We recently lost a legend in the making in Nipsey Hussle. Another story of a life cut too short. When I heard the news, I initially was too tired to process it. I shrugged it off as random celebrity news. It wasn’t until I slept and thought back to this video, that I started to think about Nip’s impact on me:
See, I’ve always been a fan of a certain type of music. Some lyrical, some catchy, but always focused on a message. Overcoming poverty, beating the odds, living your reality and chasing success are some of my favorites. Nip captured all of those in the clip above. When I heard his cadence and saw the jheri curl I knew he was a left coaster, but something told me he was bigger than that. Something told me that he had star quality.
I then saw him in numerous interviews and heard about his $100 and then $1,000 album, or his views on gang culture and thought “yup, he is definitely different.” Then I heard about all of his business moves and watched his documentary on Crenshaw and his efforts to give back to his community, and I really came to respect him. To hear that he perished in front of the same spot that I came to know of him was crazy to me.
Nip’s passing made me also think about my life. My trials n tribulations. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Then I thought about his family, his neighborhood, and his impact on so many people. The good thing is that his message will definitely live on. The Dr. Sebi documentary will be completed thanks to Nick Cannon (another brown hero who does not get enough credit). His music will be streamed, and his clothing purchased. But a few questions are left unanswered.
The first question isn’t “how big could he have been?” In my mind, the question is “will we protect the other Nips?” Will we protect the hood legends that buy back the same block they hustled on? That opened STEM teaching centers, and employed people? Will we embrace them and keep them safe? I’ve had numerous conversations about keeping it real, and giving back. Nip did both, now he won’t be able to hug his family. They can’t hug him. Betty, Coretta, Myrlie experienced the pain of losing an iconic, transcendent spouse. Unfortunately, Lauren London is feeling a pain I can’t imagine or describe.
Lastly, if I could ask Martin, Malcolm, and Medgar one question, it would be “would you stay on the sidelines if it meant you could grow old with your family?” If I could, I would ask Nip the same. Would you avoid that store front, if you knew what it would do to you?
Having sat and processed it all, I know how I feel. I haven’t felt this type of confusion since the murder of Stack Bundles. Joe Budden said it best when that happened back in 2007. “See you loved Far Rock like I love Jersey, so I feel ya. But love something too much guarantee its gon kill ya, forreal yall.”
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