Nipsey Hussle’s legacy continues to leave a mark. Following his March 31 death. The Marathon Book Club was formed after a fan-made list of every book he ever mentioned went viral.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the club is comprised of 74 black men and two Latinos divided into four chapters based in Oakland, New York, Washington, D.C and L.A. They meet monthly to break down the books that motivated Hussle.
It includes “professors, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, investment bankers and at least one former athlete” and uses the conversations around their reading material as a vehicle for deeper discussion. Mental health, toxic masculinity, personal struggles and career advice are openly discussed with the intention of learning from Hussle’s mindset.
Founder of The Marathon Club Rashad Drakeford said, “Seeing brothers talking about the journey while they are in it makes you realize, ‘I’m not alone in this,'”
The LA Times reveals one book in particular, The Spook Who Sat By The Door by Sam Greenlee, struck a chord with the club’s members because they know “what it’s like to be the only black voice in the room.”
Inspired by Greenlee’s own life, the story follows former gang member Daniel Freeman’s pursuit to become the “nation’s first black CIA officer — or spook.” Nip reportedly wanted to name his next album after Greenlee’s novel, which he talked about during an interview with The Breakfast Club in February 2018. [apple_news_ad type=”any”]
Nipsey’s passion for literature has also helped increase sales for Eso Won Books, a local black-owned bookstore.
During Nip’s last visit in December 2018, he bought $400 worth of books, including research for a proposed documentary on Black Panther activist Fred Hampton. His recommendation also helped sell 24 copies of 3 Magic Words last year, which Lauren London described it as one of the couple’s favorite reads.
Eso Won Books didn’t sell any copies the year before. The co-owner says patrons now flock to the store with “Hussle’s reading list in hand, and the books he revered are flying off the shelves.”
Maybe he should have a read a bible first
shut your dumb ass up
Thanks for your email address brah
Who the fuck writes their actual email hahaha
Nice. More rappers (hell, people period) should take up reading as a hobby.
nipsey could have been saved. I am put off just a bit that he was reading a book about a black panther though. they may be black and white people are white but any racism should be denounced… unless it is funny. but then I suppose you have re-educated liberals throwing a wobbly.
Panthers weren’t a group that practice with intent of being races. Can’t speak for all of course, but they mostly were a defense group/organization. Looking to help out the poor, those who were defenseless, and whatnot. With free breakfast programs (especially to women and children), programs to education those who weren’t aware, about their rights. You had the government breaking the law, doing whatever they could to bring the group to an end. Here, I recommend you read this book titled “The Assassination Of Fred Hampton”. And see how the corrupt C.I.A. killed Hampton, did whatever they could to cover it up, and play the public for fools, using the media to portray Fred and others, like the were evil men that were up to no good. It’s similar to how the media takes some of trump’s quotes, and creates their own narratives. And I’m far from a supporter of Donald. I just understand that public perception is powerlful, and the media knows exactly how to get folks to pick/choose sides. Hope this book can at least shed some light on something you my not have known.
*racist
Excuse my spelling errors, hope my passage/post isn’t too difficult to comprehend.