Nipsey Hussle, Lyrics Dissected Pt 1
Read in between the lines and wonder beyond the lyrics and we may stumble across something deeper than we expected.
Look even closer and we may find that the greatness that we admire in our favorite artists is the same greatness within ourselves.
Let’s take a deeper look into Nipsey Hussle and the playbook he has left behind for us to live in accordance with our purpose and calling. We’ll explore who he was and some of my favorite lyrics that serve as seeds of motivation.
Nipsey Hussle (Ermias Joseph Asghedom) was truly one of a kind. He was an artist, entrepreneur, motivator, and so much more. He was larger than himself. What he embodies and represents allows him to still motivate and connect with so many people even after his death.
All of us are here for a reason, and it’s up to us to actualize and live out that reason. Nipsey was a great man but his spirit was even greater and that same spirit lived out its purpose and continues to inspire the spirit within many us.
The infinite and all-mighty power that keeps us alive speaks to us all the time, whether we pay attention or not. That same power embodies itself through people who are strong enough to handle the responsibilities that come with mastering one’s self. Nipsey’s songs are deeper than the lyrics. The lyrics represent the power that we all have within us expressing itself through the medium of music. Listen closely, read carefully but most importantly internalize it and understand the bigger picture of it all.
Personally, Nipsey’s songs continue to provide me with key messages that serve as guidance as I walk my path in life. No one can give us the answers to our lives but they can inspire us to walk the path that leads to the answers.
In this piece, we’ll explore some of Nipsey’s lyrics and how I’ve chosen to internalize them
Perfect Timing
Sometimes perfect timing feels like I’m too late
But I know you’re still great in spite of your mistakes
Before you run your race you gotta find a pace
Just make sure you cross the line and fuck the time it takes
Everyone has their own path to walk, their own destiny to build and fulfill.
Don’t let the timing stress you out. It’s not a race against anyone else so don’t look to the left or the right trying to determine your position.
This is a race against yourself, a race to become your greatest self and express your gifts and talents to this world.
Every mistake, every hurdle, and every situation is part of your story. Just keep moving forward.
Dedication
Red rose in the gray pavement
Young black [brother] trapped and he can’t change it
Know he a genius, he just can’t claim it
’Cause they left him no platforms to explain it
We all have a gift and natural talents. We are all here for a reason, your life is not an accident.
Finding your gift and expressing it can be challenging though, especially in a society that operates based on us fitting a mold. Truth is, we are all geniuses, all kings and queens and your thrown is waiting for you but keep an open mind, it’s likely not in the mold society tells you to fit in.
Don't be afraid to leave the pack and find your thrown.
Perfect Ten
Stacked every chip on myself, time to collect
All money in, just imagine what I gross back
We got to believe in ourselves. You are your greatest asset and you’re the only thing you can control 100%. If you truly believe in yourself, you got to bet on yourself and your dreams. That means investing your resources, time, and energy. Believe in yourself, master yourself, and your craft. You will receive the greatest return. Betting on anything other than yourself is a gamble because it is out of your control.
Young N***A
First you over dedicate, then you notice that you great
And you been the whole time, then it slap you in the face
Then you stack it in your safe, got it cracking, it was fate
Find your passion, your calling, and then go walk that path, run that marathon.
The path to becoming the person you were destined to be is a path that only YOU can walk.
There’s no traffic on your path, your natural talents and gifts will reveal themselves, just like they were meant to, it’s all fate. Your path is waiting for you. Pour yourself into your craft, let it lead you to new heights, and let it teach you about yourself. Watch who you become, its fate.
Loaded Bases
See it’s a couple [brothers] every generation
I wasn’t supposed to make it out, but decode the Matrix
And when they get to speak, it’s like a coded language
Reminds [brothers] of their strength all the stolen greatness
Sometimes we go through life following the program that was handed to us by society, our parents, media…etc. Subconsciously we’re being programmed on how to act, what to do, and how to think. This leads to the question, who is in the driver’s seat?
Finding your greatness includes realizing the power you have to decide who you are and what you want to do with your life. Life is the only thing you came into this world with, live it on your terms.
Nipsey took the blue pill to get out of this matrix and went against the grain living his truest self.
I Don’t Stress out
Police in the front, pistols in the court
When it hit the fan you get to find out who you are
Nervous as a bitch, with sweat drippin’ down my palm
And think through it, thug, you got to stay calm
The good times and the bad times are two sides of the same coin. You can’t have one without the other. To live this life, to walk your path means to acknowledge this truth and use it to build yourself. The only thing you have control over is yourself and your response to what life throws at you. How you respond to life defines you, so don’t try and calm the storm, calm yourself instead, and respond in accordance to your greatest self. The storm will pass.
Down as a Great
It ain’t no force in this world like the focused drive
You gotta focus on yourself like an only child
You make your dream realer, and you make your team better
You wake your game up, and you make your scheme better
Mastering yourself includes mastering where your attention goes and what you focus on. Whatever you give attention to grows, including your thoughts. Focus on the right thoughts and let others drift away.
What you allow to occupy your mind will occupy your life. If you feed the fear, then fear will grow but if you feed your faith and your belief in yourself that will grow as well. There is a light within each of us, leading us to our highest potential. This light is contagious and is an energy that spreads through anything, including music.
Look at what Nipsey created by following his light, look at the inspiration he left behind. Nipsey the man may be gone but his energy and his light lives on.
Energy can never be destroyed it is simply transferred and lives on forever.
The Marathon continues.
