Ermias Asghedom (August 15, 1985 – March 31, 2019), known professionally as… Read Full Bio ↴Ermias Asghedom (August 15, 1985 – March 31, 2019), known professionally as Nipsey Hussle (often stylized as Nipsey Hu$$le), was an American rapper and songwriter from Los Angeles, California. Emerging from the West Coast hip hop scene in the mid-2000s, Hussle initially became known for his numerous mixtapes, including his Bullets Ain't Got No Name series, The Marathon , The Marathon Continues , and Crenshaw , the latter of which rapper JAY-Z bought 100 copies of for $100 each. After much delay, his debut studio album Victory Lap was released in February 2018 to critical acclaim and commercial success, and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019.

Hussle was murdered outside his store, Marathon Clothing, in South Los Angeles on March 31, 2019.

Closer Than Close
Nipsey Hussle Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah, let′s take it back then, when it was crackin'
We probably took your 10-speed and jacked your mags then
One on the handlebars and one on the pegs
Obituary pictures, I miss ′em, them niggas dead now
We used to fail tests, we used to steal chirps
We used to smoke stress

Overall Meaning

In Nipsey Hussle's song "Closer Than Close," he reflects on the memories and experiences of his childhood and highlights the struggles and challenges he faced growing up in a harsh environment. The opening lines delve into a past filled with illegal activities, as the reference to crack and stealing implies a life of crime. Nipsey mentions taking someone's 10-speed bicycle and stealing car magazines, indicating a lack of opportunities and resorting to unlawful means for survival.

The following lines vividly depict the nostalgia for a time when he and his friends were close-knit, riding bikes together with one on the handlebars and another on the pegs. However, the contrasting mention of obituary pictures hints at the sobering reality that some of those close friends have since passed away. It serves as a reminder of the dangers and loss that were prevalent in their community.

The lyrics also touch upon their rebellious youth, where they would fail tests and steal chirps (referring to unauthorized usage of paging devices). The inclusion of smoking stress refers to their coping mechanisms and how they dealt with the pressures and hardships they faced daily.

Overall, "Closer Than Close" paints a vivid picture of Nipsey Hussle's upbringing, highlighting the challenges and choices he and his friends made to survive in their environment. It explores themes of camaraderie, loss, and the resilience of a community shaped by adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, let's take it back then, when it was crackin'
Let's reminisce about the past, when things were exciting and thriving.

We probably took your 10-speed and jacked your mags then
We may have stolen your bicycle and removed the valuable parts.

One on the handlebars and one on the pegs
One person riding on the handlebars and another on the back pegs, showcasing our carefree and reckless nature.

Obituary pictures, I miss 'em, them niggas dead now
Looking at photos of deceased friends from the past, feeling a sense of longing and sadness for their loss.

We used to fail tests, we used to steal chirps
In the past, we were not successful in our academic endeavors and engaged in stealing chirping devices (walkie-talkies) as a form of mischief.

We used to smoke stress
We used to smoke low-quality marijuana, symbolizing the difficult and stressful situations we faced.

Writer(s): Francis Felix Jules, Rosie Gaines, Dana R. Bailey

Contributed by Grayson G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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