Collective Grief for a Collective Loss
Why Nipsey Hussle’s tragic death affects so much
It’s been 10 days since Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom was tragically shot and killed outside his clothing store in Los Angeles’ Hyde Park neighbourhood. I learned about Nipsey Hussle about 10 years ago, the same way I learned about most underground and indie Hip Hop artists: my big, little brother. Growing up, the house was always filled with music. Our dad was a DJ and often reserved his Sunday afternoons for playing his favourite reggae, R&B and disco vinyl albums. Whether intentional or not, this cultivated an insatiable musical appetite that flourished into a deep appreciation and love for music in my brother and I.
As we grew older, we’d literally spend hours exploring new artists and indulging in old music. Music was our hobby, past-time and go-to vice. In our house, Big Little Brother was the Hip Hop head and usually spent his days blasting artists that weren’t getting mainstream promo or play. As the R&B head, I consumed my Hip Hop at a distance. I preferred to submerge my ears and mind in the intoxicating melodies, harmonies and rhythms of New Jack Swing and Neo Soul. Though we differed in preferences, I still loved what Hip Hop stood for, what it meant to our culture and what it represented as black art. Hip Hop was, and is, an authentically crafted vehicle, carrying the rawest expressions of the black experience. Though I struggled with the misogynistic and sexist content found in many artist’s music, as someone who loves black culture, I respected Hip Hop as yet another genius, culture shifting, black innovation.
That said, if you ask me to recount which indie rappers I spent hours listening to throughout the years, I truthfully can only recall one. For some reason, even though my listening was mostly passive, Nipsey always stood out. Big Little Brother was the real fan, but there was a magnetic appeal I couldn’t shake. I couldn’t help but respect and admire him as an indie artist that was pushing, grinding and hustling to make it on his own terms.
It wasn’t until a few months ago that I stumbled upon a couple articles and interviews spotlighting Nipsey’s business strategies and community work, that the distant admiration shortened. My heart beats for social justice, community development and generating wealth in and for the black community. I was surprised and intrigued to learn about how much work he was doing to build his neighbourhood:
· Building and opening the world’s first smart store
· Strategically investing and owning real-estate to serve his community
· Partnering with Puma to provide donations to local elementary schools
· Investing in a co-working space that prioritized resident Crenshaw entrepreneurs
· Advocating for diversity in the STEM field
It was clear that Nipsey focused on amassing wealth to share it and build. I started researching the work he was doing, particularly in real estate investment. Ignited with inspiration, I began to brainstorm how I could serve my people by replicating some of his principles.
After his passing, I found myself unexpectedly disturbed by his death, grieving the loss and even struggling to sleep. I couldn’t understand why I was so bothered and couldn’t accept it as reality. My heart was heavy and I couldn’t get it off my mind. I tried to chalk it up to a humane, empathetic response to someone losing their life to senseless violence. The relentless mourning I couldn’t shake said otherwise.
“Girl, what is WRONG with you? You didn’t even know this man, why are you responding this way?!”
Truthfully, I felt ridiculous until I started perusing social media, talking to my friends about his passing and even listening to my fave weekly podcasts. I quickly realized wasn’t alone. Everyone seems to be reeling with this loss, and like me, can’t even pinpoint why this one hits different. With such a response to a rapper many didn’t know or listen to before March 31st, I began to conclude that his death sparked more than just an empathetic response to tragedy.
In life, he was about more than just music. Whether we realize it or not, he fully engaged in quiet, but aggressive advancement and liberation for black people. In his own way, he fought against social systems and institutions that aggressively disenfranchised poor and marginalized people. He was revered as a community leader and social advocate. When viewed in this context, the collective grief so many are experiencing is justifiable. Whether you’re a fan or not, losing someone who did the kind of work he did is a collective loss.
We should collectively feel the loss when someone who passionately shared their God-given talents with the world leaves this realm. We should collectively feel the loss of a community leader who aggressively advocated for his people’s advancement. We should collectively feel the loss of someone who changed generational structures through generational wealth. We should collectively feel the loss of someone who used his own success and wealth to give others social equity. We should collectively feel the loss of someone who aided in social reintegration and crime prevention by offering the previously incarcerated jobs and liveable wages. We should collectively feel the reverberations of this loss. Changing his community through his business acumen, economic strategies and just simply giving back, impacts the world beyond the natural. Perhaps this is why we can’t shake the grief, mourning and sadness.
In addition to his discography, Nipsey leaves behind blueprints we can all use to ignite subtle, but revolutionary social change. Generational wealth, group economics, hacker marketing, social service and community building among them. But eventually, his face won’t fill our timelines. Audio and video clips of his past interviews won’t instantly pop up on our screens. His name won’t be a top item in the news cycle. Regardless, his absence leaves us with a challenge to relentlessly pursue purpose. To consistently live a life poured out. To use what you have and make what you can. To create new ecosystems that generate success for you and others. His life showed us that if we use what we have, right where we are, we can change our world.
As we struggle to make sense of his death, I challenge you to ask yourself: what are you doing with your time? We all come from diverse places, cities and neighbourhoods. What would your world look like if you changed the social ecosystem where you lived? If you implemented economic strategies that shifted your generational narrative? If you refused to watch others struggle with problems you could help solve? If you committed your time, wealth and resources to help people succeed? If you dedicated your all your time,energy and resources to pursuing your dream? Nipsey’s community needed what was inside of him. Your world needs what’s inside of you too.
I think everyone affected and hurt by his passing, should channel their grief and use it as a catalyst for purpose. Replicate his strategies. Become consumed with living a life dripping with so much purpose, that pouring it out until you’re empty is the only option. In the words of Vibe Magazine Editor-In-Chief, Datwon Thomas, pursue your dreams with reckless abandon. Nipsey’s fate reminds us that like life, death can be unpredictable.
In hindsight, Nipsey’s last, and in his words, debut album almost feels like a cryptic listen. Only the one who completes and wins their race takes a Victory Lap. The one who put in the time. The one who stayed committed and refused to give up. The one who persisted, pursued and played the game. The one that knew that seeds planted today, sprout a harvest tomorrow. The Victory Lap is only for the one who finished the work.
Nipsey’s race is over. Though we’ll mourn his death for a while, there is still work for everyone to do. There’s purpose to achieve, goals to accomplish, communities to serve. Nipsey is gone, but for the rest of us, the marathon continues.
Rest in peace Nip.
