Los Angeles rapper, community activist, and entrepreneur Nipsey Hussle was killed yesterday, March 31 – shot in front of his Marathon Clothing Company store in Hyde Park. He was 33.
Nipsey, who was born Ermias Asghedom in 1985, grew up in Los Angeles’ Crenshaw neighborhood. His rap career began in earnest in 2005 with the release of Slauson Boy Volume 1 – the first of a prolific streak of mixtapes. The success of his tapes led to collaborations with mainstream artists like Drake, Snoop Dogg, DJ Mustard, Kendrick Lamar, and more. He was also a frequent collaborator with fellow L.A. rapper YG.
After releasing more than a dozen mixtapes, Nipsey made his studio album debut in 2018 with Victory Lap. Nipsey envisioned the album as what he considered “timeless hip-hop,” infusing g-funk and classic west coast hip-hop sounds with modern sensibilities and a features list that extends from Diddy and The-Dream to Lamar and YG. Victory Lap was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2019 Grammys.
Nipsey was also a community activist and entrepreneur, owning and building up multiple businesses and restaurants in Crenshaw. His goal was to give back to the community where he first got his start. In 2018 he also opened Vector 90 – a co-working space and STEM education center.
"I just want to give back in an effective way," Nipsey told the Los Angeles Times in 2018. "I remember being young and really having the best intentions and not being met on my efforts. You're, like, 'I'm going to really lock into my goals and my passion and my talents' but you see no industry support. You see no structures or infrastructure built and you get a little frustrated."
Nipsey’s death has seen an outpouring of tributes from the Los Angeles community as well as his musical peers like Rihanna, Lamar, Cardi B, Swizz Beats, Pharrell, Dr. Dre and more. Join us in remembering his life and legacy through some of his music below.
