Real Big

## Song by Nipsey Hussle featuring Marsha Ambrosius

"**Real Big**" is a song by American rapper Nipsey Hussle, released as the fourteenth and final track from his debut and only studio album, *Victory Lap* (2018). It features vocals from English singer-songwriter Marsha Ambrosius.

## Background

Hussle told *NPR*:

>
> It was just thinking about where I'm at in my life with my wife and my son. I always had a hunch that I could do it. It was always an uphill, I don't know how I'm going to do it, type of thing. I just thought I could. I believed that if I just took steps toward it, the path will reveal itself.
>
>
> When I look at what this moment is, it's confirmation again: We here. That was my goal, to put out a major album, on my label, and be respected as an authentic artist in hip-hop and have a great business setup. I always knew that it would end up like this. I've been through a lot, and we've been through a lot of setbacks and loss and moments where I didn't know if it was going to happen. And I dealt with all of the pressures and all of the expectations and letdowns and everything. And just to be where we at, it's just a song reflecting on that. You gotta power through it mentally, and you gotta walk by faith.
>
>
>
>

## Personnel

* Adam Aderbraun – executive producer
* Alexandria Dopson – backing vocals, writer
* Cyrus "NOIS" Taghipour – assistant mixing engineer
* Dave Kutch – mastering engineer
* Derek "MixedByAli" Ali – mixer
* Dj Battlecat – talkbox
* Garnett "G" Flynn – engineer
* John Groover Jr. – writer
* Joya Nemley – A&R administrator
* Larrance Dopson – writer, producer, programmer
* Lauren London – additional vocals
* Mario "Wizzo" Fernandez – audio engineer, recording engineer
* Marsha Ambrosius – featuring artist
* Michael Cox Jr. – writer
* Mike & Keys – programmer
* MyGuyMars – co-producer, programmer
* Ermias "Nipsey Hussle" Asghedom – vocals, writer, executive producer
* Rebekah Muhammad – backing vocals, writer
* Samiel Asgehdom – executive producer
* Sean "Diddy" Combs – executive producer
* Stephen Donelson – executive producer
* Steven "Steve-O" Carless – writer, executive producer
* Tyler Page – assistant mixing engineer
* Uncle Chucc – guitar

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Chorus: Nipsey Hussle]

Real big, real big

I knew one day, I would do it real big

Real shit, real shit

I know all my real n\*\*\*as feel this

Night time, locs on

Can't even see the stars, but we still wish

Real shit, real shit

Who would ever thought that we would build this?

[Verse 1: Nipsey Hussle]

Tryna walk to school, get your jaw socked

Tryna pump your gas, get your car shot

Large profit margin on the long shots

'Cause young n\*\*\*as rarely make it off of our block

Night time, locs on

Fuckin' young bitches while they folks home

High school, didn't go

Couldn't understand my plan, now you n\*\*\*as know

Self-made, well-paid

I'm from where they tell you never touch the shell case

I'm from where they teach you never trust a pale face

Let's talk bangin', I can tell you 'bout a failed race

Real shit, real shit

I know all my real n\*\*\*as feel this

Night time, locs on

Fuckin' young bitches while they folks home

[Chorus: Nipsey Hussle]

Real big, real big

I knew one day, I would do it real big

Real shit, real shit

I know all my real n\*\*\*as feel this

Night time, locs on

Can't even see the stars, but we still wish

Real shit, real shit

Who would ever thought that we would build this?

[Verse 2: Nipsey Hussle]

Sold-out shows, that's a door split

N\*\*\*as ain't show up, that's a forfeit

Left my record label, just got more rich

I switched it up, that's me singin' on the chorus

But still, I spit bars so gutter

Drive cars, no stutter, top floor, no clutter

Hardwood floors, though

White wall, that's where my awards go

Runnin' from the law 'til they foreclose

Sit with myself when them doors close

Sometimes I got a question, only Lord knows

What I'm doing out in Copenhagen spendin' euros?

Night time, locs on

Do it big, n\*\*\*a, 'til my Locs home

Real shit, real shit

I know all my real n\*\*\*as feel this

[Chorus: Nipsey Hussle]

Real big, real big

I knew one day, I would do it real big

Real shit, real shit

I know all my real n\*\*\*as feel this

Night time, locs on

Can't even see the stars, but we still wish

Real shit, real shit

Who would ever thought that we would build this?

[Interlude: Marsha Ambrosius]

If I could stay in this moment, I would forever

If I could live in this moment, said I would forever

Real shit, real shit

Yeah, yeah

If I could give you the stars, baby, I would

Wanna last to share in this moment, baby, this moment

And I would give you the stars, baby, I would

[Chorus: Nipsey Hussle]

Real big, real big

I knew one day, I would do it real big

Real shit, real shit

I know all my real n\*\*\*as feel this

Night time, locs on

Can't even see the stars, but we still wish

Real shit, real shit

Who would ever thought that we would build this?

## References

1. ↑ Carmichael, Rodney (February 16, 2018). "Nipsey Hussle Tells the Epic Stories Behind 'Victory Lap,' Track by Track". *NPR*.