NIPSEY HUSSLE BOOK LIST

“I read a lot though, man. I’m like a book addict at times.” –Nipsey, 2013 Interview with Hip Hop Dx

---

The legacy of Nipsey Hussle will live forever. Nipsey Hussle, born Ermias (Meaning: God Will Rise) Joseph Asghedom from Los Angeles, California was an entrepreneur, Grammy nominated artist, dynamic family man, friend, companion, motivator, and inspiration. Nipsey left a strong impact on his community and the world through his actions. A self-made millionaire, proclaimed radical, an author, rapper, producer, and entrepreneur was heavily into reading books. Nipsey Hussle constantly was advising friends on book suggestions and expressing what he enjoyed most about past and current reads.

Nipsey often referred to his love for reading in interviews. He talks about how certain books inspired him and helped him to be a great business man. Being a bookworm myself I began to take note, listening, watching, and being tuned in to his many acomplishments I started to write down the books he would discuss in interviews along his journey. By no means is this a complete list of Nipsey Hussle's library, but a noted few that he consistently discussed and recommend. (If you know other books he read please feel free to comment so this list can grow and share with friends.)

Nipsey's Book Selections:

Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger

Nipsey Hussle's mixtape Crenshaw sold for $100 a copy. This marketing concept is partially credited by Nipsey's discovery in this book (the other is him and his team being on board of course) that bold move of a $100 mixtape spoke volumes in the community and amongst hip-hop heads. It was such an impactful buzz Jay-z dropped $10k.

The Spook That Sat by the Door

A book that Nipsey enjoyed so much he stated he would potentially named his 2nd album after it. This must have a major impact being the word smith and how intentional we know Nipsey to be with his Marketing.

Here is a list of other reads Nipsey referenced:

• The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Reis & Jack Trout

• The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding by Al Reis & Jack Trout

• The Way of The Superior Man by David Deida

• The Marathon Book (came out with the Victory Lap album)

• 3 Magic Words by US Anderson

• Message to The Black Man by Elijah Muhammad

• The Second Sexe by Simone De Beauvoir

• A Macat Analysis of Frantz Fanon's Black Skin, White Masks by Rachel Dini

• Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

• Blood In My Eye-George Jackson

• Coded Language by Saul Williams

• Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey & Rajendra Sisodia

• Creative Selection by Ken Kocienda

• Culture Vulture by Kenyatta Griggs & Damon Dash

• Decoded by Jay-Z

• Fools by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

• Heal Thy Self by Queen Afua

• How To Eat To Live by Elijah Muhammad

• I Didn't Do It For You by Micheal Wrong

• Invisible Influence by Jonah Berger

• Law and Economics Of Vertical Integrations And Control by David Kaserman

• Manchild In The Promised Land by Claude Brown

• Message To The Black Man In America by Elijah Muhammad

• No Man is An Island By Thomas Merton

• Originals By Adam Grant

• Political Economy By Barry Stewart Clark

• Power Vs. Force By David R. Hawkins

• Powernomics By Claude Anderson

• Purple Cow By Seth Godin

• Rich Dad Poor Dad By Robert Kiyosaki

• Revolutionary Suicide By Huey P. Newton

• Sacred Woman by Queen Afua

• Seize The Time By Bobby Seale

• Shoe Dog By Phil Knight

• Steve Jobs: A Biography By Walter Isaacson

• The Art of Seduction By Robert Greene

• The Art of War by Sun Tzu

• The Book Of Change by Ching

• The Art & Science of Respect By James Prince

• Rework By Jason Fried

• The Beautiful Struggle by Ta-Nehisi Coates

• The Fire Next Time By James Baldwin

• The Four By Scott Galloway

• The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

• The Isis (Yssis) Papers by Frances Cress Welsing

• The Lost Book Of Encoh By David Humpherys

• The One Device by Brian Merchant

• The Peebles Principles by R.Donahue Peebles

• The Richest Man In Babylon by George S. Clason

• The Second Sex By Simone De Beauvoir

• The Secret By Rhonda Byrne

• The Wretched Of The Earth By Frantz Fanon

• Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

• Three Magic Words by UELL Stanley Andersen

• Vertical Integration And Technological Innovation By Yeong Heck Lee

• Tools of Titans By Tim Ferriss

• We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates

• 1% Rule By Tommy Baker

• 2022 Annunaki Code By Maxmillien De Lafayette

• 48 Laws of Power By Robert Greene

• Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver

(List contributions given by @Simsity)

Nipsey did not hold back about his enjoyment of reading and how books helped him in blazing the way in his entrepreneurial endeavors, and path as a rap artist. If you know of other reads please feel free to comment and spread the word.

Enjoy!