Nipsey Hussle’s lyrics were designed to be recited the world over

Rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was shot to death Sunday in South Los Angeles, performs during the Rolling Loud music festival at Exposition Park in L.A. on Dec. 14, 2018. The artist showed up on Childish Gambino’s 2012 mixtape “Royalty,” where in the track “Black Faces” he offered a capsule bio. Full coverage: Nipsey Hussle gunned down in South L.A. » As relayed on his 2010 track “Blue Laces,” Hussle recalled life in “Westside California,” where “they run up on you / Ask you where you from / And check your tats under your clothing.” Despite the constant threats, “Blue Laces” features a poetic description of the artist, clad in Converse Chuck Taylors and classic slacks, on the move: Weight of the world on my shoulders / Gold Rollie on my wrist / Neighborhood Chucks, blue checkerboard tint / Dickies saggin’ off my ass / Walk with a hoodsta limp. I’m prolific, so gifted / I’m the type that’s gonna go get it, no kidding / Breaking down a Swisher in front of your building / Sitting on the steps feeling no feelings Yet always aware of life’s tenuousness, 2016’s “Ocean Views” presents a self-portrait of an artist seemingly living on borrowed time and determined to sweat every day. One of Hussle’s most introspective tracks, “Ocean Views” arrived on his “Slauson Boy 2” mixtape.