Attempting to Interview Nipsey Hussle
Today marks a year since Ermias Asghedom, formally know as Nipsey Hussle was tragically gunned down in front of his Marathon Clothing store in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Nipsey’s extensive catalog of music was the soundtrack to my life from high school into adulthood, subconsciously preparing me for the marathon in which we call life.
Our paths crossed June 2018 when Nipsey’s Victory Lap Tour stopped at the Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta.
Geneley Childress, Founder/CEO of Flatline Cinema, surprised me with tickets and suggested we work together to get an interview with him.
I reached out to his management to request an interview and asked the venue for press passes but was unsuccessful. Determined to get the interview, we made our own media credentials and carried on with the mission.
Prior to showtime, Nipsey made an appearance at a local Foot Locker for his PUMA collaborated sneakers. We pulled up with intentions to interview him, however once we arrived he was leaving with his team.
As he walked to the car, I asked for a comment and he responded saying to talk to his management. I told him I did already and I’d see him at the concert later that evening.
We arrived at Buckhead Theatre early to scope the scene and set up outback the venue where talent loads-in. We immediately got to work interviewing a few interesting people, including Nipsey’s drummer, Nick Smith Global.
Nick had a genuine and positive vibration when I asked him about his career, how he met Nipsey, the Victory Lap tour and life in general.
“What you care to see has to start within you first. Any changes, any love, any respect, anything you need reciprocated, you need to give first. Give what you seek.”
Following our interview, I told Nick my intentions on interviewing Nipsey and he agreed to help us achieve that goal after the show.
The show was incredible. Nipsey performed with the band and played all the classics that made me follow his movement from the beginning.
After the concert we ran back to the loading dock and waited for our opportunity to get backstage. Wasn’t long before Nick came outside and walked us backstage to a VIP room where Nipsey’s guest were hanging out. Moments later Nipsey walked in the room, shakes some hands and then walks towards us.
In my head I knew it wasn’t the right time to do a full interview, so I gave him the nod and told him that I looked forward to talking later. He nodded back and kept it moving to his scheduled "Meet and Greet” with fans. We followed along and waited till the meet and greet concluded, so we could reserve enough time for him to really drop some jewels.
I stood alongside Nick Smith full of excitement and anxiousness until the line dwindled down to his last fan.
As soon as the last fans photo was taken, Nipsey hit a B-line back to the tour bus. I proceeded to walk with him and asked, “Can I get three mins of your time?”
Nipsey responded, “How you keep skipping my protocol bro,” and his bodyguard immediately escorted me in the opposite direction.
Full of disappointment and embarrassment I shouted, “Ya’ll keep hustling and motivating, I appreciate you man.”
Nick immediately met us at the door asking how it went and I told him we didn’t get it. He responded saying, “Timing.”
I had mixed emotions on the drive home. On one hand, my ego was hurt because we got denied after getting so close to our goal. On the other hand was something Nick Smith said earlier.
“Maintain your frequency and vibration. Don’t think about things you don’t care for, as hard as that may be. But continue to train your mind day in and day out. Stick to it. Love yourself.”
At the end of the day, it wasn’t my time to interview Nipsey; it was the time interview Nick and receive that message along my marathon.
Nipsey remains one of my favorite artist because of the authenticity of his message, loyalty to his people and respect to the game. He lived a life of purpose which inspired the masses and now his legacy lives on forever.
The Marathon Continues.
“It’s not what’s on you, It’s what’s in you. And what’s in you, they can never take away. ”