Ashanti Shares Last Texts With Nipsey Hussle: Music Ownership & Business

Singer-songwriter Ashanti stopped by Entertainment Tonight to promote her latest project, a musical drama titled Stuck, when she was asked about her friendship with late rapper Nipsey Hussle. Ashanti shared on Instagram that she attended Nipsey's Staples Center memorial, but on the live segment with the ET, the singer also shared what her last text exchanges were with the rapper.

“I’m still a little bit in disbelief,” Ashanti shared. “Going to the funeral, I think it shocked me a little bit and it became a reality, seeing the casket on the stage. It was like everyone stood back like, ‘This really happened,’ and it just shows you that life is so short and so precious.”

“He’s such an amazing person and an amazing spirit and he’s done so much,” she continued. “He had so much more that he was doing...Nip was always helpful. It’s funny because I was looking at some of the last texts that we had, and I was recording at his studio and was like, ‘Nip, I don’t think I’m going to make it tonight. I have allergies, I’m sneezing, I got a headache,’” she said. “He was like, ‘Oh I got these herbs that are really good for you! I know where you can get some good stuff!’ And he was sending me links and like, ‘Sis, I got you, you gotta try this.’ And it just made me sad because he was such an amazing spirit. His heart was pure and he was always willing to help and always really positive.”

“One of his messages that was so powerful as an artist [was] owning your masters,” Ashanti revealed. “Knowing about ownership. Thinking outside the box. Not holding onto these contracts and signing things that you know nothing about. Trying to make it on your own. Having your own platform, your own voice. Just thinking outside the box and trying to come up with other ways to be an entrepreneur.”

Ashanti also recognized how impactful Nipsey was on those who didn't know him or weren't familiar with his music. “It’s so weird, I got a text from one of my friends, and she didn’t know him personally at all, and she’s like, ‘My heart is hurting,’” she said. “You didn’t have to know him personally. He touched people without you knowing the person.”

http://bit.ly/2WrfIpH April 17, 2019 at 09:21AM