25 Nipsey Hussle Lyrics

For those who might don’t know, Nipsey Hussle was an independent American rapper, songwriter, and businessman who got shot and murdered outside of his clothing store The Marathon last month, on March 31.

An artist that made his name heard by giving his vast discography full of mixtapes for free to his fans, and making a living in music just by offering live performances, is someone that I personally respect. Someone who also invested important amounts of money into the community where he grew up in order to improve it—I take my hat off.

The man used to rap about the struggles of his daily life, the struggles of his family and his neighborhood, and especially about the life he had before making music.

He was running a marathon as he always said, because that is life, indeed. And according to him, the ones who make it are the ones that are willing to run all the way to the end.

Unfortunately for him, 33 was the end line; for the rest of us, the marathon continues.

I’ve personally liked the work of Nipsey for many years now, and after his sudden death I began to reflect on life and how delicate it is; when it ends, it ends. But while it lasts, we can take advantage.

He lived his life and enjoyed it, as we are all supposed to do.

And even though Nipsey passed away recently, here I'm not talking about death, I'm talking about life.

Because life is this ephemeral moment where we all are right now, and what we decide to do with this repetitive series of moments called "life" will eventually define our destiny and the magnitude of the impact we have in our family, in our community, in our country; our world. And all the generations yet to come.

Nipsey once said that a kid came to him telling him that he did not quit school thanks to him, thanks to Nipsey. And who knows? Perhaps this kid would become a talented professional that will play a key role in this world in the future: who knows?

What I know is that I'm pretty sure those kinds of little, but important things wouldn't happen because of a gangbanger Nipsey Hussle, but because of a Nipsey Hussle who decided to take control of his life, speak his mind on a stage, and make an impact in his community.

And that is what I like the most about him and, maybe, the cause I'm writing this article: the fact that he somehow came to the conclusion that he was alive to accomplish bigger things than himself; to do something big with his life.

Once he came to the conclusion that we are alive already and we have to grind and squeeze the most of this life, he became invincible.

And once invincible, he became immortal.

Yes, he was right because, what else can we do? We are already here, and we have to give 100 percent of us. Because at the end of the day, being alive wasn't our fault or something we decided, but it's our responsibility now.

After that sudden reflection, I realized I relate to Nipsey in many ways, and I’ve decided to come up with some of his lyrics I personally found special, so here there are some accurate, ironic, ambitious, deep and poetic lines from Nipsey Hussle.

The order is chronological, there is no favoritism.

"PayBack" (from 'Bullets Ain’t Got No Names Vol. 3')

"A necessary evil,

Ain't that the term you use?

Hundred thousand something soldiers

Went to serve for you

So bury your people and let them burn for you

Over some oil 'cause the issue ain't concerning you."

"Since 9/11 you been talking about the threat we facing

And how you need a couple billion to protect the nation

But look, come to my hood I'll show you desperation

Kids dead at 13 like Devin Brown, with no explanation."

"And I don't care where you from

'Cause real recognize real

Every step is like chess;

The wrong move gets you killed

So we act on how we think

And never speak on how we feel."

"U Don't Got A Clue" (from 'The Marathon')

"And what good is dreaming

If you can't make your sh*t come true?

What good is a team

When everyone depends on you?

Hope opportunity don't knock

What opportunist in your group

'Cause then what you gon' do?

[...]

'Cause if you sharing your success

And not your struggle, you's a fool.

Then you start to look as food

The game don't even chew."

"7 Days A Week" (from 'The Marathon')

"I'm tryin' to live my life, so when it's over I got no regrets

Keys to success, multiply what you approach with

Go to roll a dice, but the first time that you can go legit

Seize the opportunity, believe and take control of it

Then get on your marathon and grind it 'til it's over with."

"Call From The Bank" (from 'The Marathon')

"Look, marathon life it's all about

The pace.

Lot of n*gg*s running sprints,

But they never win the race."

"The Crown" (from 'The Marathon')

"First-class flight, lookin' at the clouds

Hopin' that my n*gg*s up in heaven looking down.

Hopin' what I'm doing truly make my mama proud

'Cause for a very long time, I was the reason for her frowns."

"Mac 11 On The Dresser" (from 'The Marathon')

"I graduated from having haters

Now I see it all as fake love,

So don't congratulate us.

And thank God for my imagination

I see the vision, I'm in it,

And now I'm after greatness.

I know that God got me,

So I practice patience.

Most of the time I look inside

And find the answers waitin'."

"I Don’t Give A Fucc" (from 'The Marathon')

"Life is what you make it,

I hope you make a movement.

Hope your opportunity

Survives the opportunist.

Hoping as you walk across the sand

You see my shoeprint."

"So if it's meant, then it's gon' be.

People love it 'cause they know that I'm the real me.

The cops hate it, so they hope my homies kill me.

But I ain't want the fame,

I just wanted y'all to feel me.

It's my time, so I'm goin' in.

We ball 'til we fall, f*ck how the story ends."

"Who Detached Us" (from 'The Marathon Continues')

"And it can be as simple as it seems,

If you never doubt yourself and learn from everything you see,

No wishing on a star can turn your life into a dream.

You could walk on water, just don't look down at your feet."

"Now every second is a classic when nothing last.

Gotta take a moment and appreciate the fact

That this world is turning faster and faster;

Once you found the real it's hard to tolerate the plastic."

"Rose Clique" (from 'The Marathon Continues')

"Still somehow I understood

That I could make the seed grow,

And that one day that tree will bear fruit to feed my people.

That one day is promised, grab your fork it's time to eat, bro."

"Outro" (from 'The Marathon Continues')

"You could make a hundred million,

F*ck a thousand h**s,

But when it's all over,

All that counts is how the story's told"

"She tells me that I am wrong for not using emotion.

Too busy to love abroad and I can't lose focus.

But maybe in a different life,

Maybe when we make it we'll meet at the finish line.

Maybe this is fate, maybe God will send a sign"

"Am I Gonna Make It" (from 'The Marathon Continues: X-Tra Laps')

"F*ck it that's the nature of success,

[...]

N*gg* that might one day become somebody,

Who made good on his world and transcends where he come from."

"Sound Of My Ceremony" (from 'The Marathon Continues: X-Tra Laps')

"Couple others eating good,

But everybody want a taste.

They say, 'get it or them n*gg*s gonna take.'

I say, 'If you want fish, let me lead you to the lake.' "

"Bulgari Shades" (from 'The Marathon Continues: X-Tra Laps')

"We both have broken hearts,

So it's alright to love again.

'Cause when you let go of your pride,

You'll find a lesson in your pain."

"Crenshaw and Slauson (True Story)" (from 'Crenshaw')

"Rap n*gg*s, they just wanna double date with you.

Twitpic and show these h**s that they affiliate with you.

Labels used to treatin' rappers like a slave, n*gg*.

Starving artist, 'Just be happy with your fame, n*gg*.' "

"A Miracle" (from 'Mailbox Money')

"If what I believe

Is proved to be wrong,

Then I guess I'm a miracle."

"50 Niggaz" (from 'Mailbox Money')

"Wonder why we never have faith in the system,

Look at young n*gg*s like a waste of existence,

And then we do make it,

Look at how they try to twist it.

Become the world champ, and then y'all enlist us.

Get rich off of rap, y'all search for pistols."

"Picture Me Rolling" (from 'Slauson Boy 2')

"Trying to stay focus, kinda like Moses.

Like somebody chose us,

Sweat on my shoulder.

Like somebody chose us,

Sweat on my shoulder.

I feel these emotions,

But still I keep going;

A pen to a poet.

I been through the emotions,

I'm feeling heroic.

But life is a dice game,

And they dare you to blow it."

"Basic Instinct" (from 'Slauson Boy 2')

"Bullets start flying by a n*gg*,

That's a sick breeze.

While I'm here take a pic, please.

You know legends die young,

Rest in peace."

"County Jail" (from 'Famous Lies And Unpopular Truths')

"I went to the run and gave myself some time to think.

Sitting in my sell, all I did was pray.

Call home once a week and tell my people I'm okay.

Ask me if I'm stressing, I say, 'Hell naw, I'm straight',

But you can tell the difference, cause it's written on my face.

[...]

Planned to take over the world,

I just ended up in jail.

Writing down my plans,

Hoping I don't hit the pen.

Drop a thousand on my books,

And trust me, I'll be back again."

"Racks in The Middle" (Single)

"All this money, power, fame and I can't make you reappear.

But I don't wipe 'em though,

we only face the life we know.

If it was me, I would tell you, 'N*gg*, live your life and grow'.

I'd tell you, 'Finish what we started, reach them heights, you know?' "

—

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