Nearly two months afterNipsey Husslewasgunned downoutside of his Los Angeles clothing store,DJ Khaledreleased the rapper’s final music video for their joint track “Higher,” giving fans the opportunity to feel his “enlightened soul” one last time.
The clip opens with Nipsey, who’s dressed in an all-blue ensemble, reminiscing about his grandmother and the memories he’s created with his family while walking around a Los Angeles neighborhood.
“Los Angeles love, kinda of like Hussle and Boog,” Nipsey raps of his girlfriendLauren London, using her nickname Boogie. Nipsey and London, both from Los Angeles, had been dating for six years at the time of his death.
“Mani turned ten, Kross turned two,” Nipsey continues in reference to the couple’s son and his daughter from a previous relationship.
The rapper then speaks on his past and how far he’s come in life saying, “Dance with the devil and test our faith/ I was thinkin’ chess moves but it was God’s grace.”
DJ Khaled/Youtube
Throughout the course of the video,John Legendcan be seen crooning the chorus while playing the piano in the middle of a street.
“Oh, you keep taking me higher and higher” Legend, 40, sings.
The clip concludes with a tribute to Hussle, which reads “Rest in Paradise Ermias ‘Nipsey Hussle’ Asghedom.”
On Wednesday, Khaled, 43,announced on Twitterthat he would be honoring the slain rapper with the release of their song on his albumFather of Asahd, which dropped at midnight on Friday.
He explained the song’s proceeds will go to Nipsey’s children.
“Recently, I embarked on a soul-searching journey down a road I never thought I would travel in a million years. It began when a tragedy robbed the world of an enlightened soul, a brother, a father, a partner and my friend Nipsey Hussle,” Khaled began.
The hitmaker went on to reveal that just days before Nipsey was killed on March 31, “he shared his energy and positivity with me on a video set for a song called, ‘Higher.'”
“After much prayer and reflection; and with the full blessing of the Asghedom family, I am sharing that with the world,” Khaled continued.
“The very title of the song reminds us that vibrating on a ‘Higher’ level was the essence of Nipsey’s soul,” the music producer added. “It is in this spirit, of moving forward, of preserving his mission that I, my co-writers, producers and label partners are donating 100% of all of our proceeds from ‘Higher’ to Nipsey’s children, Emani and Kross.”
Steve Granitz/WireImage
He entered a plea of not guilty in court on April 4 and could face a maximum sentence of life in state prison if convicted.
Last week, Attorney Chris Darden, who was famously part of the prosecution team in the O.J. Simpson trialannounced he was withdrawingfrom Nipsey’s murder case after receiving threats against himself and his family.
“You guys have been awfully good to me and my family,” Darden wrote on Facebook. “Thank you. I am on my way to appear for the last time in People v. Holder. I filed a Motion to Withdraw from the case.”
London shared one of her final farewells to Nipsey, calling him “the love of my life.”
Beginning her eulogy with a text message she wrote on Jan. 21, London, who was dressed in all white with black sunglasses, read the loving words she put together for her boyfriend.
Nipsey Hussle.
“Ermias was asleep one morning and I was watching him because I used to love to watch him sleep and I wrote him a text while he was sleeping so when he woke up he would read it,” said London, who also shared a copy of the text message in the funeral’s pamphlet.
“I want you to know I feel real joy in my heart when I’m around you. I feel safe around you. Protected. Like a shield over me when you’re around, I am totally myself when I’m with you,” London had written. “You’ve made me into more of a woman. You’ve given me an opportunity to really love a man,” she said.
Just one day later, Hussle waslaid to restat an intimate private funeral at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles.
source: people.com
