A year ago today (March 31st), the world lost Nipsey Hussle The Great. The rapper was shot and killed in front of his Marathon Clothing store in South Los Angeles. He was 33.
Since his passing, he won two posthumous Grammy Awards — and was also honored at the ceremony by DJ Khaled, Kirk Franklin, John Legend, Meek Mill, Roddy Rich and YG, murals have been dedicated to him in his hometown of Los Angeles and around the world, rival gangs have come together for peace talks, it was announced that the intersection of Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard near Hussle's store Marathon Clothing to “Nipsey Hussle Square”. Puma released the Marathon Clothing collection back in September with 100% of net proceeds to the Neighborhood ‘Nip’ Foundation. And there's also a group of men who convene in a cross-country book club to discuss books recommended by the rapper. In addition, Nipsey's production company, Marathon Films, and filmmaker Ava DuVernay are in talks with Netflix to produce about a documentary about the rapper.
On the impact of Nipsey, DJ Khaled told Billboard, “It shows you how powerful and great he is. He was so much of a blessing as a father, entrepreneur, an incredible artist and young mogul. We learned a lot from him, and we’re still learning. His music spoke volumes. It touched people in different ways. I was blessed to work with him.”
Karen Civil, Hussle's former business partner and co-founder of the Marathon Agency, said, “Everything he embodied and encompassed is living on through him. That’s the incredible part about him. He not only created change in his community, but all around the globe.”
Rapper Slim Thug said that Nipsey's music is Timeless,”You can go back and listen to his old music and find these gems just like you’re listening to on Victory Lap. He’s got so much old music I listen to. It’s timeless, because he’s a storyteller. His music doesn’t get dated. I hate that he’s not here in the flesh and seeing the praise he certainly deserves. A lot of people didn’t even know about him until he passed. I hate to see that he had to pass to get his shine.”
BIO
Early Life
Nipsey Hussle was born Ermias Joseph Asghedom on August 15, 1985 in Los Angeles, CA. He was raised by his parents Angelique Smith and Dawit Asghedom in the Crenshaw neighborhood of South Los Angeles, along with his brother Samiel and Samantha. He attended Hamilton High School but dropped out before graduating. At age 14, he left home and joined the Rollin 60's Neighborhood Crips. His stage name “Nipsey Hussle” was originally a nickname given to him by a chilidhood friend.
In 2004, at age 19, Nipsey's dad took him and brother Samiel on a life-changing trip to Eritrea for three months. Hussle said that the trip inspired him to become a community activist with an “entrepreneurial spirit”.
Career
In December 2005, Hussle released his first independent mixtape Slauson Boy Volume 1. The project helped him build a small regional fanbase on the West Coast — which led him to being signed with Cinematic Music Group and Epic Records. In 2008, Hussle released the first two installments in his Bullets Ain't Got No Name series of mixtapes. In 2009, Hussle collaborated with artists like Drake, Snoop Dogg, Problem, etc. He also released the third installment of his Bullets Ain't Got No Name mixtape series. He also released his first commercial debut single, “Hussle in the House”.
After leaving Epic in 2010, Nipsey formed his own record label All Money In. He was featured on the cover of XXL Magazine as one of its “Annual Freshman Top Ten” and LA Weekly called him the “next big L.A. MC”. Hussle was expected to release his debut album that year, but it was postponed indefinitely. Instead, he released his first Marathon mixtape, starting the Marathon mixtape series.
In 2013, Nip released his Crenshaw mixtape — selling 1,000 hard copies for $100 each. Jay Z personally bought 1000 copies. Nipsey sold out all 1,000 copies in less than 24 hours.
In 2017, Nipsey opened the “Marathon Clothing” store which he founded along with partners Steven Carless, Karen Civil, and his brother Samiel.
After much delay, in 2018, Nipsey released his official first album Victory Lap. It debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200, selling 53,000 album equivalent units in its first week. Victory Lap was also nominated for a Best Rap Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019, but lost out to Cardi B's Invasion of Privacy.
Community Activism & Entrepreneurship
Although Nip was known for his music and his entreprenuership, he was also known for his community activism. He funded improvements to neighborhood schools and spent time with students, also participating on panels about growing up in the area and the influence of gang culture.
Hussle started a co-working environment which he named Vector 90 because he felt that Crenshaw was under served and that young people would benefit from communal workspaces.
Personal Life
Nipsey started dating actress Lauren London in 2013. They had a son named Kross in August 2016. They were together until his death.
AUDIO
Al Sharpton on the death of Nipsey Hussle.
- “There are many things that one will remember about Nipsey, including his music, and there are many things I'm sure people will say for years to come. But one thing about his legacy, just one, that I will always raise is that we challenged many in the music world, even in the rap world specifically, to do positive things, to not promote negativism. No one symbolized and personified that more than Nipsey Hussle. And the reason it hurts all of us that he was taken from us is he was exactly what we needed, someone that mastered an art form but also used it to help master his community. It's too bad he was taken when he was taken and how he was taken. But I'm glad we had him and he set an example and showed others in his art that you need to go home. It may be dangerous but it's even more dangerous not to go home and help turn some of these young folks around, like somebody did for you.” (1:08 OC: . . .somebody did for you.)
YG says he can't accept Nipsey's death:
- “That sh*t ain't right. Homie supposed to be here. I got a big question mark on my life right now. I don’t understand how somebody like that, that really cared about people that he didn’t care about, make it out of sh*t that n***as don’t make it out of. Yeah, so I just feel like, how do God take somebody like that away from the people? I don’t get it. I just don’t get it. I'm not accepting it.”
Snoop Dogg compared Nipsey Hussle to Jesus Christ during a radio interview:
- “Look at the impact that he had, the same impact Jesus had. A lot of people didn’t know him, but they sure wanted to know about him once he passed away. Then once they found out about him, they understood what his legacy was about. Now, his legacy is living even bigger with him not being here. So that’s why I say, ‘I ain’t never seen Jesus, but I’ve been hearing about it. We gotta lot of faith in him and we know if you believe in him, this is gonna happen ’cause your grandparents and the Bible been giving you all this information. It’s like, that’s what he is.”
- Snoop continued, “When we gone, that’s what he gonna be like because you can’t touch him, you can’t see him, you only have images of him and his image look like Jesus. The bone structure, the eyes … I’m looking at him like, ‘Man, please.’ It is what it is.”
Lauren London accepts Grammy on the behalf of Nipsey Hussle:
- “I speak on behalf of our family, the all money in family in honor of Nip who was a phenomenal vessel. Nip did it not just for the awards but for the people and God allowed him to use thismusic to speaks his truth., give his wisdom and something we will be able to live with. . . .” Nipsey's grandma: “I'm the grandmother of Nipsey Hussle. And I wanted to thank all of you for showing all the love.”
In clip twenty seven, Nipsey's Grandmother and Lauren London accept the Humanitarian Award on his behalf at the BET Awards:
- “Everything has been said about my grandson that could be said. I was so amazed at how much love was out in the world for him that you up lifted me. I accepted his life as God said to me, Nipsey, you've done your job, you've left your mark. I'm welcoming you into heaven so you can rest. And I love you with all my heart and soul. Thank you so much for loving him too. I just wanted to thank you you guys for all the love and support and the marathon continues again.” (1:06 OC: . . .marathon continues again.)
