Money from Nipsey Hussle and DJ Khaled collab will go to Hussle’s kids
The marathon continues, DJ Khaled says, announcing on Instagram that his upcoming album will include a track with Nipsey Hussle and that all the money from the song will go to the slain rapper’s children.
The track, dubbed ” Higher, ” features John Legend on piano and the hook. It will be on Khaled’s 11th album, ” Father of Asahd , ” slated for release Friday.
In his Wednesday Instagram post, the producer and songwriter said the track was part of a ” soul-searching journey. ”
” It began when a tragedy robbed the world of an enlightened soul, a brother, a father, a partner and my friend, Nipsey Hussle , ” the post said. ” Just days prior, he shared his energy and positivity with me on a video set for a song called ‘Higher.’ ”
After prayer and reflection, and with Nipsey’s family’s blessing, he said. ” I am sharing that moment with the world. ”
The co-writers, producers and label partners have agreed to donate the earnings from the track to Kross Ashghedom , Nipsey’s son with girlfriend and actor Lauren London, and Emani Ashghedom , his daughter from a previous relationship.
Nipsey was gunned down March 31 in front of The Marathon clothing store he owned in Los Angeles’ Hyde Park neighborhood.
The rhymesmith had developed a reputation not only as skilled lyricist, but also as a deft businessman and philanthropist who was working to curb gang violence and uplift the Crenshaw District where he grew up.
” The very title of the song reminds us that vibrating on a ‘Higher’ level was the essence of Nipsey’s soul, ” Khaled wrote.
Though the single hasn’t been released, a one-minute clip from TMZ shows the set of the video, shot on a parking deck in Inglewood. Legend is sitting at a grand piano between two classic cars bouncing on hydraulics.
In his trademark booming voice, Khaled belts out, ” Nip, talk to ’em! ” before the 33-year-old, dressed in a blue suit, raps into one of the cameras on set.
Legend said on Twitter the video was shot three days before Nipsey was killed.
” I just spent Thursday with him filming a video for a beautiful new song we created with Khaled . We filmed in Inglewood, close to where he grew up. He was so gifted, so proud of his home, so invested in his community. Utterly stunned that he’s gone so soon, ” he wrote.
Khaled has been able to keep the details of ” Father of Asahd ” largely under wraps. He released the album cover earlier this week, picturing him and Asahd , his only son with businesswoman Nicole Tuck, in a tropical setting wearing matching shirts.
He released two singles from the album last year: ” Top Off ” featuring Beyonce, Future and Jay-Z, and ” No Brainer ” featuring Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper and the Quavo of Migos . According to reports, Cardi B, Post Malone, Chris Brown and Lil Wayne will be among those rounding out the all-star cast of collaborations.
The man suspected in Nipsey’s killing, 29-year-old Eric Holder, faces murder and other charges. He is being held on $5 million bail.
