Nipsey Hussle’s Final Act Continues: Fighting Gentrification
The marathon continues for the Crenshaw icon’s fight for financial empowerment
Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com.
Back in 2006, a fresh-faced 21-year-old rapper named Nipsey Hussle, who the year prior had released his first official mixtape, Slauson Boy Vol. 1, spoke with legendary hip-hop journalist Davey D at the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network’s “Get Your Money Right” summit. The conversation lasted only five minutes, but it spoke volumes.
Nip was sporting a small diamond stud in each earlobe and a Cuban link chain draped over his oversized white T-shirt. Still, the look struck Davey D as understated, at least for an up-and-coming rapper of the day. “How come you not blingin’ and havin’ all kind of crazy diamonds and all that?” he asked the rapper. “I guess you here to get your money right, huh?”
“All the time,” young Hussle replied. “You know, all that is cool for the image…
