With ironies aplenty, at midnight eastern on Friday, May 17, 2019, DJ Khaled released “Higher”, featuring John Legend and the late Nip Hussle Tha Great.
A stunning Southern California afternoon was the backdrop for what is assumed to be the last known video featuring Ermias Asghedom after the 33-year-old was viciously gunned down outside of his own Marathon Clothing Store on a Sunday afternoon just 47 days ago.
“Higher” presents a more optimistic feel—the title alone leads the listener down a path of divinity. The production includes a piano melody (as performed by Legend in the video), complete with a choir soulful enough to make you think a catfish and spaghetti dinner is waiting on you in the basement at the end of the song.
Hussle, looking relaxed in his blue linens and loafers that no doubt made the Rollin 60’s puff out their chests, spit an opening verse that revolved around the things he stood for: his family and the resiliency within it, his evolution as a man and the brilliant transition of his street to music business dealings. Verse two contained a slightly ominous beat change though, as Nip then began rhyming about the very dangers to which he would ultimately succumb.
“Emptied out the clip, it was broad day/Fuck niggas always gotta learn the hard way/We gon tape it off if we ball play/Put a half a moon crescent on your bald fade.”
In this strange twist of retroactive foreshadowing, Nipsey’s commentary about “emptying out a clip in broad day” hit far too close to home, as did his closing line.
“South Central state of mind, high crime rate/Homicide, hate, gang banging will get you all day.”
In a way, the duality of these verses is poignant, but in the midst of this difficult 16, Nip reminds us of the spiritual space he was in during his final days.
“Dance with the devil and test our faith/I was thinkin’ chess moves, but it was God grace.”
The honesty that emanates from Nipsey Hussle always set him apart. And his words, and the way he carried himself in and out of the booth, touched lives around the world. We may not know what happens in the afterlife, but Nip was a man of faith. Apropos, if this the last visual we get of Nip Hussle in his element, it’s comforting to watch him so consistently direct us towards his permanent resting place.