"All my life, been grindin' all my life / Sacrificed, hustled, paid the price / Want a slice, got to roll the dice." –Nipsey Hussle on "Grinding All My Life"
Nipsey was a symbol for both unity in music as well as his community in California. While trying to bridge the Wast Coast sound of hiphop into the mainstream media, he also looked to celebrate musicians and people who walked the same road he walked. Hussle looked to end gang violence in Los Angeles as he was a member of the Rollin 60's Neighborhood Crips. He worked to broker unity between the Crips the Bloods notorious gangs that have been dispersed all over the nation. His hustle also included the empowerment of our black brothers and sisters to own their businesses, own their masters and whatever they choose to pursue.
Why does Nipseys death hurt? Why did the deaths of Martin Luther King , Malcom X and Biggie hurt? "Grinding all My Life" is the testament of Nipsey's life. He sacrificed his blood sweat and tears to not only make the world a better place for those around him, but he wanted to make a change so his children can have a better future. He wanted people can drop the guns and start picking up books and do what they can to live better lives. In terms of music he brought different elements to the rap genre that can be considered unfamiliar to those of the east coast but his goal was to set new standards for music. Nipsey will never be forgotten but the best we can do as humans especially during this time is to honor him by being kinder to each other, having less hate making sure your neighbor that doesn't have food or water has something. Make sure your kids are learning something whether its through their STEM programs or just a skill that they didn't know they possessed. Lastly, Nipsey taught us to forever be grateful for life, and to remember that it is too short, to love and appreciate everything we can.
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