Hidden History: How a Trini played a role in the life of Nipsey Hussle | Loop Trinidad & Tobago

The just-released biography of rapper Nipsey Hussle ‘The Marathon Don’t Stop’  by famed Hip Hop biographer and Vibe founder Rob Kenner, reveals a stunning story that a Trinidadian civil engineer turned photographer named Dexter Browne, may have been the critical mentor in the transformation of Nipsey into the conscious radical force he is lionised as today.

In this three-part story, Rubadiri Victor, a friend of Browne’s, narrates his conscious intervention in gang culture, as a middle-class Howard University-educated engineer, and its impact in the formation of the icon Nipsey Hussle and a multi-million dollar alternative multimedia industry around gang boys who imbibed his strong ideologies of black cooperative economics and ownership of IP.

On  March 31, 2019, Ermias Asghedom aka Nipsey Hussle was gunned down at the age of 33 in Crenshaw Los Angeles. What would make this Hip-Hop ex-gang member’s murder different than others was the fact that Nipsey was not a normal rapper but an icon for black ownership and self-reparation.

Popularly called the Tupac Shakur of his generation, Nipsey was known for his brilliant flow on numerous mixtapes including The Marathon and Crenshaw, the last of which rapper Jay-Z bought 100 copies of for $100 each.

An early advocate for label independence Nipsey eventually signed with a major label. After much delay, his debut studio album Victory Lap was released in 2018 to critical and commercial success. It was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 61^st Grammys in 2019. he won two posthumous Grammys for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap/Sung Performance the next year at the 62nd Grammys.

BLACK OWNERSHIP & SELF REPARATION

Nipsey’s flow was brilliant- but his business acumen and philanthropy made him legendary. He popularised an ideology of re-investing in black communities and an ideology called ‘F*** the Middleman’ preaching sovereign ownership of black intellectual and cultural property (by leaving out major labels and Hollywood) and re-gentrifying the community by buying real estate and re.-investing.

He did more than preach- he walked the talk. He funded improvements to neighbourhood schools, spent time with students and participated in panels about growing up in the area and the influence of gang culture (he was a member of the Rolling 60s).

Nipsey even contacted the LAPD to arrange meetings with him and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation on how they could help prevent gang violence in South LA. He was intimately involved in the planning stages of the transformative infrastructure project Destination Crenshaw that will lead Black LA’s urban revitalisation by showcasing African American history.

In 2017, Nipsey bought real estate in Crenshaw (partnered with DJ Khaled), including what became his clothing store, Marathon. Marathon was conceived as a way to promote commerce in a lower-class area and as an experiment blending smart technology with brick-and-mortar retail.

All culminated in 2018 when he opened a STEM center and a co-working space called Vector 90 in Crenshaw.   He wanted to create a pipeline for Black and Minority inner-city youths into tech industries.

A young Nipsey Hussle. Photo courtesy Dexter Browne

CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS

This Black Radical Robin Hood-type behavior married with his rapping skill, multi-ethnic good looks, and swag created a cult of Nipsey that spread beyond the shores of the States and had become entrenched in the streets of the world long before the Oscars came knocking.

His early adopters were his neighborhood in which he was known for his innovation and talent and greater LA with in-the-know celebrities. As a son of an Eritrean immigrant, his work also crossed over to Africa as well.

Upon his death, there were eulogies from a who’s who of celebs that propelled his name into the mainstream. Tributes poured in from LeBron James, Chance the Rapper, Colin Kapernick,  Ava DuVernay. Rihanna, Gucci Mane, Michael B Jordan, Ice Cube, Ludacris, Nick Jonas, Pharrell Williams, Swizz Beatz, Steph Curry, Dwayne Wade, Issa Rae, 50 Cent, and more.

Snoop Dogg and Stevie Wonder gave eulogies at his April 11 live-streamed memorial service. Former President Barack Obama sent a letter offering condolences to his family. Hussle’s funeral in Staples Centre is one of only three held there- one for Kobe Bryant (whose likeness accompanies Nipsey in a LA mural), the other for Michael Jackson.

The funeral reportedly attracted more than 21,000 fans. Puma released the Marathon Clothing collection in 2019 with 100 percent proceeds to the Neighborhood ‘Nip’ Foundation. At the 2020 Grammy Awards, DJ Khaled, Kirk Franklin, John Legend, Meek Mill, and others all gave tribute to his legacy.

Finally to confirm his canonization Netflix won a bidding war for the rights to his story with eight-figures. Ava DuVernay is directing the multi-million dollar production.

KENNER UNCOVERS A HIDDEN HISTORY

In a recent interview at the Georgia Book Club, Kenner said if Browne had not taken Nipsey in at the time he did, no one would be talking about the rapper today.

“He’s in the thank yous of the Crenshaw Tape and he got shouted out in maybe one or two interviews but I would hazard a guess and say that if Dexter Browne had not taken Nipsey in at the time that he did, I’m not sure that we’d be talking about him today. I’m not sure what would have happened,” he said.

“He got the name Nipsey Hussle whilst living in Dexter’s! He had for the first time unlimited access to recording equipment, and he also was educated in media, principles of ownership,” he added.

Kenner revealed in that interview that Browne was a photographer from Trinidad, swimming coach at Howard University from where he graduated and civil engineer. His wife was one of the head art directors of Rap-a-Lot Records so he had an interesting collision of art, Hip Hop, and visual arts.

A young Nipsey was just in that transition point where he was no longer going to high school and found a haven from the street life.

“He was at granny’s trying to survive, trying to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a rapper, and at Dexter’s, he found a place that he could pursue all those things. Just a cool creative environment, collaborative...that’s a part of the story that no one’s ever told!’’

Follow Rob Kenner's book tour HERE.

In Part Two Dexter Browne tells his story.