Deep Reverence (Ft. Nipsey Hussle) – Big Sean

On this powerful feature verse, which emerged after Nip's murder, the emcee ruminates on the pressures of his lifestyle, and how being an activist and street icon was never enough to keep vultures like TMZ from spreading unflattering rumors. But Nip keeps it moving, sprinkling one more "street lesson" before proclaiming himself the don of his city and letting Big Sean take the wheel. It's a brief feature, but regardless it was so nice to hear his voice again, if only for a moment.

CANDY (Feat. Nipsey Hussle) – PARTYNEXTDOOR

A PND deep-cut that only recently found its way to streaming services via 2020's PARTYPACK, "CANDY" found Nip in a totally different vibe than what long-time listeners were used to. Over muted R&B loopings and snappy drums, Nip trades in his self-motivational bars for romantic foreplay. "Realism got you feeling the effects more," he raps, speaking on how his authenticity captivated his love interest. Regardless of if you believe this to be one of Nip's best verses or not, it was fun to hear him broach a different topic than what fans were used to, and it was no doubt exciting to hear him yearn alongside PARTYNEXTDOOR.

"FDT" – YG, Nipsey Hussle

One of Nipsey's best guest appearances, FDT was not only an anthem prior to Donald Trump's election, but morphed into an epic f*ck you track after his 2020 election loss. While YG spits gut-punch insults ("Don't let Donald Trump win, that n**** cancer"), Nipsey uses his verse to discuss more systemic issues. "Reagan sold coke, Obama sold hope, Donald Trump spent his trust fund money on the vote," he raps. With that said, Nip still has fun with it and makes sure to take a few loose jabs at the twice-impeached lunatic: "If you vote Donald Trump, you're prolly on dope."

"Fountain of Youth" – Stalley, Nipsey Hussle, Rick Ross

The Self Made 2 standout finds Nipsey cruising in his comfort zone. Placed alongside Stalley and Rick Ross, Nipsey not only handles the track's hook but raps a powerful verse about his unstoppable drive and devotion to his city. "Never vocalize my visions, actions was my spokespers' / Study rich n***** moves like my homework / Sacrilegious; however, streets was my own church."

Pleeze (Feat. Nipsey Hussle) – Dom Kennedy

Another gem that found Nipsey cruising comfortably, "Pleeze" united the dynamic duo of Nip and Dom Kennedy, as both emcees traverse the dangerous streets of LA, and speak on how life-threatening it can be to even walk home. Shoot-outs in the alley that kept Nipsey awake at night, hiding a shotgun behind his front door — all of it is vividly recalled in Nipsey's mesmerizing verse.

Killer (Feat. Nipsey Hussle) – Drake

Of course "Killer" has to be included on this list. Even though it started off as an intentional leak, the Nip and Drizzy collab has since taken on a life of its own and has been forever memorialized as the one time two legends crafted something excellent together. The result was a track that has stood the test of time, and still slaps.

Roy Woods

Roy Woods has remained a unique presence on the OVO roster.

PARTYNEXTDOOR, Majid Jordan, and dvsn have curated the label's R&B sound, while Baka Not Nice, and Drizzy himself mainly handle the hip-jop outings –all while newcomer Popcaan adds in a sprinkle of afro-dancehall, of which he's already a master. As a young Brampton artist of Guyanese descent, Roy Woods always carried himself with a different timbre. He sings with a unique ear for psychotropic R&B and has previously dabbled in rap, EDM, and even afrobeats. With all these talents in his arsenal at just 21-years-old, his 2017 debut, Say Less, attempted to narrow in on the identity of Roy Woods but was still relatively unfocused.

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Norman Perry - Unavailable

via YouTube.com

Norman Perry has learned a lot of hard lessons this year.

Last week, the ethereal R&B Connecticut crooner released his latest project, Way Darker This Time, an ode to a J. Cole verse as well as the fact that, well, his sound is much denser than before. His path to stardom started when he was 16 and has been riddled with trials and tribulations. Born in New Haven, or what Perry calls "the city of greed," the artist grew up in a single-family apartment on Orchard St. in a working-class neighborhood near Yale's main campus. "A lot of people think it's super nice here cause of Yale," says Perry. "Not to long ago, we had one of the highest murder rates in the US." His childhood was filled with "good and bad moments," but his father pulled him towards music. He had been in a jazz band called "Tre Soul," and Perry remembers drawing on piano keys so he could better learn the notes. Then at 16, he ventured out on his own, performing mostly at a local concert venue called Toad's Place.


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New Releases

“PARTYMOBILE” Review: Is PARTYNEXTDOOR Finally Happy?

The singer’s third album is some of the best music of his career.

“PARTYMOBILE” Album cover

PARTYNEXTDOOR's brooding (and at times extremely toxic) bravado has always been his calling card, albeit an ineffective one.

In the last four years, the singer has stayed completely silent. He was so inactive online that PND fans would often joke OVO's debut signee was being caged in Drake's basement, forced to pen hits for others instead of work on his own material. His ghostwriting abilities have always proven to be more lucrative than his solo work. 2016's P3 was a melodramatic slog, bloated with recurring themes of heartbreak and self-sabotage. "Tryna stay out of trouble but it follows me," he croons dramatically on "You've Been Missed." Party very much saw himself as a victim of his circumstances, with love and connection being his greatest foil. While Abel Tesfaye remained dispassionate and "ran through the p*ssy" so hard he needed to be put in "a dog pound," PND was falling in love with every woman that came his way. It was all incredibly toxic and detrimental to both himself and others.

But on PARTYMOBILE, he aims to change this narrative, offering optimistic R&B that embraces vulnerability, and is some of the best of his career.

"I promised you I'll never go back to the city," he sings on "NOTHING LESS." "Cause you know how messy it get." On Party's breakout and catchy-as-hell single, "Break from Toronto," he offers his lover a "break" from the city. On P2's minimalist interlude "Belong to The City," he acknowledges that this lover will never leave. "Come and see me for once," this lover pleads to Party on P3's standout "Come and See Me." Party has always felt distant from the city that raised him, and now it seems he's completely left it behind. Instead of begging for companionship, his self-worth is now his utmost priority.

PARTYNEXTDOOR & Rihanna - BELIEVE IT (Official Audio)www.youtube.com

Sure, he still has moments of toxicity ("ANOTHER DAY",) but it's effectively balanced by moments of transparency. He admits to his past infidelity ("NEVER AGAIN"), and sings optimistically about striving for loyalty ("LOYAL"). The murky lo-fi aesthetic of past PND records remains intact, but it all sounds less contrived. The singer floats effortlessly on "PGT" and fully embraces the Afro-fusion that has remained his calling card for years ("TRAUMA," "EYE ON IT.")

PARTYMOBILE's effervescence is its greatest asset, and the crooner's newfound optimism pushes each track forward in a way that his brooding, self-loathing never could. PARTYNEXTDOOR hasn't quite curated his magnum opus, but he finally seems to be making the music he's always wanted to make. And while fans and critics have ultimately been divided, PND's unexplained absence and sudden return show he doesn't give a f*ck what we think. "Got a mansion in Hollywood, but I never turned Hollywood," he sings on "PGT." In this day and age, that's a special power to have.

PARTYMOBILE

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If You Hate PARTYNEXTDOOR's New Songs, You're Wrong

The two new tracks are some of the best songs of his career.

PARTYNEXTDOOR

It is impossible to escape the influence of PARTYNEXTDOOR.

His ghostwriting and production talent is unprecedented, as he's created some of the biggest songs in the last five years, from Rihanna's "Work" and "Sex With Me" to DJ Khaled's "Wild Thoughts" and "Shining." He is one of the most talented and sought after ghostwriters in music, but he has yet to have a hit that he's both written and performed. His albums are vastly experimental and have garnered a rabid fanbase, but his self-titled trilogy gathered very little mainstream attention, except for a handful of tracks boosted by a Drake co-sign. "I'm 23, but I feel like 43," he said in a Snapchat, "that's how much I write for other people." Party has been very open about his frustrations, so when he completely disappeared for almost three years, his already enthusiastic fans became frantic with anticipation. They knew that when he finally returned, it'd be alongside a new big hit.

PARTYNEXTDOOR - Loyal feat. Drake [Official Audio]www.youtube.com

While "Loyal" and "The News" left fans divided, it should be noted that this is some of the best music PartyNextDoor has ever made. He's cut down on the heavy-handed self-indulgence seen on P3 and returned with crisp tracks that breathe and move completely on their own. He has left the ghostly autotune at the door and allowed his natural vocals to shine through.

"Loyal" finds the singer at his happiest, which has left the internet feeling annoyed. Optimism is definitely off-brand for Party, but when a singer becomes lauded for being a depressed womanizer, it's clearly time to switch things up. The result isn't quite the hit PND fans were praying for, but both singles are a step in a very promising direction.

PARTYNEXTDOOR - The News [Official Audio]www.youtube.com