Celebrating the 8th anniversary of a historic release — “I don’t ever make moves under pressure,” Nipsey Hussle told me in 2018, a few days after the release of his debut album Victory Lap. “Or I try not to.” But in October 2013, shortly before the release of his Crenshaw mixtape, Hussle was definitely feeling the pressure. “It’s Crunch…

“Rest Well to my Aunt Afeni Shakur,” wrote Young Noble, a member of the legendary West Coast rap crew The Outlawz, in a heartfelt Instagram post yesterday honoring the late civil rights activist and former political prisoner. “She passed away 5yrs ago this day in 2016. I’m honored to have…

Reflections on the rapper’s passing — “Don’t let the water in the boat,” Nipsey Hussle told me on February 22, 2018, six days after the release of his album Victory Lap. “The boat’ll never go down if you don’t let the water in the boat.” …

The marathon continues for the Crenshaw icon’s fight for financial empowerment — Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com. Back in 2006, a fresh-faced 21-year-old rapper named Nipsey Hussle, who the year prior had released his first official mixtape, Slauson Boy Vol. 1, spoke with legendary hip-hop journalist Davey D…