Hussle x Hov.
After much anticipation, Nipsey Hussle and JAY-Z’s collaboration “What It Feels Like” has arrived as part of the Judas and the Black Messiah soundtrack.
The triumphant track features an unreleased verse from the late Crenshaw icon. “And this is what it feels like / The only reason I survived ’cause a ni**a is special / First you get successful, then it gets stressful,” raps Nipsey before proclaiming, “Young Malcolm / I’m the leader of the movement out this bitch.”
Inspired by Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, Hov delivers a powerful verse on which he addresses last month’s Capitol riots. “You let them crackers storm your Capitol / Put they feet up on your desk / And yet you talkin’ tough to me / I lost all my little respect,” he raps.
“Real ni**as is extinct / It ain’t safe for me, my dawg / Killin’ ni**as in they own hoods, that make sense to you at all? / You burnt your bridge to the other side, you know you can’t swim across / Y’all know ni**as can’t swim, they fried Mike after he died / Y’all know ni**as can’t win, you never land, all jokes aside.”
Executive produced by Hit-Boy, Dash Sherrod, Ryan Coogler, and Archie Davis, Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album also features contributions from Nas, Rakim, A$AP Rocky, Lil Durk, and Polo G, plus H.E.R.’s Golden Globe-nominated single “Fight for You.” The movie, starring Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield, is now streaming on HBO Max.
Stream Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album below.