Nipsey Hussle
Ermias Joseph Asghedom (August 15, 1985 – March 31, 2019; born Airmiess Joseph Asghedom), known professionally as Nipsey Hussle (often stylized as Nipsey Hu$le), was an American rapper, entrepreneur, and activist. Emerging from the West Coast hip hop scene in the mid-2000s, Hussle independently released his debut mixtape, Slauson Boy Volume 1, to moderate local success, which led to him being signed to Cinematic Music Group and Epic Records.
Not to be confused with comedian Nipsey Russell.
Nipsey Hussle
March 31, 2019 (aged 33)
Murder (gunshot wounds)
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California, U.S.
- Rapper
- songwriter
- entrepreneur
- actor
- activist
2005–2019
Lauren London (2013–2019; his death)
2
Hussle became known for his mixtapes, including his Bullets Ain't Got No Name series, The Marathon, The Marathon Continues, and Crenshaw, the last of which American rapper Jay-Z bought 100 copies for $100 each. After much delay, his debut studio album Victory Lap was released in 2018 to critical acclaim and commercial success, and was nominated for the Best Rap Album at the 61st Grammy Awards in 2019. At the 62nd Grammy Awards in 2020, two posthumous Grammy Awards for the songs "Racks in the Middle" and "Higher" were awarded to Hussle in the Best Rap Performance and Best Rap/Sung Performance categories respectively.[1]
Outside of music, Hussle inaugurated the Marathon Clothing store, which he founded along with partners Carless, the head of the agency, Karen Civil, and his brother Samiel Asghedom in 2017, and started a co-working environment which he named "Vector 90". On March 31, 2019, Hussle was fatally shot outside his store in South Central Los Angeles.[2] Eric Holder, a 29-year-old man who confronted Hussle earlier that day, was arrested and charged with murder two days later.[3] Holder was found guilty of first-degree murder on July 6, 2022.[4] On February 22, 2023, Holder was sentenced to 60 years to life in prison.[5]
Early life
Airmiess Joseph Asghedom[6][7] was born on August 15, 1985, and raised in the Crenshaw District of South Central Los Angeles[8] by his mother Angelique Smith (née Boutte), an African-American woman, and Dawit Asghedom, an Eritrean war refugee who came to the United States after fleeing the Eritrean War of Independence.[9][10][11] He was raised with his brother Samiel[11] also known as Blacc Sam and his sister Samantha.[12] Asghedom attended Alexander Hamilton High School in the nearby Castle Heights neighborhood, and dropped out before graduating.[13]
At age 14, Asghedom left home and joined the local Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips, a sub-group of the larger Crips gang primarily based in his home neighborhood of Crenshaw.[14][15] In 2002, at the age of 17, Hussle joined Buttervision, a creative multimedia Digital Guerrilla movement led by Dexter Browne where he was part of the BV Boys Sampler, Beats & Babes Vol. 1 DVD, and Shades of Butter Vol. 1 DVD. He also got his name "Nipsey Hussle" there and complete the recording for his debut mixtape Slauson Boy Volume 1.[16]
His stage name, a play on the name of comedian and game show panelist Nipsey Russell, originated as a nickname given to Asghedom by a childhood acquaintance who respected his work ethic.[17] In 2004, when Asghedom was 19, his father took him and his brother Samiel on a three-month trip to Eritrea.[18] Asghedom credited the trip with inspiring him to become a community activist with an "entrepreneurial spirit".[9][19][20][14]
Music career
2006–2010: Bullets Ain't Got No Name series
In December 2005, Hussle independently released his first mixtape, Slauson Boy Volume 1, to moderate local success.[21] His debut project helped to build a small regional fanbase on the West Coast, and eventually led to Hussle being signed to Cinematic Music Group and Epic Records.[22][23][24][25] In 2006, he appeared as a featured performer on the final posthumous album by 2Pac, Pac's Life. In 2008, Hussle released the first two installments in his Bullets Ain't Got No Name series of mixtapes, which helped to bring Hussle's music to a larger audience.[26]
Acting
In 2007, Hussle played a small role in Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's semi-autobiographical film I Tried, which was directed by Rich Newey. In 2010, he starred in the film Caged Animal, alongside Ving Rhames, Gillie Da Kid and Robert Patrick.[90][91] In 2015, Hussle was featured in a cameo "The Sexy Getting Ready Song" in the pilot episode of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,[92] rapping two bars.[92][93]
Community activism
Hussle wanted to focus on "giving solutions and inspiration" to young black men like him.[94] He denounced gun violence through his music, influence, and community work.[95] He spoke openly about his experiences with gang culture.[96] Affiliated with the Rollin' 60s, he often performed and worked with rival Bloods-affiliated rappers to set an example.[97]
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.[98] Hussle started a co-working environment which he named Vector 90.[78] From his own experience, he believed that the Crenshaw area was being underserved and that young people would benefit from communal workspaces.[99] He wanted youths to be able to take classes in science, technology, and mathematics at the center.[100]
Hussle was also intimately involved in the planning and advisory stages of the Destination Crenshaw project that will showcase the history and culture of blacks in his neighborhood.[101] City Council member Marqueece Harris-Dawson said Hussle was in the earliest conversations on the project and was an integral part of the project's branding.[102] In March 2019, Hussle had contacted officials from the LAPD to arrange a meeting with him and Roc Nation about what they could do to help prevent gang violence in South Los Angeles.[103] The meeting had been scheduled to take place on April 1.
Hussle was murdered on March 31. According to Los Angeles Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff, department officials would meet with Hussle's representatives at a future date on these issues to continue the activist's work in his honor.[100]
Personal life
Hussle and actress Lauren London began dating in 2013. They had a son together in 2016.[104] London has a child from a previous relationship with fellow rapper Lil Wayne, while Hussle had a daughter from a previous relationship.[105][106][107] He remained very involved in South Los Angeles with his businesses, charitable activities, and the homes of family and friends.[108][109] The locations for a magazine shoot were in the neighborhood.[110]
Remembrance and tributes
A petition was started to rename the intersection of Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard near Hussle's store Marathon Clothing to "Nipsey Hussle Square". On the day of his funeral, the council announced it was set to be renamed Ermias "Nipsey Hussle" Asghedom Square to honor him and his contributions to the neighborhood.[84] There has also been a push from the community to name the nearby Hyde Park station after him, according to Metro. A ceremony dedicating the at-grade light rail station on the K Line to him and the Crenshaw community was held August 6, 2022.[146]
There was a strong artistic response to Nipsey Hussle's death. Within a few months, over 50 murals dedicated to the rapper were painted in the City of Los Angeles.[147][148] One mural is in an alley near the strip mall where he was killed.[149] Hussle's store has remained closed since his death.[150]
Hussle was honored with a star in the recording category of the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of Amoeba Music on August 15, 2022, the 37th anniversary of his birth.[151][152] Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson proclaimed the day Nipsey Hussle Day and handed the framed proclamation to Hussle's grandmother, Margaret Smith, who stood with Hussle's sister, Samantha, and his father, Dawit Asghedom.[153]
Inspired by the books that Hussle mentioned in interviews, songs and motivational messages, local chapters of the Marathon Book Club have formed.[154] The list includes self-help bestsellers, cult classics and little-known books by black authors.[155] Michelle Obama included "Hussle and Motivate" on her 2020 workout playlist.[156]
On April 2, 2019, NBA player Russell Westbrook notched the second 20-20-20 game in NBA history in honor of Hussle.[157]
On March 6, 2020, metal band Body Count released their seventh studio album titled Carnivore. The album features a song titled "When I'm Gone", which was written for Nipsey Hussle[158] by the band's singer and rapper Ice-T. The song features a spoken introductory part in which Ice-T says of Hussle, "the outcry of love and support after his death was incredible, but it inspired me to write this song." The song also features guest vocalist Amy Lee from the band Evanescence who is also credited by Ice-T as having co-written the song.[158]
Rapper Snoop Dogg released the tribute song "Nipsey Blue" which is dedicated to Nipsey Hussle in 2020.[159]
Rapper Big Sean announced the song "Deep Reverence" in honor of Nipsey Hussle.[160] The track was released in August 2020 and features Nipsey Hussle. The music video was released in March 2021.[161][162][163]
Puma released the Marathon Clothing collection in September 2019 with 100% of net proceeds to the Neighborhood 'Nip' Foundation.[164] The AMB store opened in September 2019 on Crenshaw Boulevard. This is another clothing company founded by Hussle with Cobby Supreme who was one of his best friends and an artist.[165]
Hussle's longtime friend and collaborator YG dedicated his performance at the 2019 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival to the memory of Nipsey Hussle.[166][167][168] At the 2020 Grammy Awards, DJ Khaled, Kirk Franklin, John Legend, Meek Mill, Roddy Ricch, and YG all gave tribute to Hussle in honor of his legacy.[169]
The season 2 premiere of The CW series All American included a candlelight vigil at Hyde Park with a eulogy by the character Flip Williams (played by Lahmard Tate). Tattoo artist Keenan Chapman painted a mural just for the episode. The series included "Grinding All My Life" in its pilot, and series star Daniel Ezra was a fan. Characters from the series wore clothes from the Marathon store. Hussle had planned to appear in the season 1 finale but had "scheduling conflicts".[170] A documentary on Nipsey Hussle is in development at Netflix, and is set to be co-produced and directed by Ava DuVernay.[171]
Rapper Kendrick Lamar paid tribute to Nipsey Hussle on the single "The Heart Part 5". The music video shows Hussle's likeness deepfaked onto Lamar's face as he rapped about his legacy following his death.