Hussle & Motivate

“I’m comin straight off of Slauson, a crazy mothafucka named Nipsey

I’m turnt up cus I grew up in the 60’s.

Caution to you rap niggas tryin to diss me

I go hard, thats why your bitch wanna flip me”

It was at that moment in 2008, the conviction in his voice let me know he was the one.

I had Bullets Ain’t Got No Name Vol. 2 on repeat. Bumping “Roll The Windows Up” knowing good and damn well I wasn’t rolling shit. But he managed to get me hype and connect to everything he was saying. Then I heard Piss Poor. Jeez. You can’t tell me you listened to that track and didn’t instantly respect his grind and story telling. He won me over. It was a wrap from there. He was a poet that used music to spread his experience and knowledge at such an early age.

I must have played Bullets Volume 1 through 3 a million times before he announced the release of the Marathon. I was gassed because he released it a day after my birthday, so I figured we connected on some level and that it was fate. Maaannn I played that mixtape over and over. There was a time between March and August of 2011, I was living in another city and that soundtrack really got me through. It not only brought me peace, it gave me so much hope and promise. One night in particular, I sat in a car with my cousin and we had Bigger Than Life on repeat, and I remember having tears fill my eyes until my lids couldn’t hold them any longer. Listening to it now is so much harder.

“I don’t want no help, just let me suffer through this. The world would not know Jesus Christ if there was never Judas. This knife thats in my back it’d be the truth that introduced us. And the distance in between us, is the proof of my conclusion. So life is what you make it, I hope you make a movement. I hope your opportunity survives the opportunists. Hoping as you walk across the sand you see my shoe print. And you follow, till it change your life, it’s all an evolution.”  

Rest in Peace Nip. It really saddens me to think that you had  so much more life in you, that you deserved to live. You spent a large part of your life trying to get to this very point. A true example of black excellence. You made sure to lead by example, and taught all of us that if we wanted to accomplish something badly enough, we need to start by utilizing the resources we have access to, and continue to work and build on our dreams. You always said it was a marathon, not a sprint. You wanted us to do better, to be better. And you showed us it was possible. That’s the part that hurts the most. In my eyes you were sheer greatness, almost immortal. God could have let us have you for a bit longer. We needed you more than words could ever express. I took great pride in saying you were from Eritrea. My brothers respected you, and my parents were proud of what you accomplished.

Losing you to the very circumstance you were trying to uplift us from, is beyond tragic. You were everything that we all wanted to be. Through your music and your interactions, you let us know what you stood for, and who you were trying to become. You managed to be transparent, without selling your soul. Your beautiful soul. Probably why God wanted you back.

To me, you were much more than a rapper from L.A. You were a dedicated, hard working man and leader. A great father, son, brother, partner and friend. Because of you, I have amazing memories with someone I love and will never see again. I always wished I could meet you, to thank you for allowing me to strengthen my bond with Jabs through you, but I’m sure he’ll let you know. He loved your music and was so proud of you. When I didn’t think I could like you any more, Jabs would put me on to some more game. He even had “Kush and  Haze” as his ringtone, just so he could get hype when he got a call. Always made me laugh to see him ignore calls just to have a sing along. Last night I listened to Respect Your Passion with my brothers. We sat in silence and let you do all the talking. Jabs would have that song on repeat. For a moment, it felt like old times again. That can never be taken away.

I’ve been crying since Sunday night, still in disbelief. But I will make sure to apply your principals and use these tears as the water to my growth. Your passing will not be in vain. The respect and admiration I have for you is unmatched, and your teachings will remain with me.

Thank you Nip. Thank you for using your platform to spread knowledge and never holding back. Thank you for teaching us about ownership and financial literacy. Thank you for showing us what hard work and dedication gets you. Thank you for caring about all of us, even if the world didn’t. Thank you for allowing us to witness your growth. Thank you for existing Nip. May God protect your family, and loved ones. May God have mercy on your beautiful soul.

Your spirit will live on.

The Marathon Continues