Music journalist Rob Kenner just released his new book, The Marathon Don’t Stop: The Life & Times of Nipsey Hussle. The book chronicles Nipsey Hussle’s impact on hip-hop in his short life span.
Kenner first met Nipsey in 2009 during his 17-year-tenure at Vibe magazine and wrote the rapper’s first one-page spread for the once-dominant musical publication. Struck by Nipsey’s charm and business acumen, their relationship continued from there until his death on March 31, 2019.
“There were very few magazine profiles written about him during his career and this whole outpouring of love and grief after his passing, but nobody has really told the story properly. So I felt like it really needed to be done. I’m humbly proud that so many of his inner circle were willing to speak with me about him and share their stories,” stated Kenner in an interview with BET.
“I was very fortunate and blessed to speak with Nip’s big brother, Black Sam, as well as his sister Samantha Smith. I must say that the book is not an authorized biography by any means but my own journalistic account. My goal is to place him into the context of hip-hop history, L.A. history, and American history. I wanted to understand the forces that shaped him in becoming a singular figure in hip-hop and American culture,” he added.
The Victory Lap rapper has often been compared to Tupac and Kenner also detailed a meeting with Nipsey and Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, before they both passed.
“One thing that blew my mind was that Nip and Ralo Stylez did a track and that got into the hands of Afeni Shakur. She was so impressed with the track that she invited Nip, Ralo, and all the artists that were involved on the song down to perform in Atlanta at a release event for one of Tupac’s posthumous tribute albums,” continued Kenner.
“Before he became a household name, he was flying out of L.A. to perform with the blessing of Tupac’s mother. What’s crazy is that years later, he would say that he was the ‘Tupac for his generation.’ It was much deeper than what most people thought. I could only describe it as mystical. His destiny was calling him,” he further commented to BET.
The Marathon Don’t Stop: The Life & Times of Nipsey Hussle is available online and in bookstores nationwide. The book retails for $22.
