The shooting death on Sunday of Nipsey Hussle, 33, born Ermias Asghedom, prompted celebrities and fans to celebrate his life and love for his Los Angeles community.
According to NBC News, the Grammy-nominated rapper was one of three people shot in front of his store, The Marathon Clothing, which is next door to several other storefronts he owned, including a barbershop and fish market. Hussle was shot multiple times in the parking lot and was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti confirmed via Twitter Hussle’s death.
Our hearts are with the loved ones of Nipsey Hussle and everyone touched by this awful tragedy. L.A. is hurt deeply each time a young life is lost to senseless gun violence. My Crisis Response Team is assisting the families coping with shock and grief.
— Mayor Eric Garcetti (@MayorOfLA) April 1, 2019
“Our hearts are with the loved ones of Nipsey Hussle and everyone touched by this awful tragedy,” Garcetti tweeted. “L.A. is hurt deeply each time a young life is lost to senseless gun violence. My Crisis Response Team is assisting the families coping with shock and grief.”
Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) also commented on the heartbreaking news.
“Nipsey loved his community and it showed. He was involved in many programs and projects to give back to South L.A., including Destination Crenshaw, which he worked on with Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson and others to honor our community with celebration and service,” Bass said in a statement obtained by EBONY. “Nipsey’s legacy will live on in all of those who continue to uplift, those who continue to inspire, and those who continue to lift as they climb. My heart goes out to his family and the community that loved and admired him.”
Fellow California natives Issa Rae, Tiffany Haddish, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar reacted to the death of the Victory Lap rapper.
“Watching Nipsey inspired me to invest and own in our communities,” Rae wrote before sharing a link to support Hussle’s clothing brand. “He was a solid man who loved his woman, his family and his community. This hurts.”
Other prominent figures including Drake, Rihanna, Diddy and Colin Kaepernick shared stories about the rap mogul’s positive energy and the impact of his reach when it came to Black ownership and supporting the community. Many also sent well wishes to Lauren London, Hussle’s girlfriend and mother of his son, Kross. The rapper also had a daughter, Emani, from a previous relationship.
Read below to see what several people had to say about the late rapper.
Beyoncé
View this post on InstagramI’m praying with every ounce of my heart for your family. Rest In Peace, Nipsey.
A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on
John Legend
RIP Nipsey. I just spent Thursday with him filming a video for a beautiful new song we created with Khaled. We filmed in Inglewood, close to where he grew up. He was so gifted, so proud of his home, so invested in his community. Utterly stunned that he's gone so soon.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 1, 2019
Issa Rae
His store: https://t.co/nUT4HcgUW0
— Issa Rae (@IssaRae) April 1, 2019
Diddy
Black ownership. Black love. Black wealth. God bless you and your family King. @LaurenLondon whatever you need we are here for you. My family is your family. 🖤
— Diddy (@Diddy) April 1, 2019
Colin Kaepernick
This is so painful! @NipseyHussle was doing great work for the people. Keep his legacy alive by carrying on his work! Sending love to his family. Rest in Power King 👑 pic.twitter.com/hE2MNibbZ7
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) April 1, 2019
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar paying his respects to his bro Nipsey Hussle. pic.twitter.com/iKc1am7j55
— Luis Chávez (@LC91LAKERS) April 1, 2019
J. Cole
Nipsey you a legend. I respect and admire your career path and what you did for the neighborhood. My heart broke today when I saw the news. I’m praying for your loved ones. This was sposed to be the year we got one in. God had bigger plans for you 🙏🏿
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) April 1, 2019
Ice Cube
Sad, mad and disappointed about my guy @NipseyHussle
— Ice Cube (@icecube) April 1, 2019
Jada Pinkett Smith
SZA
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Tiffany Haddish
Drake
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21 Savage
Real one after real one smh R.I.P Nipsey the solid morals you stood on and your legacy will last 4L!!
— Saint Laurent Don (@21savage) April 1, 2019
Chance the Rapper
RIP Nipsey man. This is tragic
— Chance Owbum 📅 (@chancetherapper) April 1, 2019
Meek Mill
Broke me…. we really fighting for our lives against our own kind and really have to take risk and match the level of hatred that we are born in .. I’m tired 🙏🏾 prayers for my brother and his family
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 1, 2019
Pharrell
You were about something..positive and for your community in every chance you had to speak..and because of that You inspired millions..millions who will uphold your legacy forever. rest amongst the stars. 🙏🏾 https://t.co/7gZ795wcQT
— Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell) April 1, 2019
Steph Curry
Travon
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Rihanna
Snoop Dogg
Bruno Mars
R.I.P Nipsey pic.twitter.com/gjMwgkwrMO
— Bruno Mars (@BrunoMars) April 1, 2019
Yara Shahidi
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Kevin Hart
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LeBron James
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Los Angeles Lakers
Artist. Activist. Angeleno.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 1, 2019
L.A. mourns the loss of one of our own, Nipsey Hussle. pic.twitter.com/7DovnRkayn
Wiz Khalifa
Me Spitta and Nip was all sleepin on couches when we linked up. This shit got me super sad.
— Wiz Khalifa (@wizkhalifa) April 1, 2019
Curren$y
They saw u building it up bruh.. chumps took the easy route cuz they never wanted to face you..too smart and powerful,people were listening to the message man. The Grammy nomination made u big bleep on the radar,U were using ur platform that scared em..the marathon must continue
— Spitta (@CurrenSy_Spitta) April 1, 2019
Ryan Destiny
Rest In Peace Nipsey Hussle. Thank you for spreading positivity and much much more. Sending prayers to his loved ones.
— RYAN DESTINY (@RyanDestiny) April 1, 2019
Ciara
Rest In Peace Nipsey Hussle. Prayers to all of his loved ones. This is truly so sad and unfortunate. Praying for more peace in this world. We all just need to love each other ❤️
— Ciara (@ciara) April 1, 2019
Idris Elba
RIP @NipseyHussle. Madness and Sadness.
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) April 1, 2019
Cardi B
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Ava DuVernay
I’ll remember him this way. Bright, genuine, forward thinking.
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 1, 2019
I’ll remember the beauty that he saw in our community. And the beauty that he was.
He loved us. He’s left that love with us. And it cannot die.
Rest in Power, King. You mattered. #FarewellNipsey pic.twitter.com/fiSvURrz3U
Nick Cannon
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Lenny S.
DJ Khaled
Noreaga
Lena Waithe
A lot of people don’t know this but he auditioned for Ronnie. He was so good he got a callback. We talked about the fact that he didn’t drink or smoke. He was so cool and sweet. His lyrics were vulnerable and gritty at the same time. This one hurts. #FarewellNipsey pic.twitter.com/hghjyqemVM
— Lena Waithe (@LenaWaithe) April 1, 2019
Fred T. Joseph
This is the man we lost in Nipsey Hussle. He loved his people and his community. #RipNispey pic.twitter.com/7skR9bgaDE
— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) April 1, 2019
