31 F
Indianapolis
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Remembering Nipsey Hu$$le

More by this author

By JONATHAN BIRDSONG

I remember hearing a young Nipsey Hu$$le some years ago — mid 2000s, on the hip-hop E-zine DubCNN. Representing all things “West Coast” in hip-hop and rap culture at that time, the site was used by aspiring artists — primarily from California — as a vehicle to not only reach a broader audience with their music, but to also garner a form of media attention that wasn’t offered by mainstream print mags or radio.   

A veritable cornucopia of upcoming artist interviews, local concert information, in-store artist appearances, guerrilla style music videos, album releases were all presented on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. Upon his introduction into that world, with a cache of professional grade-style mix-tapes at his disposal, Nipsey Hu$$le seemingly became a featured fixture. An underground rap music instant sensation.  

With a lot of Los Angeles style, swag and vernacular in his delivery, Nipsey was almost automatically compared to the Snoop Doggy Doggs and Kurupts in the hardcore-gangsta-rap subgenre of hip-hop. Knowing that, I always wondered which record company (Def Jam, Interscope, Cash Money, etc.) would eventually offer the Crenshaw rapper a deal, as that was conventionally the next step.

However, around the same time — my musical taste for car thumping drum beats and hard-time tales of inner city living shifted. Becoming a father does that I suppose? I still listened to hip-hop music, and even immersed my daughter into the lighter side of the culture. Exposing her to the iconic movies “Breakin’” and “Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo.” Yet, at the same time, not totally giving her a Hollywood-ized version of the culture as recordings from the likes of JJ Fad, A Tribe Called Quest and MC Lyte she could recite better than me at times.

Admittedly, parenthood brought on some prudishness and a neo-conservative view, as it relates to digesting media. I kept select golden-era acts — Public Enemy, Souls of Mischief, LL Cool J respectively in rotation during solo driving moments in the car, sometime even with the kid in tow. Understanding that recording artists often time use “bad words” to get their point across — as do parents in rush hour traffic, my daughter would cleverly remind me. But, without going full blown Tipper Gore, hypocritical censorship flag waving — I made a conscious effort to “filter” what I was listening to, kid free or not.  

I processed that it would be difficult to positively explain a genre of music with themes like “music to drive by” or “bullets ain’t got no name” to an impressionable adolescent. My Compton’s Most Wanted records collected dust. My MC Ren CDs became explicit lyric covered drink coasters. And Lil Half Dead’s debut netted a good $1.25 in a family garage sale. Nipsey Hu$$le had future star rapper potential written all over him. But the journey that fans have when they connect with an artist was unfortunately severed for me. That Parental Advisory label hits a little harder as a parent.

I chose to disconnect from Nipsey’s style of music; riddled rap stories of street gangs and such without regret. I however would come to rue a modicum of that decision, (as I and rest of the world has most recently discovered) Nipsey Hu$$le was more than just your run-of-the-mill gangsta rapper. On the mic, he might have been thee embodiment of “O-Dogg” at times, but during countless interview sessions he exhibited a deeper intellect that conceptually mirrored Malcolm X’s and Marcus Garvey’s philosophies of financially reinvesting back into one’s community. He also conveyed a Renaissance man view of the world, advocating that “the hood” read more. Big upping thoughtfully invigorating books like “The Way of the Superior Man” and “The Spook Who Sat By the Door.” 

He grew as an artist. A lot of backstage politics might come with winning a Grammy. But atypically, the nominations are centered in truth and certitude. Hu$$le’s “Victory Lap” was nominated for Best Rap Album in 2019. He even garnered Jay-Z’s fickle listening ears’ attention, not as a Roc Nation signee, but as a fan. As thee urban legend tale of Jay-Z buying 100 of Nipsey’s mixtapes for $100 a piece is resoundingly true. I imagine then that $10,000 payday without a middleman record company distributor, is the kind of business savvy Nip employed, furthering his brand.

Still the uniqueness of Nipsey Hussle for me is what he ultimately did with his success and earnings. Yes, utilizing one’s street cred, prowess as a songwriter and relationships with entertainment industry “movers and shakers” is a shared story many emcee/rappers from Queen Latifah to Will Smith to Ice-T have experienced and fans applaud.  But not only did Nipsey reaped the benefits of opportunity for himself, he also championed those same opportunities for people of color, specifically those from his neighborhood. The desire to economically use his own wealth, fame and notoriety by providing his neighborhood job opportunities in the form of a seafood market, a Fatburger restaurant, a corner store, medical/recreational marijuana dispensary and a handful barbershops. He also aided in elementary school philanthropy with playground renovations, STEM projects as well as gym equipment upgrades. In laymen’s terms, a full community reinvest in neighborhoods that larger corporate entities deemed ruinous.

Sadly, Nipsey Hu$$le was gunned down in a petty dispute by a close associate in front of the same shopping plaza he made great effort to revitalize. Sadness on many levels throughout the Los Angeles community, (and on a larger scale the hip-hop community) resonates with his passing. Without being divisive — in a time when social-political divisiveness is trendy and chic — Nipsey Hu$$le gave us a pro-hood community view point, “makin’ it” — yet at the same time giving back to the streets that made him. Embraced and loved by both “the streets and the suites,” reflective communities across the country as well as state institutions alike have offered condolences and vigils.  

Though I plugged out a long time ago on his music. I am reminded of the lessons by all the great hip-hop teachers of the past — that hip-hop is an absorbing culture that represents more than just music. More than just dance. More than just what we might see on the forefront. The social media outpour of videos clippings shared where Nipsey is talking-up his positive experiences and speaking on life lessons is something I will no longer be able to ignore. And will continue to share as hip-hop cultural canon. I’m officially plugged back in.

The Marathon continues. Long live Nip.

- Advertisement -

Upcoming Online Townhalls

- Advertisement -

Subscribe to our newsletter

To be updated with all the latest local news.

Stay connected

1FansLike
1FollowersFollow
1FollowersFollow
1SubscribersSubscribe

Related articles

Popular articles

Español + Translate »
Skip to content