Books

7 books that inspired the philosophy of Nipsey Hussle

ROLLINGOUT.COM — Nipsey Hussle often shared keen insight on entrepreneurship, self-awareness and societal issues through his music. An avid reader, many of the views Nipsey presented in his raps came from books that helped him to see the world differently. Here are seven books that guided the philosophy of Nipsey Hussle.

Published

5 years ago

April 17, 2019

A.R. Shaw

By A.R. Shaw

Nipsey Hussle often shared keen insight on entrepreneurship, self-awareness and societal issues through his music. An avid reader, many of the views Nipsey presented in his raps came from books that helped him to see the world differently.

Here are seven books that guided the philosophy of Nipsey Hussle.

The Spook Who Sat By The Door

Written by Sam Greenlee in 1968, the fictional story follows Dan Freeman, the first Black CIA officer and former gang member in Chicago, as he learns the tactics of the CIA. Freeman later uses the skills that he learned at the CIA and goes to war against the American government. Mentioned on the song “Blue Laces 2,” Nipsey had plans of naming his last album after the book.

Message To The Blackman In America

Written by Elijah Muhammad in 1965, the book provides insight on how Black men can take steps toward self-improvement. T.I. revealed during an Instagram live chat on April 3, 2019, that Nipsey Hussle gave him the book.

Contagious

Written by Jonah Berger, Contagious provides marketing tips on how to make products more attractive to buyers. After reading the book, Nipsey came up with the idea to sell his Crenshaw mixtape for $100 apiece. Inspired by Nipsey’s business acumen, Jay-Z bought 100 copies.

Three Magic Words: The Key to Power, Peace and Plenty

Written by Uell Stanley Andersen, the book provides tools on how to tap into the power within. During a 2010 interview with Complex, Nipsey discussed the book and said, “It’s about the power of the mind. It’s about the projection of your thoughts into reality.”

The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing

Written by Al Ries and Jack Trout, the book takes a look at rules within marketing that are essential to growth. Nipsey told Forbes that he was given the book by a friend and used some of the rules for his own journey in the music business.

Power vs. Force

Written by David R. Hawkins, the book delves into the impact of how and why choices are made. In a 2019 interview with Clash, Nipsey discussed the book and said, “There’s a chapter called the ‘Levels of Human Consciousness’ and what the whole premise is [is] that basically the power of frequency of your action is informed by the intention, and there’s a chart of all these different intentions that you can have.’”

Blood In My Eye

Written by George L. Jackson months before he was killed in 1971 while doing time at San Quentin State Prison, the book tells the life story of Jackson, who served 11 years in prison for allegedly stealing $70 from a gas station. Jackson would become an activist while in prison. Nipsey mentioned that he was inspired by the book during a 2010 interview with Complex.

This article originally appeared in Rollingout.com.

A.R. Shaw

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Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

Published

5 days ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

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Book Reviews

Book Review: Books for Poetry Month by Various Authors

Picture books for the littles are a great way to introduce your 3-to7-year-old to poetry because simple stories lend themselves to gentle rhymes and lessons. “See You on the Other Side” by Rachel Montez Minor, illustrated by Mariyah Rahman (Crown, $18.99) is a rhyming book about love and loss, but it’s not as sad as you might think.

Published

7 days ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

c.2023, 2024, Various Publishers

$18.99 – $20.00

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

On your hands, you have lots of time.

You can make a song, or you can make a rhyme. Make a long story, make a short one, write what you like, make it simple and fun. Writing poetry uses your imagination: you play with words, paint a picture. There’s no intimidation. Creating poetry can be a breeze, or just reach for and read books exactly like these…

Picture books for the littles are a great way to introduce your 3-to7-year-old to poetry because simple stories lend themselves to gentle rhymes and lessons. “See You on the Other Side” by Rachel Montez Minor, illustrated by Mariyah Rahman (Crown, $18.99) is a rhyming book about love and loss, but it’s not as sad as you might think.

In this book, several young children learn that losing someone beloved is not a forever thing, that it is very sad but it’s not scary because their loved one is always just a thought away. Young readers who’ve recently experienced the death of a parent, grandparent, sibling, or friend will be comforted by the rhyme here, but don’t dismiss the words. Adults who’ve recently lost a loved one will find helpful, comforting words here, too.

Flitting from here to there and back again, author Alice Notley moves through phases of her life, locations, and her diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in her latest poetry collection, “Being Reflected Upon” (Penguin, $20.00). From 2000 to 2017, Notley lived in Paris where she wrestled with breast cancer. That, and her life abroad, are reflected in the poetry here; she also takes readers on a poetic journey on other adventures and to other places she lived and visited. This book has a random feel that entices readers to skip around and dive in anywhere. Fans of Notley will appreciate her new-age approach to her works; new fans will enjoy digging into her thoughts and visions through poems. Bonus: at least one of the poems may make you laugh.

If you’re a reader who’s willing to look into the future, “Colorfast” by Rose McLarney (Penguin, $20.00) will be a book you’ll return to time and again. This, the author’s fourth collection, is filled with vivid poems of graying and fading, but also of bright shades, small things, women’s lives yesterday and today, McLarney’s Southern childhood, and the things she recalls about her childhood. The poems inside this book are like sitting on a front porch in a wooden rocking chair: they’re comfortable, inviting, and they tell a story that readers will love discovering.

If these books aren’t enough, or if you’re looking for something different, silly, or classic, then head to your favorite bookstore or library. The ladies and gentlemen there will help you figure out exactly what you need, and they can introduce you to the kind of poetry that makes you laugh, makes you cry, entices a child, inspires you, gives you comfort, or makes you want to write your own poems. Isn’t it time to enjoy a rhyme?