THE VANGUARD SERIES: Honoring Nipsey Hussle In Motion
NIPSEY HUSSLE: A MENTOR TO US ALL, ESPECIALLY TO US HERE AT #PIVOT. AS A BLACK WOMEN DESTINED TO UNFOLD OUR COMMUNITY INTO THEIR GOD-PURPOSE, NIPSEY HELPED LAY THE BLUEPRINT. A VANGUARD THROUGH AND THROUGH. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HONOR YOUR LEGACY IN MOTION. REST IN POWER, NIP🏁
“Vanguard noun. People that lead the way in developing and introducing cutting-edge ideas, concepts and products.”
BORN VICTORIOUS
Amongst a cacophony of black entrepreneurial voices, father, community-leader, businessman and rapper, Nipsey Hussle, stands out. Born Ermias Asghedom in the Crenshaw Neighborhood of Los Angeles, the Prolific artist characterized a Westside Cinderella Story. A story radiant with triumphs yet ending with fatal tragedy. Shaped by the streets, but transcendental in his influence, Hussle’s hood genius re-imangined black economic politics: for us, by us. Mastering Uplift Entrepreneurship — a theory I established on the utility of black wealth when informed by collective advancement — Hussle operated beyond the binaries framing wealth and blackness. “If an economic philosophy, such as Uplift Entrepreneurship, refuses to affirm racial inequities and goes so far as to lift the respective community beyond the margins of class, such ideology must then be viewed as resistance” (@perichantelle).
In a time when many rappers + athletes wait to attain wealth to discuss financial literacy — if at all — Hussle rooted his art in productive resistance. Against the backdrop of an exploitative, commercial music industry, Hussle started the “#Proud2Pay” grassroots movement to mobilize independent artistry. He strategized the release of his first mixtape “Crenshaw” on the principal of scarcity — selling the project’s first 1,000 physical copies at $100 each. Hussle also owns all of masters, which is reason to go stream Victory Lap ASAP.
SLAUSON’S OWN
As an active investor in his native community, Hussle fueled a multitude of bourgeoning projects. One of them being Vector 90: “a coworking space for inner-city entrepreneurs,” the Grammy-nominated rapper shared in an interview with Black Enterprise last year. Hussle also recently purchased the entire Slauson strip mall dwelling his “smartstore” and brand house — Marathon Clothing. “This is us trying to disrupt retail, create a theme park for the brand. This is us trying to create a retail network to become vertically integrated,” Hussle told Billboard in 2017. “This is us trying to super-serve the core with an upgraded experience. This is us trying to fuse hip-hop, fashion and tech... We believe that's what the Marathon store is. […] We think this is where retail is going. So we want to be one of the leaders.” Even more, Hussle propelled his community into the forefront of his pursuits. Giving back wasn’t a byproduct in the way he ran his businesses, but rather, outreach was the undergirding force to all of Hussle’s ventures. Paying it forward through praxis, Hussle opened doors for business culturalists — like us — to guide individuals and brands alongside their greater purpose. So it is only appropriate that we pay our respects in motion: coupling wealth building ideologies with tangible and sustainable solutions. “Dedication, hard work plus patience,” your immortal jewels will survive in our work. Rest in power, Nip, you are appreciated.#🏁
Nipsey Hussle and Lauren London Featured in GQ Feburary Issue
WE REFLECT ON SOME OF OUR FAVORITE NIP-ISMS FROM THE SLAIN CRENSHAW HERO BELOW:
“So one of our investments had become strategic.” — Nipsey Hussle via “Blue Laces 2”
“Ain't really trip on the credit, I just paid all of my dues.” — Nipsey Hussle via “Hussle and Motivate”
“Never stop grindin', cherish no possession.” — Nipsey Hussle via “Status Symbo”l 3 feat. Buddy
“My circle so small, stick to my script and just ball” — Nipsey Hussle via “Right Hand 2 God”
“Most people want to skip the process, not knowing that when you skip steps, you miss the lesson” — Nipsey Hussle
“We’re creating an ecosystem, from production to consumption. Not only do we own the supply chain, but we can curate the experience” — Nipsey Hussle
“I call it ‘dropping the rope’. You’ve got to drop a rope. Everybody got to climb up, but you gotta drop the rope” — Nipsey Hussle
“I’m about seeing long-term, seeing a vision, understanding nothing really worthwhile happens overnight, and just sticking to your script long enough to make something real happen.” — Nipsey Hussle
“Most important thing is to get rid of doubt. If you got doubt in what you’re doing it’s not gonna work.” — Nipsey Hussle
“I just believe in ownership… I believe in investing in yourself…Your foundation should be strong.” — Nipsey Hussle
We’re not the cause, we’re the effect.” – Nipsey Hussle
“I’m more focused on giving solutions and inspiration more than anything.” – Nipsey Hussle
My thing is that I don’t give no person that much power over my path that I’m walking. Not one person can make or break what I’m doing, except me or God.” —Nipsey Hussle