Favorite Song At The Moment: Nipsey Hussle “Checc Me Out” (feat. Dom Kennedy, Cobby Supreme)
It’s been just over a week since Nipsey Hussle, then-33, was killed outside of his clothing store in Los Angeles, but we’re still bumping the West Coast rapper because the marathon continues.
Born Ermias Joseph Asghedom, Hussle rose to hip-hop’s middle class in 2013 when he marketed mixtape Crenshaw as a limited release of a thousand physical copies marked at $100. In addition, Hussle followed up Crenshaw with the release of Mailbox Money a year later, which was marketed as another limited release with 100 physical copies this time marked at $1,000.
Hussle released his first major commercial full-length album via Atlantic Records in February of last year, which debuted at no. 4 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for a Grammy.
Spawning a career that started in 2005, Hussle released 13 mixtapes, some for retail, before his first official album was produced. From his mixtape archive, The Marathon, Crenshaw, Mailbox Money and Slauson Boy 2 charted the Billboard 200.
Like with many West Coast rappers, Hussle had gang ties to the Crips. Nicknamed ‘Neighborhood Nip’ because of his close hometown ties, Hussle was involved with actress Lauren London (ATL) and was the father of two, one with London and another from a previous relationship.
Coincidentally, Hussle’s songmate for this week’s favorite song at the moment was more than just a fellow rapper, he was a lifelong friend, Dom Kennedy.
Kennedy paid his respects to Hussle exactly a week after his death by stopping by the very store his friend lost his life.
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A post shared by DOM KENNEDY (@dopeitsdom) on Apr 8, 2019 at 8:35am PDT
Without further ado, here’s the song of the week, which cemented Hussle as one of my favorite rappers. “Checc Me Out” (feat. Dom Kennedy, Cobby Supreme).
Kennedy, 34 and a Leimart Park native, wastes less than 15 seconds to start the track, sharing his first of two choruses right out of the gate.
“New Nipsey Hussle (Checc me out)
You in trouble (Checc me out)/
Pay us now (Checc me out)
Or pay me double (Checc me out)/
New Nipsey Hussle (Checc me out)
New Nipsey Hussle (Checc me out)
New Nipsey Hussle (Checc me out)
Nigga, fuck it (Checc me out)/”
With perfect synergy, Kennedy passes the beat off to Hussle, who spends the first verse reflecting on his upbringing, while spotlighting he was fortunate to make it out of his hometown (at the time) in one peace.
“Nigga, fuck it, I came from nothing
Shootouts in public, ridin' buses/
Buyin' Benzes, was buying buckets
Knock me off of my grind, that's what they wasn't/”
After Kennedy’s second chorus and Cobby Supreme’s verse, Kennedy triples back for the outro. Kennedy shouts out him and Hussle’s movements, and record labels, OPM (Other People’s Money) and All Money In.
Like with Hussle in his verse, Kennedy switches gears to the present fairly quickly, which includes a more soothing lifestyle after becoming a successful rapper. But, we can’t give you all of the lyrics, so just stream the single below to hear.
Stream “Checc Me Out” here.
