The Definition of Loyalty

A member of Nipsey Hussle’s tight-knit All Money In label, J. Stone reps for his late, great mentor—not to mention for the continued relevance of Los Angeles street rap—on his most polished album to date. Nipsey’s legacy looms large over the project: On “The Marathon Continues,” Stone tenderly outlines a list of mementos the crew left in their friend’s casket. But beyond the grief, the guest-packed Definition of Loyalty is a celebration of West Coast rap’s past and present: from legends like Snoop Dogg (who joins Stone and Jeremih for “Last Call,” a Marvin Gaye-nodding club banger) to current-day innovators like vibey producer James Fauntleroy (on the lush, soulful “Maybe”) and YG (the neck-snapping N.W.A. redux “N****s Fa Life”).