The Churn

Nustalgia: A Serious Rap Fan Shows Off His Extensive Hip-Hop Collection in ATL

Mike JordanDecember 3, 2020

Nustalgia Main GIF

Larry “Nuface” Compton is a Detroit native, but has emerged as one of Atlanta’s most important hip-hop historians due to the sheer volume of rap-related items he’s collected over the years.

He moved from Michigan to ATL in 1995 to attend CAU, and has done more than enough to prove up his #NufaceWasThere hashtag in the meantime. For proof, just visit his downtown Atlanta exhibit, titled “Nustalgia.”

But hurry — you’ve only got a few more days of it being in Atlanta. The exhibit closes Saturday, and there are plans to take Nuface’s show on the road, but why wait when you can check it out tonight?

Killer Mike calls Nuface a “historical curator of culture,” and says he’s “like a watcher from Highlander.”

Atlanta radio personality and “lifestyle specialist” Kenny Burns says Nuface has “a national archive of Hip Hop History.”

For his part, Nuface simply calls himself a fan. But the photos below show a commitment to the culture that few of us have preserved with such care, even though anyone who’s been to a rap concert, party or related event will probably recognize something they’ve seen before and get a little “nustalgia” themselves.

Check out our photos:

A Big Oomp Records corner.
Mike Vick’s celebrity basketball game at Morehouse.
DJ Jelly’s hilariously oversized jersey.
Dungeon Family member Backbone’s Adidas jumpsuits.
A black and white ATL rap collage.
A photo of the boombox.
A photo from Goodie Mob’s “Soul Food” album shoot down in the vault.
Jeezy, Nipsey Hussle and Aaliyah hold down the corner.
Killer Mike /RTJ display.
A signed Pimp C studio session report from Patchwerk Recordings.
Vintage video games.
Nuface (middle) with ATL rappers Señor Kaos and 4ize.
An artist’s interpretation of Andre 3000 made of CDs and vinyl records.
2Pac’s “Better Dayz” double-platinum album sales plaque.

NUstalgia ends Saturday, December 5. A farewell concert titled “Thank You Atlanta” happens Friday, December 4. Get tickets here.