Peace With Self > War With the World

Peace With Self  > War With the World

Would you rather be at war with yourself and at peace with the world or peace with yourself and war with the world? This question can evaluate where one’s value lies within themselves. The Last Lap documents Nipsey Hussle’s life as he grew his audience and his ventures in life. Through all of his successes and failures, he was able to truly find himself even with outside pressures influencing him. Every artist along with Nipsey “pours their emotions into their music” (Rosas). This release helps him to express his true self to the world. In the documentary, The Last Lap, the directors examine culture, identity, and tradition as a means of discovering one’s true self.

The directors examine culture as a means of discovering one’s true self through the documentary of Nipsey Hussle. Nipsey states that “the first time I heard myself over a beat was on a Doggfather Intro” ( Lap 8:52). In elementary school a friend named Jermaine had a computer in his house so they used to listen to music together. Then eventually they started to “rap over old Snoop Dog instrumentals” (Lap 8:40). With them being that young the rap culture impacted their daily lives. It influenced them to not only listen to the music but to start making their music as well. This is a major part of Nipsey discovering his true self since the music culture had started making its mark in his life from a young age.

Nipsey Hussle finding his identity by diving into new opportunities was essential to him discovering his true self. With his collaboration with Fatburger “the brand represents Los Angeles; it was just something organic and natural that felt right” (Lap 1:06:57). By his decision to collaborate with Fatburger using his clothing line was a huge symbol for the people of Los Angeles. The move to represent something bigger than just himself certainly made him learn more about himself. That feeling as he described as “organic and natural” was his validation that he was being his best self. 

Tradition is examined by the authors also for one to find their true self. “Despite being involved in the music Nipsey got heavier and heavier into the street life, and got into the rolling sixties gang” (Lap 22:38). With Nipsey growing up in the area of Los Angeles it was like a tradition to join a gang, it was either hunt or be hunted so he chose his path. He was taught the in’s and out but he “was getting involved into a lot of fights and some shootouts” (Lap 22:52). As he grew he explained that “you're going to lay in the bed that you make so I knew that wasn’t what I wanted” (Lap 30:25). He realized that the life he was living wouldn’t lead him to his best self it would hinder or worse end it. Even though the people he surrounded himself with were content with the life they were living he wasn’t. He decided that following his true passion in life is what mattered most.

When it came to Nipsey Hussle discovering his true self, culture, identity, and tradition molded his direction toward doing so. He realized that some of his actions were selfish and not important when it came to his legacy. He readjusted himself and focused on what mattered most to him. Through all the losses and successes he kept reminding himself that it was a marathon and not a sprint. Discovering one’s self is indeed a long challenging journey but with faith, it can get done.

Works Cited

“Nipsey Hussle - the Last Lap (Full Documentary).” Www.youtube.com, Diverse Mentality, 31 Mar. 2021, youtu.be/Qbn055i33OQ.

Rosas, Rhiannon. “How Music and Culture Work Together: Science behind Music.” Www.musichouseschool.com, 28 Sept. 2020, www.musichouseschool.com/how-music-and-culture-work-together-science-behind-music.