Grammy nominated rapper Nipsey Hussle shot dead in South Los Angeles

Ermias Davidson Asghedom, better known by his stage name Nipsey Hussle was shot dead on Sunday, March 31, 2019. The Grammy-nominated rap artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist was 33.

His death was announced via Twitter by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. The shooting had taken place outside The Marathon Clothing, a store he owned on West Slauson Avenue, South Los Angeles. Two other people were injured in the shooting.

Growing up

Born on August 15, 1985, Nipsey Hussle overcame the obstacles of the unforgiving environment in which he was born. At the start of his career, he was a member of the Rollin' 60s, a notorious Crip neighborhood. 

He bought a strip mall on West Slauson Avenue which was a notable move to positively reinvest in his neighborhood. The Marathon Clothing store is also located there.

As an artist, he released his first mixtape Slauson Boy Volume 1, in 2005, fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a hip-hop artist. In 2010, his label deal with Epic Records went sour but soon released his 2013 mixtape Crenshaw independently. 

Talking about his marketing scheme with GQ in February, he said, 

"The marketing for the mixtape was that we only made a thousand units and sold them for a hundred dollars apiece. It was a scarcity model. Jay-Z bought a few copies, et cetera.”

He soon founded the record label All Money In. His 2018 album Victory Lap, earned him a Grammy nomination in the category of best rap album and featured artists like Daddy, YG, Kendrick Lamar, and Marsha Ambrosius.

Before death

Shortly before his death, he had tweeted, “Having strong enemies is a blessing".

It did not matter how far he went or how successful he became, Nipsey Hussle always remembered where he came from. In an interview with NPR Music, he said,

"If you check the stats, the murder rates and incarceration rates in the years I was a teenager in L.A., in my section of the Crenshaw District in the Rollin' 60s, none of my peers survived. None of my peers avoided prison. None of 'em. Everybody got bullet wounds and felonies and strikes. 

So to make it out mentally stable and not in prison and not on drugs, that's a win. That's a victory in itself. Then to be in the position I find myself in as an artist and entrepreneur who has respect around the world; that's legendary. And I say it in the most humble way.

When I reflect on it, it's unbelievable. It's gotta be evidence of a divine presence, because it wasn't that I'm just the smartest dude or just wiggled my way through. It had to be a calling on my life."

Nipsey Hussle is survived by his girlfriend of five years, actress Lauren London and their son Kross Asghedom, born in September 2019.

After the news spread, dozens of celebrities expressed their shock and condolences on social media.

Short Bio

Lauren London is an actress, model by profession, and American by nationality. She gained recognition with her performance in the film ATL and TV series 90210, Entourage, and The Game... Full Bio