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.

County Jail
Nipsey Hussle Lyrics

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Baby on the way then I caught my case
I went on the run and gave myself some time to think
Sitting in my cell, all I did was pray
Call home once a week and tell my people I'm okay
Ask me if I'm stressing I say hell naw I'm straight
But you can tell the difference 'cause it's written on my face
I've been working out, I've been gaining weight
I been having dreams about the day they cracked the gate

Ain't send me no mail, pregnant with my baby girl
Planned to take over the world I just ended up in jail
Writing down my plans hoping I don't hit the pen
Drop a thousand on my books and trust me I'll be back again

Shit ain't looking good, still I keep the faith
Sittin' in this county jail tryna fight my case
Running through these fades, I just miss my daughter face
They bring me out my cell sixty minutes everyday
Back and forth to court, bank on niggas in these tanks
Laughin' with my homies 'bout them days when we was raised
You only down the street but seem so far away
As I'm sitting in this county jail tryna fight my case
Shit ain't looking good, still I keep the faith
Sittin' in this county jail tryna fight my case
Running through these fades, I just miss my daughter face
They bring me out my cell sixty minutes everyday
Back and forth to court, bank on niggas in these tanks
Laughin' with my homies 'bout them days when we was raised

You only down the street but seem so far away
As I'm sitting in this county jail tryna fight my case

Overall Meaning

In this emotional and introspective song, Nipsey Hussle raps about the time he spent in county jail while his baby daughter was on the way. The song starts with a reference to the tough predicament Nipsey found himself in, with a baby on the way and a case to fight. He expresses his frustration with the situation and his desire to take over the world, but he ended up in jail instead.

As the song progresses, we learn about the mental and physical toll that being in jail takes on Nipsey. He talks about praying and trying to keep himself occupied while he was locked up. He writes down his plans and hopes that he doesn't end up back in jail again. Despite the adversity, he maintains a sense of optimism and refuses to let the situation break him.

Line by Line Meaning

Baby on the way then I caught my case
I found out I was going to be a father, then I got arrested

I went on the run and gave myself some time to think
I ran away and tried to figure out my next move

Sitting in my cell, all I did was pray
While in jail, I spent my time praying

Call home once a week and tell my people I'm okay
I made a weekly call to my loved ones to let them know I'm doing alright

Ask me if I'm stressing I say hell naw I'm straight
People ask if I'm worried or anxious, but I tell them I'm fine

But you can tell the difference 'cause it's written on my face
My face shows that I'm really struggling, even if I say I'm not

I've been working out, I've been gaining weight
I'm trying to stay healthy and strong while in jail

I been having dreams about the day they cracked the gate
I keep dreaming of the day I am released from jail

Ain't send me no mail, pregnant with my baby girl
My loved ones haven't been writing to me, and I found out I am having a daughter

Planned to take over the world I just ended up in jail
I had big plans for my future, but now I'm stuck in jail

Writing down my plans hoping I don't hit the pen
I'm writing down my goals, and hoping I won't end up back in jail

Drop a thousand on my books and trust me I'll be back again
I spent a lot of money on books, and I know I will end up in jail again

Shit ain't looking good, still I keep the faith
My situation is bad, but I still have hope

Sittin' in this county jail tryna fight my case
I'm in jail, trying to prove my innocence

Running through these fades, I just miss my daughter face
I'm fighting to get out of jail, and I miss my daughter's face

They bring me out my cell sixty minutes everyday
I'm only allowed out of my cell for an hour each day

Back and forth to court, bank on niggas in these tanks
I have to go to court often, and I trust my fellow inmates

Laughin' with my homies 'bout them days when we was raised
I'm reminiscing with my friends about our childhood

You only down the street but seem so far away
My loved ones are close by, but it feels like they're far away

As I'm sitting in this county jail tryna fight my case
I'm in jail, fighting to prove my innocence

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, O/B/O CAPASSO, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ermias Asghedom, John Wesley Groover, Michael Ray Jr. Cox

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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