Welcome friends to another outstanding double issue, 24.17/18, of The Beat Within. This week our dear friend and colleague, Alyssa Maano, sent us a powerful editorial about her connection to The Beat Within and the late rapper, Nipsey Hussle, who sadly was taken from us way too soon. We really appreciate her heartfelt message, as much as we appreciate her immense dedication to the workshops she leads inside the Sacramento County Juvenile Detention Facility. Thank you, Alyssa!
About five years ago, I began my journey with The Beat Within. I was about 21 years old and had been sick and tired of losing those I grew up with to senseless violence. I was lost and had no idea what I could do to make a difference. I had no idea how to deal with the pain, and that pain eventually made me feel as if I had no purpose in the world. It was at this time I decided to start volunteering with The Beat. I decided all of my pain would be redirected into the youth growing up on the very streets my friends were getting killed in. Little did I know, The Beat Within would be the beginning of something very full circle.
Growing up, Tupac was one of the most influential artists to me. I was young when he was at his prime, but his music raised me. His artistry and his mind were extraordinary, and I truly believed that his spirit was beyond his years. His poetry spoke volumes and his music held years of experience, hurt, and trauma. When I discovered that The Beat was founded when Tupac was killed, I knew that there was a deeper reason why I was here. I knew that for some reason, The Beat was going to be vital to my future endeavors with working with youth and making a difference in my community.
Right before I started working with The Beat, one of my favorite hip hop artists, Nipsey Hussle, began a campaign called Proud2Pay. Nip had just dropped his mixtape, Crenshaw, which he was selling for $100 each. He acknowledged that his mixtape would of course be accessible for free (with the internet allowing anything to be free), but he wanted his music to reach his community to a point where they were proud to pay $100 for it. In return, they would get exclusive access to shows and merchandise. This very campaign stuck with me to this day. I wanted to be able to create and inspire on such a deep level that my community would be proud to support me. I wanted to be able to uplift my community so much to the point where they had no choice but to support me – because I am here to serve them, just like Nipsey was here to serve us. I chose to work with The Beat Within because I knew this would guide me in this very direction.
I am now sitting here today with a heavy heart. On March 31st, the very man that inspired me to start working with The Beat Within, was killed. He was killed in his own neighborhood that he was buying back to give to his people. He was killed in front of his business where he employed the people he grew up with. He was killed while picking up some clothes at his clothing store to give to his friend that was getting out of prison after a long bid.
Not enough words can express how hurt I am for someone I don’t even know personally. I was too young to feel Tupac’s death – but this – this, I feel to my core. The pain I feel is the same pain I felt growing up when I lost friends to violence. The pain I feel is full circle pain, it’s that “I don’t understand how they can kill someone like him†pain. That pain that “makes me so angry at our own people who did this†type of pain.
Nipsey was a true entrepreneur. He grew up gang banging in Crenshaw and turned his past into building blocks to success. He was an independent artist for the longest time and he literally bought back his block and employed his people. He built a brand from the ground up and invested in his community by building workspaces for people in his community to create in, spaces for them to build their own businesses.
Despite the pain that I feel, I now understand that Nipsey’s death was for us. Every single young person that I have worked with, and every single young person who writes for this magazine, has the ability to become something great, just like Nip. It is our responsibility as young people to stop killing each other. It is our responsibility to uplift our people, to bring our people to the higher ground, and to heal our broken families. The environment you grew up in and the crimes you have committed in your past does not define who you are! Be proud of those who are doing great things and strive to be just that. We are in this together. To the young men and women reading this – it is your responsibility to heal your families, to bring them to success, and to lead your community, alongside one another.
Be the type of individual that people look up to. Be the type of individual that your brothers and sisters want to be like. Be the individual that makes your family proud. Confront your pain and trauma so that you can heal. Protect your energy and allow your spirit to become pure. We are not here to kill each other. We are here to heal each other.
Whether you are facing a short time incarcerated or you are facing life, there is one thing in common amongst all of us – we were all created with limitless potential to make a difference. Get those education credits, educate yourselves, uplift those around you, and know that you are made for something greater than you could imagine.
Nipsey Hussle was in the very same position a lot of our young readers and writers are in now – in the streets and going down the wrong path. As of today, Nipsey has been entered into the U.S. Congressional Record for his contributions to South LA, he has an intersection in LA named after him, and his family received a letter from Barack Obama thanking him for his contributions. There is absolutely nothing standing in your way of greatness besides yourself.
Your flesh may be incarcerated, but your spirit and your mind are not. In the words of Nipsey Hussle, “We come from energy and turn back into energy. We are all matter for only a very short time. Make sure that when you are matter, you matter.†May the marathon continue.
-Alyssa
We truly hope you appreciate and find inspiration in her reflection piece. We certainly do. Thank you readers and writers for all your continued support in this important work. Enjoy this amazing one of a kind issue. Your wisdom and insights are all valued. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if we can be of any support.
On a final note, we will be officially announcing our essay and art winners in the next issue. Issue 24.19/20 will feature our amazing winners! Thank you all for your time and patience. Read and write on!!!