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,” 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.
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