Prior to American rapper Nipsey Hussle being shot and killed in Los Angeles, one of his last collaborations was the 2019 single "Racks in the Middle", featuring Roddy Ricch and record producer Hit-Boy.

[2][4][11] Roddy Ricch sings about Nipsey Hussle's personal impact on him as a fellow Angeleno on the hook,[5][6] questioning his faith and admitting he cried,[4][10] as his voice's tone changes.

[2] He sings and raps his verse, recalling the numbness he felt upon hearing the news, as well as offering individual condolences for those who were close to Nipsey Hussle and concluding by calling him his big brother.

[5][6][10] On January 27, 2020, "Letter to Nipsey" was released for digital download and streaming as a single in various countries, through Mill's labels Atlantic and Maybach.

[2][1] The 2020 Grammy Awards tribute to Nipsey Hussle opened with him and Roddy Ricch performing the song, during which Mill wore a blue suit.

[10] Sheldon Pearce from Pitchfork felt that the song is equally powerful to the Grammys performance and singled out Mill's unique ability to "rap about the pain of loss", providing a verse "striking in its plainness and clarity of thought"; he also praised Roddy Ricch's feature.

[5] Charles Holmes of Rolling Stone summarized the song as "a balancing act", with the two rappers attempting "to deliver an uplifting message amid tragedy and the sobering reality" of Nipsey Hussle dying at a young age.

[2] He noted that Mill utilizes his "patented yelp" and Roddy Ricch's "melodic sensibilities anchors [sic] the hook", with his voice "dip[ping] and soar[ing]".

[6] Paul "Big Homie" Duong of Rap Radar wrote that "the heart-felt track" features the rappers reflecting on Nipsey Hussle's death and "his legacy he left behind".