Gangsta's Paradise

Stay or Go?

It's amazing how quickly the news spread. Hoggy finally made it to the store, but they were too late. He grabbed Blacc Sam, pulling him to the car as they rushed to the hospital. Hoggy sent Samantha a text message telling her what happened. She grabbed Lauren and they sped to the hospital. When they made it there, Lauren was inconsolable. She ran through the doors as several of their friends tried to grab her and hold her.
She went to the front desk, only to hear that there was no news and that Nipsey was in surgery.
It didn't take long for the media to show up. Local news stations swerved into parks in front of the hospital, running to the sidewalk to see if they could find out any more information. Snoop and The Game both came to the hospital, news stations getting a glimpse of them walking in.
And for a couple of hours, time stood still. Fans and millions across the world world, waiting for an update. It was released that he'd been shot and rushed to the hospital. But his condition wasn't immediately known. Some irresponsible blogs were already reporting that he'd been killed, dead on arrival at the hospital.
Silence filled the waiting room amongst his family and friends. The cries of Lauren, Samantha and Angelique could be heard among the occasional sniffles from his boys. J-Roc sat in the corner with his head in his hands. Nothing moved but the hands of the clock on the wall.

Nipsey

I felt pain, then nothing. It felt as though I was floating. I wanted to wake up, open my eyes. I wanted to move. But I couldn't. I could hear doctors over me, sounding like one of those ER shows. It wasn't supposed to end like this.
I'd done so much to change my life. All the gang banging and other shit was a thing of the past. So how could this happen? Why would God let this happen? But as soon as the thought crossed my mind, I pushed it out. He had nothing to do with this. This was evil. The jealousy of a nigga. I could still see the evil smirk that nigga gave me as he fired off shots. It felt wrong. It actually hurt. I thought about all my people, knowing this was going to fuck them up. I can't leave my family man. Not like this.
There was a bright flash and I felt myself floating. All the pain was gone. Maybe it was just a bad dream. But as I continued to float, I realized how out of touch I was to reality.
Then, I was at these pearly gates. It was open and I couldn't really control the floating so I was carried right through the gates. Everything was white and shiny. Then I leveled off and stopped floating. I was standing there alone before I heard a laugh.

"Nipsey Hussle... what the fuck you doing up here?!"

I heard the voice and I knew. After so many years of listening to his music, I just never thought I'd hear him address me. Calling out my name and everything.

"Now Pac, you know you not supposed to use that language."
"Babygirl, don't trip. The big man knows I'm harmless."
"Mmm-hmmm. Hi Nipsey..."
"A-Aaliyah?"
"The one and only. I'm a big fan."
"A fan? Of me?"
"Oh yeah. Me and Lisa actually."
"Now back to my question homie... what you doing up here?"
"I don't know. Am-am I dead?"
"Aye, I know y'all ain't having no party without me, the B-I-G?!"
"Bro, are you ever gonna get tired of spelling your name like that?"
"Naw, never homie!"

Aaliyah, Tupac and Biggie are standing here in front of me. It was then that I knew, well guessed at least. This moment was amazing but once it sunk in, pain shot in my chest. I've left my family, my homies, my fans. This shit just wasn't fair. I wanted to cry. Hit something. Fight. But what good would it do?
Then the weirdest thing happened. I saw all my niggas. The ones I've lost as a jit. Of course they were still young so I saw them as I remembered them. I fell to my knees as I saw Jarell. My little homie didn't make it past nine. But there he was, riding the bike we used to always say we'd get if we ever got some money. He rode up to me.

"Nip! What's good?!"
"Damn Rell! What's good?"
"Shit, chillin!"
"Will y'all stop with the language?! Jesus!"
"Aye Mike man. Don't come over here with all that."

Michael Jackson! Standing right here in front of me! I can't believe it! Then I looked around and noticed a bunch of people walking up.
Prince, James Brown, Left Eye, Jam Master Jay, ODB, Eazy-E, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke... and so much more. Basically every music artist over the years was here. I wanted to savor the moment. But then I thought of my Boog. I looked down.

"Aye homie, what's wrong?"
"Boog..."
"Who?"
"Oh, he's thinking about his lady."
"No offense homie, but Lauren London is fine as hell!"
"PAC!"
"What? She is!"
"Don't mind him."

There was a bell and the sound of chimes. They all looked back before turning around and walking back towards a podium. I followed them, standing in the back. There was a man standing there in all white with a halo. I stared at him before they all moved to allow room for me to walk through. I walked up to the podium, the man with his arms out to me.

"Ermias 'Nipsey Hussle' Asghedom. It really is you."
"Where am I?"
"Well, it depends on what some choose to believe. You can call it Heaven. But some call it Paradise."
"So I'm dead?"
"Don't you want to be here?"
"I mean, it looks amazing up here. But, I-,"
"Didn't want to leave earth?"
"No. I want to be there for my family."
"Ermias, you've lived a full life. You've accomplished everything that you've set to do. What else would you do with the life that I gave you?"
"I want to travel the world... help people. Spread love, knowledge and hope to people who aren't as fortunate as I am."
"I've seen what you can do. How you can inspire and change people."
"Yes sir. I want to change the world for better."
"I normally don't do this... but I will for you. Stay or go?"