I pay attention to politics and technology.

The visionary rapper and entrepreneur Nipsey Hussle, whose life was cut short yet whose voice continues to echo with power, once said: “I pay attention to politics and technology.” Though brief, this declaration carries a wisdom that reaches far beyond the streets he came from. For in naming politics and technology, Nipsey revealed his understanding of the two forces that most powerfully shape the destiny of peoples and nations. To ignore them is to walk blindly; to pay attention is to equip oneself with foresight, strategy, and strength.

Politics governs the structures of power — who rules, who decides, who eats, and who hungers. It is the unseen hand that touches every home, shaping laws, opportunities, and freedoms. By saying he paid attention, Nipsey was reminding his generation that to turn away from politics is to surrender one’s future into the hands of others. The ancients knew this well: Plato warned that the price of refusing to engage in politics is to be governed by those less wise than oneself. Thus Nipsey, like a modern philosopher, called for vigilance, for the understanding that politics is not distant, but personal.

The second force he named was technology. For Nipsey, this was not merely fascination with gadgets, but recognition of the transformative power of digital systems, networks, and innovation. He himself invested in smart businesses, digital platforms, and community ventures that harnessed technology to uplift rather than exploit. He understood that in the modern age, to ignore technology is to fall behind, and to master it is to shape the flow of wealth, knowledge, and culture. Just as fire once gave the ancients power over darkness, so does technology now grant humanity power over the modern world.

History confirms the union of these two forces. Consider the story of the printing press, born in the time of Johannes Gutenberg. This single piece of technology transformed politics across Europe by spreading knowledge, weakening the monopoly of kings and priests, and empowering common men to read, think, and question. Those who paid attention thrived; those who dismissed it were swept aside. Nipsey’s insight echoes this eternal truth: politics and technology are not separate, but intertwined engines of change.

Even in his own life, Nipsey embodied this wisdom. He invested in STEM education for youth, built coworking spaces in underserved neighborhoods, and encouraged his community to become not merely consumers of technology but creators. At the same time, he spoke openly about political structures — systemic injustice, economic inequality, and the need for reform. He paid attention because he knew that awareness leads to empowerment, and empowerment leads to freedom. His legacy stands as proof that attention is the first step toward transformation.

The lesson for us is clear: we too must pay attention. Do not drift through life ignorant of politics, for its laws and decisions shape your world whether you notice them or not. Do not be careless with technology, for it is the tool that will either enslave or liberate depending on who wields it. Watch, learn, and engage. Seek to understand not only how systems work, but how you may use them for the good of your community and the generations yet unborn.

Therefore, O seekers of wisdom, heed the words of Nipsey Hussle: “I pay attention to politics and technology.” Let your eyes be open to power, and let your hands be skilled in tools. For to pay attention is to claim agency over your life, and to neglect these forces is to surrender it. Stand awake, stand wise, and use both politics and technology not for selfish gain, but for the building of communities, the uplift of the weak, and the shaping of a more just and enduring world.