Remembering Nipsey Hussle: In-Depth Interview
In Loving Memory of Ermias Joseph Asghedom . You are truly missed but your music, wisdom and impact lives forever.
From our 2018 conversation with Nipsey Hussle :
Hard Knock Tv’s Nick Huff Barili sits down with Nipsey Hussle for in-depth conversation. Interview starts with Nipsey painting the picture of what his childhood was like growing up in Crenshaw. As the interview continues, Nipsey breaks down some of the stories that inspired his debut studio album Victory Lap including one of his brother burying 200k in the back yard only to have most of the money destroyed by mildew. Nipsey shares the grind that it took to this point and what its like to look back at where he came from, some of which he talks about on Blue Laces 2. A track that Lebron James premiered a snippet of on his Instagram. Nipsey talks about how Athletes like Lebron and Isaiah Thomas get inspired by his music as he does from watching them play. Kendrick Lamar and Nip paid their dues to get to where they are. Nick reminded Nipsey that the first time Hard Knock interviewed him back in 2005 Kdot, Jay Rock, and Top walked passed in the background.
Nipsey gives advice to young artists sharing that its important to study your craft and own your masters. Nipsey breaks down keys to building wealth and how Rick Ross and Puff Daddy laid out blueprints for building an empire.
As the conversation turns to Nip’s new album, he breaks down new track Hussle and Motivate that he calls quintessential Nip. Nipsey and Nick talk about FDT and how radio stations and djs haven’t supported the track as much as they should considering the community outcry. Nipsey also talks about unifying Black and Brown on the track and standing up for Mexicans. Nick points out that the bringing together of Black and Brown communities through music has been missing for a while and how it reminds him of how Tupac would do that. Nipsey goes on to talk about how Tech and Hip Hop are alike and how artists need to start getting ownership in the tech companies they help get fans to because that is part of the valuation of the companies. A conversation with the founder of Tinder helped Nip better understand how a lot of tech companies get their valuation as companies. Nipsey points to what Dr Dre brought to the table with Beats and Apple Music as an example of artists recognizing the power of their influence. The conversation ends with Nipsey talking about Meek Mill going back to jail for violating parole terms and talks about being on parole himself and how the system needs reform.