On Friday (May 17), DJ Khaled released his eleventh studio album, Father of Asahd, a project that includes a priceless gift to fans; Nipsey Hussle‘s final music video appearance.
The visual for the collaborative track “Higher” gives fans, in Khaled’s words, an opportunity to feel Nipsey’s “enlightened soul” one last time.
The late rapper, who was gunned down outside of his Marathon clothing store on March 31, opens the clip donning all blue and features a verse where he reflects on his grandmother and memories he’s created with his family over the years. Fittingly, the visual follows him around a Los Angeles neighborhood as he runs through his contributions to the track.
“Los Angeles love, kinda of like Hussle and Boog,” Nipsey raps of his girlfriend Lauren London, using her nickname Boogie. He then weaves in his children, Emani and Kross, noting how far he’s come.
“Dance with the devil and test our faith / I was thinkin’ chess moves but it was God’s grace,” he spits.
Throughout the video, John Legend can be seen playing a piano in the middle of a street, as he handles the song’s chorus.
Overall, the song is a beautiful joint effort, with the visual doubling as another opportunity to pay tribute to Nipsey’s life and legacy.
Following the video’s release, Legend tweeted another message with his condolences and gratitude. “Proud to be a part of this inspiring record with DJ Khaled and @NipseyHussle,” he wrote. “We lost him too soon.”
In addition to the track’s video and inclusion on Khaled’s latest project, the veteran DJ also revealed that proceeds from the song will go to Nipsey’s children.
“Recently, I embarked on a soul-searching journey down a road I never thought I would travel in a million years,” Khaled wrote in a note accompanying the release. “It began when a tragedy robbed the world of an enlightened soul, a brother, a father, a partner and my friend Nipsey Hussle.”
“After much prayer and reflection; and with the full blessing of the Asghedom family, I am sharing that with the world,” Khaled added, going on to explain how the messages in the song reflect those of Nipsey’s essence.
“The very title of the song reminds us that vibrating on a ‘Higher’ level was the essence of Nipsey’s soul,” he wrote. “It is in this spirit, of moving forward, of preserving his mission that I, my co-writers, producers and label partners are donating 100% of all of our proceeds from ‘Higher’ to Nipsey’s children, Emani and Kross.”
Take a look at Nipsey Hussle’s final music video, and see the touching accompany tributes, below.