Remembering Nipsey Hussle

It was a clear, sunny afternoon on the corner of Crenshaw and Slauson in Los Angeles on March 31, but the mood quickly turned sour. At about 3:25 p.m., three men were shot outside a Marathon Clothing store, including rapper and store owner Nipsey Hussle. Half an hour later, Nip was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

He was only 33 years old.

Born Ermias Asghedom, the rapper made waves throughout hip-hop as an artist and owner of his own record label. His 2010 mixtape, “The Marathon,” and 2013 mixtape “Crenshaw,” both helped put Nip in the national spotlight. In 2018, he released “The Marathon,” which was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2019 Grammy’s.

Hussle used his music to, above all else, motivate people from his community. On “Dedication,” featuring Kendrick Lamar, Hussle raps, “These songs just the spirituals I swam against them waves with/Ended up on shore to their amazement.” Nip sees his personal struggle in connection with the history of slavery and black Americans, and views the work that he and his peers are doing as the continued fight against injustice.

On 2017’s “None of This,” Nip describes the hard work that he and his peers have had to go through to achieve the success they wanted. “We never gone lose if we handle this business/Took a turn on the road to the riches/Left my heart in the curb in the trenches/Everything that I want is expensive/And it came with a lot of conditions.” Despite the hardships facing his community, Nip devoted his life to giving those around him a chance at something better.

But Hussle was much more than a West Coast rap icon. The artist invested heavily in his community, working to promote positive change and provide opportunities for local youth. On top of owning Marathon Clothing, Nip also invested heavily in the Marathon Agency, which promotes a variety of artists of color.

Nip was also an outspoken advocate against gang violence. In his lyrics and his actions, Hussle worked to eliminate gun violence in his community. He had a meeting scheduled with LAPD for April 1, the day after his fatal shooting. Los Angeles Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff has said that the meeting will still happen at a later date.

There was no better symbol of the reach and influence the rapper had than at his funeral. A massive crowd filled the Crenshaw area, as the procession covered 25.5 miles. This led up to a memorial service held at the Staples Center. Other rappers and celebrities shared their memories of Hussle, and even former President Barack Obama sent a letter which was read aloud.

“While most folks look at the Crenshaw neighborhood where he grew up and see only gangs, bullets, and despair,” the letter read, “Nipsey saw potential.”

A petition was also started to rename the intersection of Crenshaw and Slauson in honor of the late rapper and entrepreneur. It was announced at his funeral that the block would be renamed Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom Square.

Hussle’s legacy is going to live on through his music, his fans across the country and above all else, the members of his community he engaged with. Nip is going to be remembered as far more than a rapper, but as a person who cared for those around him and believed in using his platform to elevate others.

On “Hussle and Motivate,” the late rapper dropped perhaps his most inspiring lyrics. On the track, from last year’s album “Victory Lap,” Nip states, “I just respected the game, now my name all in the news/Trippin’ on all of my moves, quote me on this, got a lot more to prove.” Though his time was cut short, Hussle certainly proved to be an incredible influence on countless people.

In honoring Nipsey Hussle, we should all think to live like he did: with devotion to our community, and an effort to improve the world for those following in our footsteps. We should pursue our passions, care for those around us and strive for greatness.

Though Nip may be gone, the marathon continues. Long Live Nipsey Hussle.