What did we learn from Nipsey Hussle?

Nipsey Hussle taught us a lot over the past 10 years...the following article uncovers five lessons he shared along his journey.

 

I’ve been thinking about his use of the “marathon” theme in his life and work. (His first mixtape was called The Marathon and so was his clothing store.) It was an ingenious marketing concept, but also embodied Nipsey’s real-life traits of patience and endurance. From The Marathon to his debut studio album, Victory Lap, he was on a steady, unhurried ascent toward becoming a household name. Nipsey’s gradual momentum was in line with his focus on “not skipping steps,” as he once talked about in an interview.

Be prepared to do all the work. 

Nipsey saw success because he was willing to do any work, no matter how menial it may have seemed at the time. Even as he soared further and further toward the top, he still maintained a willingness to do the tasks that others might consider to be below them. “Most people want to skip the process,” he said, “not knowing that when you skip steps, you miss the lessons.”

He took out the trash and swept the floors of his own studio. Starting out, he built his own basement recording studio to make sure that he could engineer and record his own music. Without this willingness to put in all types of work, he would not have learned what it would take to achieve the goals he set.

“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.”

Generate Value

It’s difficult to have any leverage or negotiate if what you bring to the table has no value. Creating value for your brand is one of the most important aspects of negotiation. The price you name won’t sound crazy to the person you’re trying to sell to if they feel the value is there. Like beauty, value is in the mind of the beholder. I can never tell someone what I think their brand is worth but I can tell someone if I’m willing to invest in it or not. Nipsey had a price when the offers were offered. They knew his price and they didn’t meet that price so Nipsey didn’t take it personal. He went back to the grind and improved his brand even more and then when it negotiating time again there was little room for debate on the labels end. The value Nipsey and his team created was undeniable. The empire was bigger and more influential. Value is everything.

Patience

I’m just assuming here but I assume the deals that Nipsey was offered weren’t too far off his demanded number. Now any normal individual would’ve taken the next best offer and called it a day. Nipsey didn’t. I think it’s important to learn how key his patience was during that process. We’re talking years of patience and he never wavered on what he wanted. He didn’t compromise. Taking the next best offer is the more comfortable and safe option. Nipsey had faith in what he was continuing to build and he stayed patient. The same can be said about his debut album “Victory Lap.” I was one of the people saying the album was Detox status. I’ve been waiting on a debut album from Nipsey since “South Central State Of Mind” was announced. Nipsey didn’t listen to none us. He could’ve rushed the project and put it out independently but he didn’t. He stayed on his course and stayed patient and waited to release it on a bigger platform. As creatives fall in love with taking your time and being patient.

Make genuine connections.

Entrepreneurs know the importance of networking and making connections. For some, it’s a tedious process of trying to get in with important figures of a particular industry. It’s a game of kiss-ass. But for Nipsey, he focused on making genuine connections based on true talent. Relationships he formed with musicians such as Kendrick Lamar and Puffy were lasting and real. They were collaborations that meant something. But he also knew how to create genuine connections to the people who consumed his music. He’s always been the people’s king and it’s because he not only shared the good but his struggles too, which made him that much more relatable.

“If you sharing your success and not your struggle, you’s a fool.” ("U Don’t Got a Clue")

Focus on what makes you passionate.

It’s easy for people to lose themselves in their desire for success in any industry, including both business and music. Fortunately, Nipsey knew himself and stayed true to that image and to his own story. He found fans that loved and related to him. He didn’t create a character or pursue something that just wasn’t him.

Like he said in Victory Lap, “Find your purpose or you wastin’ air.”