Celebrating Nipsey Hussle

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 15: Rapper Nipsey Hussle performs at Hollywood Palladium on February 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Getty Images)

Imagine snagging a ticket to LA’s famous Staples Center for one of the most anticipated entertainment events of the year. Traffic is nauseating, security is tight, paparazzi and news media all around. There are thousands of people congregating eager to get a glimpse of an admired Grammy nominated community leader. Imagine the anticipation of entering the dimly lit arena to find a seat as the illuminated stage adorned with a huge screen, a harp, and thousands of roses and other flowers comes in to view.  

Now imagine that same energy and anticipation to attend the funeral of a loved one. So much energy for one last glimpse. This was the feeling in LA today as over twenty thousand fans, friends, fellow rappers, actors, and community leaders, and of course family members gathered at the Staples Center to celebrate the life of rapper, entrepreneur, community activist, friend, lover, father, son – Nipsey Hussle, or Ermias Asghedom as named by his parents. Not before or since the untimely death of Michael Jackson in 2009 has the Staples Center, home of the LA Lakers and the Grammy’s, hosted such an event.

The three-hour service was the final public outpouring of love from a family heartbroken over the tragic loss of their brightest star. It started with a photo montage of Nipsey in touching moments with friends, family, and the community set to Frank Sinatra’s My Way. Born on August 15, 1985, Nipsey passed at the young age of 33, but his life touched his community in ways that more than doubled his years. He was celebrated through musical tributes from Marsha Ambrosius, Anthony Hamilton, Jhene Aiko, and the ever so masterful Stevie Wonder, who stated the world is becoming blind because gun laws have yet to change. Nipsey lost his life to gun violence outside of his clothing store, The Marathon, in LA on March 31st.

Nipsey Hussle funeral

Nipsey’s life was further memorialized with speeches from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, Snoop Dog, and several members of his family taking the stage to pay homage to a life that was well lived with purpose. Karen Civil read a letter from Barak Obama, the 44th

President of the United States. And there were emotional moments from Lauren London, his long-term girlfriend, who read a loving text she sent to him in January reminding people to demonstrate love to loved ones while they are living. There were audible sobs from Sammy Asghedom, his brother, as he spoke candidly on how the life of his younger brother inspired his own way of living. He spoke directly to his brother by quoting the Nipsey lyric “if I die today I know I made the set proud”, to let Nipsey know that he made the world proud.

The ceremony concluded with touching eulogy from Pastor Shep Crawford emphasizing how the title of Nipsey’s Grammy nominated album “Victory Lap” was perhaps Nipsey’s premonition of his ultimate demise noting that victory laps happen at the end of the race.  

Nipsey Hussle is perhaps experiencing a meteoric rise in fame since his death with his album “Victory Lap” reaching number 2 on the Billboard 200 last week. There was also word that Master P, Jay-Z, and Beyoncé attended his homegoing services. After the service, a funeral procession will take Nipsey Hussle on his final ride, 25.5 miles through South LA, Watts, and Inglewood where fans will get one last glimpse at the man who was heralded in his community for being a man of the people. He will be laid to rest at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.

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10 comments
  1. This is an awesomely written article. They way you described the energy, the pomp and circumstances put me right there. Congratulations on this great great article.

    RIP
    Mr. Hustle
    Job well done son.

  2. I didn’t see the home going service but now after reading the article I feel that I must find time to see the greatness and love that was present. Thank you for the summation, great read.

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