LIFE & LEGACY: Massive Memorial for beloved rapper, philanthropist, community icon Nipsey Hussle

By Mona Austin Nipsey Hussle's name was formally entered into the U.S. Congressional record on Wednesday, April 10 ahead of his public memorial in Los Angeles. Not since the deaths of West Coast rappers Easy E and Tupac has the Hip Hop community paused to reflect on the impact of the lives of the musicians in the genre as it has with the passing of Hussle. A former member of the Crips, his tragic loss to gun violence led to rival gangs uniting. and people all over the world reflecting on his remarkable legacy.

On Wednesday, California Democrat  Karen Bass, who  represents the South Los Angeles community of slain Los Angeles rapper Nipsey Hussle, submitted his good deeds to the community on the Congressional record, ensuring his work is officially minted into U.S. history.    Today his Celebration of Life service will be held at the same place the late Michael Jackson's funeral was held, the Staples Center and will be streamed live on BET. The service is open to the public and all 21,000 seats are expected to be filled. Tickets to the service were made available online and sold out quickly.

Hussle, whose birth name is Ermais Asghedom, never performed at Staples, but will take his final bow there as family, fans, and friends gather to pay their  respect to a man who was embraced as a star in his Crenshaw community, destined to generations to come. 

Remarked Bass on the House floor, "Nipsey Hussle used the platforms he created with his music to lift our community as he climbed." For all he was given he gave back and for that legacy South Los Angeles will be changed forever."

BET will broadcast the service live at 1 PM/EST (10 AM/PST).  The line-up of speakers has not been announced.  The death of the Grammy-award nominated rapper impacted people from around the world pouring out their love and support on social media, including numerous celebrities. There will be high security on the grounds provided by both the Nation of Islam and LAPD. Nipsey was gunned down in front of his Marathon clothing store in the Crenshaw neighborhood on March 31 in broad daylight. His life was not suppose to end this way. A day after his death he planned to have "peace talks" with the LAPD that he once avoided while gang-banging with the Rollin 60s Crips. He was jumped in by choice at 14 for money and survival. He tried to save the same streets that entrapped him as a teen dodging cops and bullets. A "champion of the people," the artist was known to help the homeless and hire ex-offenders. He gave back through philanthropy and educating his people about making investments into their future. Standing as an accessible mogul in "the hood," he did not just talk about making change, he did it, by planting seeds in the community and never leaving. Most recently he created a space for STEM students to gather and encourage business incubation. Friend and business partner Herman Douglas said, "All the stuff we did was so he wouldn't have to die like this. He died trying to save less fortunate people."

As an entrepreneur Hussle had purchased nearly a block of real estate in Crenshaw and converted it to stores and restaurants, all a part of a budding business empire that included All Money In Records. That intersection where his strip of businesses sits, and where his bulleted body laid, will be named in his honor.  Los Angeles City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson announced on April 9 that the intersection of Crenshaw Blvd. and West Slauson Ave. will be named Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom Square.  Hussle was working with Harris-Dawson on the Crenshaw Project, a community improvement effort.

The councilman wrote of the hometown hero in a statement:
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.

The rough neck with a passion for progress fell for actress Lauren London.  They shared a son together, 2 year-old Kross and he had a daughter from a previous relationship.

To sum up his life and  legacy, Hussle perhaps said it best himself in the lyrics of "Victory Lap" the title song from his 2019 Grammy-nominated CD: "I'm an urban legend, evidence of a divine presence."  Nipsey Hussle, dead at the age of 33. UPDATE: The 44th President of the United State, Barack Obama wrote a condolence letter acknowledging what he meant to the community which was read at Hussle's funeral.