Nipsey Hussle was on his way to becoming a Jay-Z of the rap world: a revered penman with a brilliant entrepreneurial spirit. HOV's been an early supporter of Nip since the Crenshaw rapper pulled a bold business move to sell 1000 copies of his Crenshaw mixtape at $100 each which Jay later copped 100 copies of. As fans, peers, neighbors and family members poured into the Staples Center to pay their final respects, Jay-Z and Beyonce were not only in the building but the Brooklyn legend also penned a heartfelt tribute to the rapper in the memorial service program pamphlet.
Jay-Z, along with Kendrick Lamar and Barack Obama, shared heartfelt messages about the legacy of Nipsey Hussle and the impact he had on the planet within the time he was alive. Hov shares some words of wisdom, quoting Dr. Howard Thurman at the beginning of the letter.
Read below.
Renown late Professor, Dr, Howard Thurman introduced us - many years ago - to the existence of a new black man...
“.... there is something in every one of us that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in ourselves and that IT is the only true guide that we would ever have. And that if we cannot hear it, we will all of our lives spend our days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls!”
“Top of the top,” this is how Nip always greeted me in the morning as if he was reminding me that he was steadfastly holding on to the top of the top of his own life string and destiny!
So, Top of the top - Nip
The world just got to see a flash of your brilliance.
You were a curious soul who was evolving at a speed that was truly inspiring.
The seeds you have planted are already bearing fruit.
The outpouring of admiration is testimony to the love and respect you’ve farmed.
Sleep well King, The Marathon continues as a line of energy for all of us to consider.
LOVE AND LIGHT, JAY"