Higher

## Single by DJ Khaled featuring Nipsey Hussle and John Legend

"**Higher**" is a song by American producer DJ Khaled featuring American rapper Nipsey Hussle and American singer John Legend. It was released as the third single and seventh track from DJ Khaled's album *Father of Asahd* on May 17, 2019. All proceeds from sales of the song will go to the rapper's children.

## Background

DJ Khaled called the song's creation part of an "emotional journey," saying Nipsey Hussle "shared his energy and positivity" with him before his death. The pair went out to lunch together and Khaled played Hussle the beat of the song. He left to give Hussle some "space", then came back in to find him writing lyrics. In a post shared to social media, DJ Khaled revealed that profits from sales of the song will be given to Nipsey Hussle's son and daughter. He also said that the title "reminds us that vibrating on a 'Higher' level was the essence of Nipsey's soul".

In 2020, the song won Best Rap/Sung Performance at the Grammy Awards. Khaled stated, "I knew it was special out the gate. Working with Nipsey Hussle was special. I told Nipsey that God willing, we will get nominated for a Grammy ... I spoke that into existence. We both felt the same. We knew making this record was Grammy-worthy." John Legend recalled meeting Hussle at the video shoot, since they recorded their vocals separately, "It was actually very cool because we were on a high-rise parking structure in South L.A. and you could see his neighborhood from where we were shooting the video and he was just showing me where he grew up all from, like, a bird's eye view. You could just tell how proud he was of where he was from, how connected he was to where he was from."

## Music video

The music video was filmed before Hussle's death on March 31, 2019. It was published to Khaled's YouTube channel on May 17, 2019, directed by Eif Rivera. It opens with the words "In Love Memory of Nipsey Hussle".

## Accolades

 Grammy Awards | Best Rap/Sung Performance

## Gallery

* Grammy Awards 2020
* BET Awards 2020

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro: DJ Khaled]

We The Best music

DJ Khaled

[Chorus: John Legend]

Oh, you keep taking me higher and higher (Yeah)

But don't you know that the devil is a liar? (Yeah, I know)

They'd rather see me down, put my soul in the fire

But we keep goin' higher, higher

[Verse 1: Nipsey Hussle]

Look, look

My granny 88, she had my uncle and then

A miscarriage back-to-back every year for like ten

Pregnant with my moms, doctor told her it was slim

Was bed rode for nine months, but gave birth in the end

Pops turned 60, he proud what we done

In one generation, he came from Africa young

He said he met my moms at the Century Club

Los Angeles love kinda of like Hussle and Boog

Mani turned ten, Kross turned two

Startin' to see this life shit from a bird's view

We the ones that made millions off the curb, fool

In this rap shit ten, never made nerd moves

[Chorus: John Legend]

Oh, you keep taking me higher and higher (Yeah)

(*Hussle, Khaled*)

But don't you know that the devil is a liar? (Yeah, I know)

(*Right back*)

They'd rather see me down, put my soul in the fire

But we keep goin' higher, higher (Woah, woah)

(**Nip, talk to 'em**)

[Verse 2: Nipsey Hussle, *John Legend*]

Emptied out the clip, it was broad day

Fuck n\*\*\*as always gotta learn the hard way

We gon' tape it off if we ball play

Put a half a moon crescent on your bald fade

Police hit the lights, that's a car chase

Lookin' back at my life make my heart race

Dance with the devil and test our faith

I was thinkin' chess moves but it was God's grace

Crooked ass whoever 'til we all straight

With no shame, I peeped game and it's all fake

South Central state of mind, high crime rate (*Yeah*)

Homicide, hate, gang banging'll get you all day (*Yeah, yeah*)

And look at my fate

[Chorus: John Legend, *Nipsey Hussle*]

Oh, you keep taking me higher and higher (Yeah)

(*Told Khaled bounce the four 'til the bar break*)

But don't you know that the devil is a liar? (I know)

They'd rather see me down, put my soul in the fire

But we keep goin' higher, higher

[Outro: John Legend]

Higher

Oh, Lord

Can you feel it?

My shoes are scrapin' the sky

I'm so high

We keep goin' higher

## References

1. ↑ "Nipsey Hussle's Legacy Takes Center Stage at Grammy Awards". *AP News*. January 21, 2020.
2. ↑ Brandle, Lars (May 17, 2019). "Nipsey Hussle's Final Music Video, DJ Khaled's 'Higher,' Is Here". *Billboard*.
3. ↑ Schaffstall, Katherine (June 15, 2020). "BET Awards: Drake, Megan Thee Stallion and Roddy Ricch Lead Nominations". *Hollywood Reporter*.
4. ↑ Real, Evan (November 20, 2019). "Grammys: Nipsey Hussle Scores 3 Posthumous Nominations". *Billboard*.