April 11, 2019 

By Kimberlee Buck 

Contributing Writer 

 

The death of legendary rapper, Nipsey Hussle, shook the South Los Angeles community and broke the hearts of many fans across the U.S. 

 

Since the murder of Hussle, many fans and local residents have held candle light vigils and celebration of life events around the city of Los Angeles to pay their respects to the rapper and philanthropist. However the largest and most historical event of them all was the unity walk orchestrated by rival gangs.

 

 On April 5, gangs from Watts, Compton, Inglewood and the Los Angeles area called for “peace in the streets” to honor the life and legacy of Hussle. Rival gangs marched in solidarity from a local Crenshaw grocery store to the rapper’s Marathon clothing store located in the Crenshaw district where he was shot to death allegedly by 29-year-old, Eric Holder.

 

To date, this is the largest gang peace rally since the 1992 L.A. Uprising!

 

“We [had] a gang truce and rally so all the different gangs from L.A. [could] get together and celebrate the life and the gift of Nipsey,” stated community leader, Big U in a statement to Vibe.

 

“It’s a lot of people who were calling who said they wanted to get together and come to the vigil and pay respect. Nipsey was the first real L.A. artist that was from L.A. -- not like Tupac [who] was from somewhere else and then L.A., and Biggie [who was visiting L.A. when he was murdered]. Nipsey was the first like real L.A. artist to die the way he died. He didn’t have no conflict with nobody, he wasn’t beefing with nobody.”

 

Tributes throughout the City

 

The South Los Angeles community will continue paying tribute to the fallen rapper by naming a piece of the city after him. On Tuesday, April 9 Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson announced the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and West Slauson Avenue, would be named Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom square after the legend.

 

 

“Ermias Asghedom known as “Nipsey Hussle” was an icon and West Coast hero,” said Harris-Dawson.

 

“Nipsey’s genuine nature allowed him to be a light to everyone he interacted with from family, friends, fans, and his larger community.  As a father, brother, and son, Nipsey was a rock helping to build an empire that will continue through generations. Nipsey will always be remembered for delivering a pure, authentic Los Angeles sound, his numerous philanthropic efforts, his innovative, community-focused business mindset, and his humble heart. ”

 

As of press time, the petition for the name change has received over 500,000 signatures.

 

Councilmember Harris-Dawson also stated that the Los Angeles City Council would hold a meeting and go on public record to discuss the various contributions Hussle made to the community, local residents and the world.

 

Residents in the South Los Angeles community will have the opportunity to say their final farewells to Hussle as he makes one last victory lap before being laid to rest.

 

On Thursday, April 11, Hussle’s casket will travel though some of the city’s most notable landmarks as well as the rapper’s Marathon clothing store. The procession is said to cover over 25 miles and will take place after the memorial service held at the Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles.  

April 04, 2019 

By Kristina Dixon 

Contributing Writer 

 

A true man of the people, Ermias Asghedom, famously known as rapper, entrepreneur and philanthropist Nipsey Hussle, 33, was shot and killed at his South Los Angeles smart store, The Marathon Clothing, in the heart of Hyde Park on Sunday, March 31. Hussle was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, two others were wounded in the gunfire.

 

Hussle, an Eritrean-American, was a South Los Angeles native who grew up in the Hyde Park area. He had close and meaningful relationships with community leaders and was well loved by neighbors. He was very active and generous in the community. You could find him eating at the local health restaurant Simply Wholesome, donating to the homeless and at his clothing store signing shirts and taking photos with fans.

 

He was a community partner in the upcoming Destination Crenshaw art installation, he also inspired the name of the project. Hussle was a partner at the Crenshaw community workspace, Vector 90. He often gave back to LAUSD students, providing shoes and renovating the basketball courts and playground at 59th Street Elementary School. And a March Against Gun Violence at Crenshaw High School in 2014 with Los Angeles City Councilmember, Marqueece Harris-Dawson (District 8).

 

 

 

More than a rapper, many believed he was a business man first. He is remembered by neighbors for selling his mixtapes out of the trunk of his car on Crenshaw Boulevard. Hussle utilized his love for technology to release his music as an independent artist, streaming his music for sale through the internet. His first mixtape “Slauson Boy” sold for $5, compared to his “Crenshaw” mixtape which sold for $100. Jay-Z was one of his $100 customers, which sparked a nationwide growth in popularity. He accomplished his goal of selling 1,000 physical copies for $100 each. (He sold out in less than 24 hours.) He received his first Grammy nomination earlier this year for Best Rap Album for his first studio album “Victory Lap.”

 

 

At The Marathon Clothing store, you could find his brother Sam, and close friends working behind the counter and folding the famous ‘Crenshaw’ shirts. Nipsey bought the Fatburger restaurant, a barbershop and a seafood market in the shopping plaza and surrounding plazas.

Sources say he had plans to knock it down and "rebuild it as a six-story residential building atop a commercial plaza where a revamped Marathon store will be the anchor tenant.’’ His goal was to provide employment and resources for local residents.

 

As a leader in West Coast hip-hop, Nipsey left behind a catalogue of mixtapes with lyrics of hope, encouragement and motivation. He inspired a generation of independent artists. He told stories of struggle, survival, self-love, success, hardships and fear of God. He was one of us, he rode the “108 to the blue line.”

 

 

 

Through his music, he was able to bridge gaps between neighboring Crips and Bloods in South Los Angeles. Despite having past ties to gang culture, Hussle rose against diversity and worked with many east coast and local rappers. He was well respected and featured with the likes of YG, Dave East and Snoop Dogg to name a few.

 

 

In 2016, Hussle and rapper YG released the protest song "FDT,'' short for "[Expletive] Donald Trump,'' criticizing the U.S. President's policies when he was the Republican presidential candidate.

 

This week, he was scheduled to have a meeting with Los Angeles Police Department for reducing gang violence in the community at the Roc Nation office. Hussle was also in the works of creating a documentary on the late Dr. Sebi and his health practices.

 

 

NBA star Steph Curry tweeted, "God please cover and restore Nipsey Hussle right now!!!’’ "Watching Nipsey inspired me to invest and own in our communities,''

 

 

Emmy-nominated actress Issa Rae, also from Los Angeles, wrote on Twitter. Snoop Dogg posted a video of himself and Hussle together on Instagram, and posted a second clip sending prayers to the rapper's family. Hussle’s last tweet was “Having strong enemies is a blessing.”

 

 

 

He leaves behind two children, Kross Asghedom and Emani Asghedom, his fiancé, actress Lauren London and a legacy of fans inspired by the concepts of ownership, generational wealth and entrepreneurship.

 

 

 

 

His murder is under investigation and funeral services have yet to be announced.

 

  

 

April 04, 2019

 

Nipsey loved his community and it showed. He was involved in many programs and projects to give back to South L.A., including Destination Crenshaw, which he worked on with Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson and others to honor our community with celebration and service. Nipsey’s legacy will live on in all of those who continue to uplift, those who continue to inspire, and those who continue to lift as they climb. My heart goes out to his family and the community that loved and admired him. Nipsey Hussle’s legacy will live forever in Crenshaw.” – Congressmember Karen Bass

 

“Sadly, we have lost another good brother to senseless gun violence. Our community mourns deeply and our spirits ache, but I have no doubt we will prevail as a unified community and get through these trying times. My prayers are with the Crenshaw community and the family of Nipsey Hussle as well as the other two young brothers that were injured in the shooting. The legacy of Nipsey will undoubtedly leave a positive ripple effect for generations to come. – Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., Executive Publisher Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper & L.A. Watts Times Newspaper, Founder/Creator of Taste of Soul Family Festival

 

 

“Nipsey Hussle represents the enormity of the lives that we have lost, and I felt that as I looked at that message from L.A. Fire that told me we had 3 additional shooting victims that had just occurred at Slauson and Crenshaw. And I began that message as I was reading it, standing on the street, exactly where I was at, and then I saw the name Nipsey Hussle and I looked at that again and looked at that again it was like, I could not believe it.  It just drove the added violence even just that more severe.  So, I am devastated with that because this was a voice that was trying to help and was investing in his communities.” – LAPD Chief Michel Moore

 

“Our hearts are with the loved ones of Nipsey Hussle and everyone touched by this awful tragedy. L.A. is hurt deeply each time a young life is lost to senseless gun violence. My Crisis Response Team is assisting the families coping with shock and grief.” – Mayor Eric Garcetti

 

“Ermias Asghedom, known to us as the hip-hop artist Nipsey Hussle, was a father, businessman, entertainer, and inspiration to many. We mourn his sudden and tragic passing and send his family our deepest condolences.” – Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas

 

“We are all devastated by the tragic death of Nipsey; he felt like family to so many people,” said Councilmember Harris-Dawson. “He was an artist, an investor, a visionary, a father, partner, son, and brother. We want to honor him in a way that represents the fullness of his humanity and his contributions to South LA and the world. We are working closely with his family to ensure their wishes are honored.” – Councilman Marqueece Harris – Dawson

 

“The tragic and senseless death of the man we knew as Nipsey Hussle is an enormous loss to our community; not just because of his talent as an artist, but because of his commitment to his community.  He understood the importance of economic empowerment and self-determination and the importance of giving back to the community from which his talent was born.  He understood that he was able to succeed by standing on the shoulders of the giants of community activists who came before him and paved the path to his success. Now we must stand on his broad shoulders and finish what he started.” – Michael A. Lawson, president and CEO, Los Angeles Urban League.

 

“The entire community has come to a standstill. We are all in shock and deep mourning, not because of what Nipsey accomplished as an individual, but because he is such an integral part of us. He visioned and built for us.  He gave his light, his creativity, and his genius to us....for the collective. To ride for him, means to carry on that legacy, to be prolific, to be collective in our work, to be in it for the marathon. His work cannot die with his body.” – Dr. Melina Abdullah, Professor and Chair of Pan-African Studies at California State University, Los Angeles, #BlackLivesMatter organizer

 

“Rest in Love Nipsey. I am an admirer of your wisdom which will now be part of your legacy. My heart bleeds for all those who love him. Stay strong @laurenlondon, He’s an angel on your shoulder now.” – Jada Pinkett Smith

 

“F–k. My whole energy is just at a low right now hearing this. We just linked for the first time in years and said we were gonna do a new song this summer cause it had been too long. You were having the best run and I was so happy watching from distance fam nobody ever talks down on your name you were a real one to your people and to the rest of us. I’m only doing this here cause I want the world to know I saw you as a man of respect and a don, Rest easy my g.” – Drake

 

“This doesn't make any sense! My spirit is shaken by this! Dear God may His spirit Rest In Peace and May You grant divine comfort to all his loved ones! I’m so sorry this happened to you Nipsey Hussle.” – Rihanna

 

“I got to know him last year and had a great conversation about who he was as a person, what he stood for, what his message was. Tried to inspire people, considering where he grew up. And how he turned that into something extremely powerful. Represented an entire city. Definitely sad, sad, tragic event.” – Steph Curry

 

“I’ll remember him this way, bright, genuine, forward thinking. I’ll remember the beauty that he saw in our community. And the beauty that he was. Rest in Power, King.” – Ava DuVernay

 

“He was a staple and the backbone of the community...a father, a boyfriend, a brother, a son, A man...what he has done for his people will never be forgotten and I can only pray that everyone who had the blessing to meet him, felt his true spirit and inspiration.  Prayers go out to Lauren, his kids, his family, Sam, Jorge, Archer, Adam, J roc, David and everyone else he touched and impacted...and I pray everyone remembers his true message… ‘the marathon continues’” – Nicolas Maye

 

“RIP Nipsey. I just spent Thursday with him filming a video for a beautiful new song we created with Khaled.  We filmed in Inglewood, close to where he grew up. He was so gifted, so proud of his home, so invested in his community.  Utterly stunned that he's gone so soon.” – John Legend

 

“So, so, SAD man!! DAMN man, this hurt.”. – LeBron James

 

“Our hearts are heavy over the loss of our brother, Nipsey Hussle. Rest In Peace. Our thoughts, love and prayers to his family and friends.” – Jay-Z

 

“You were about something positive and for your community in every chance you had to speak and because of that, you inspired millions who will uphold your legacy forever. Rest amongst the stars.” – Pharrel Williams

 

“RIP Nipsey man. This is tragic.” – ChanceTheRapper

 

“This is so painful! @NipseyHussle was doing great work for the people. Keep his legacy alive by carrying on his work! Sending love to his family. Rest in Power King.” – Colin Kaepernick

 

“I’m feeling so f–ked up right now.” R.I.P Nipsey. Condolences to your family. WTF!! Can we please stop!!!” – Dr. Dre

 

“I’m so sad right now I’ll just reflect on the good times we had.” – Snoop Dogg

 

Nipsey Hussle is survived by his mother, grandmother, brother, life partner and actress, Lauren London, his daughter, Emani Asghedom and son, Kross Asghedom. The Marathon continues, rest in peace Nipsey Hussle.