Never judge you, but the streets will never love you

I wonder what it come to you in your brain
for you to run to

Ones that hate us, hand cuff us and mace us

Call us dumb n***as ‘cos our culture is contagious

Third generation, South Central gang bangers

That lived long enough to see it changing

Think it’s time we make arrangements

Nipsey Hussle, Blue Laces 2

Man, the first thing I thought this morning was “Thank God I got to live another year”. No, it’s not a new year, nor is it my birthday, but I believe there to be many moments throughout one’s year when one can reflect and be grateful for what has passed and what remains. This morning was such a moment because I got to live a year more after Nipsey passed.

Nipsey’s passing affected many and I wrote a few pieces in relation to his life through his bars, but I struggled to write on the day he passed. After hours of deep thought and being mentally unable to focus on my tasks at work, I wrote the below:

They killed Dr Sebi, he was teachin’ health

I f*** with Rick Ross ‘cos he teachin’ wealth

Dropped out of school, I’ma teach myself

Made my first mil’ on my own, I don’t need your help

All black Tom Ford, it’s a special evenin’

City council meetin’, they got Hussle speakin’

Billion-dollar project bout to crack the cement

So one of our investments had become strategic

Nipsey Hussle, Blue Laces 2

Man, I’m lost for words. Thankfully I am connected with people like Jimmy who help guide me in situations akin to this. Something that is important to understand is what Hip-Hop and Rap mean to us. What it brings out from within us. Listening to real rap is like reading a biography. It is educational. We learn from it.

Some artists teach us more than others – and that’s okay. Not every individual is the same and while we may take one big lesson from one artist, we may take 10 smaller ones from another. In reality, there are a handful of rappers whom I believe can be looked up to, and last night we lost one of them.

In the words of my brother Essam:

“I grew up on the West Coast so he was a big part of my childhood. I don’t know how it felt to lose Pac, but it must have felt like this.”

People like Jimmy, Essam and myself hate writing things like this. Two months ago we lost Cadet in a car accident – and while that was unexplainable and we couldn’t blame anybody – it hurt insanely. Today’s pain, however, is entirely different.

This morning I woke up to one of the younger Gs following me on this page asking if I could do a post on Nipsey. Bearing in mind that it was 4:20 am when I was reading this, he goes onto say how he couldn’t stop listening to Nipsey Hussle for some reason and that he then hopped onto Instagram, only to see the news that he had been killed.

It hit hard.

What the hell was going on?

Am I dreaming? Has my alarm not gone off?

I jump onto my feed and the tributes are pouring in. Nipsey Hussle aged 33. Murdered in cold blood outside of The Marathon Store. A store he owns. A store that resides in a building he purchased only a short while ago.

How bad must the pain be that I’m requested to do a post? How do we express the distress and report our anxiety? I rolled up to the gym at 6.30 am and Victory Lap was my album for the session. Shuffle play. The first song was Blue Laces 2.

“But the streets will never love you”

“Third generation, South Central gang bangers

That lived long enough to see it changing”

Shit.

Nipsey rapped with the knowledge that he could be killed at any moment. He didn’t falter and worked hard to make up for his past and better his community.

“I live like a man who is dead already” – Malcolm X

While he wasn’t the most famous rapper, believe me when I tell you that he touched the hearts and souls of many. Nipsey was loved by all, hated by none.

Nipsey Hussle didn’t move out of Crenshaw. He remained there and released tonnes of mixtapes before his first official album last year – Victory Lap. An album that encompassed his life experiences and an album rapped from the heart – Nipsey was winning. An album that was nominated for “Best Rap Album” and THE album that deserved it.

How many lives were saved through Nipsey’s Hussle? How many people were given opportunities because of Nipsey’s Hussle? How many people have learned and implemented what they learned from Nipsey’s Hussle? How many youngers will look up to this man like a 21^st century 2Pac and do the best they can, because of his Hussle?

Nipsey Hussle completed his Victory Lap.  

My brother Nipsey, so many people had a feeling to listen to your music and feel inspired by you in the last week. You haven’t just caused an effect today, I swear to God we appreciated you from before.

Your legacy will live on.

May Allah give patience to your family, guidance to the youth and better the situation in every Hood.

A year later and the memory still remains etched in my mind. I can remember exactly how I felt on the day and the part that affects me most is how his influence is as powerful as it was then. I wasn’t a “Nipsey Intellectual” before he passed, nor am I one today. However, I can confidently say that Nipsey’s music, intellect and life choices laid a blueprint for many young Hood Intellectuals hussling to find their purpose.

Last time that I checked, I was just a trying to double up and make a million while I’m young. Looking at the dedication that Nipsey had as he was grinding all his life, I learned what it takes to make it real big. And I’ve realised that the only thing that truly matters is being able to hussle and motivate with pure intentions I can testify to with my right hand to God.

And that is the true victory lap.

Man like Nipsey Hussle.

How can someone be dead if they’re alive in other people’s hearts?

#HoodIntellectuals