Nipsey Hussle’s Manager Remembers the Rapper’s Road to Ownership

As a friend and business partner, DJ Skee supported Nipsey’s mission to own his art even when it required leaving major cash on the table

DJ Skee
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Photo illustration. Image sources: Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images, Donato Sardella/Getty Images.

IIt’s an anomaly for someone to earn unequivocal respect from all circles of life, especially in the divisive world we live in today, but Nipsey Hussle did just that.

A true visionary, his only goal was to uplift, inspire his fans and empower everyone around him. In front of my eyes, Nipsey turned down millions of dollars and a path to instant fame in order to control his destiny with something he unequivocally believed in: full ownership.

The Marathon is much more than a clothing line, brand, or album title. It’s a way of life. Nipsey valued investing in his budding empire over chasing short-term gains. He envisioned building a dynasty for his family, friends, and partners for generations to come, and in a short time, he accomplished that. While he had the material possessions every rapper aspires to have, he also invested in his Los Angeles community, from cellphone stores and startups to buying the shopping center he made famous.

We first connected and put together the Bullets Ain’t Got No Name mixtape series in the late 2000s. This…

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