More Than A Rapper: Remembering Nipsey Hussle
A rapper, a businessman, a humanitarian, but most of all Crenshaw community’s neighborhood hero.
Since Nipsey Hussle, also known as Ermias Ashgedom, gained his stardom, he has never failed to mention his love for his hometown, South Central, LA, and his plans to educate and invest in his community. In his first interview in 2006 with hip hop journalist, Davey D, Hussle shocked the reporter by stating, “I’d rather invest in some real estate.” When asked why he didn’t have on the diamond chains like his peers.
Sunday evening, Nipsey Hussle, was shot and killed in the parking lot of his clothing store plaza in Los Angeles, California. The news shocked the world, especially the hip hop community, because it was so unexpected. Many took to social media and speculated that the government had something to do with the murder. Their theories of this stem from Hussle announcing that he would soon be releasing a documentary that speaks on the life and works of Dr. Sebi, a man who claimed to cure AIDS in the 1990s.
The conspiracy theories flooded social media and, although no one really noticed, it took away from the fact that a great man’s life had just been stolen away from his family and his community. Nipsey did a lot in his community to help it become a better place for children of the future to grow up.
“Neighborhood Nip” was the perfect nickname for him.
Ashgedom had just recently purchased the entire plaza where he was killed. He said, in a Genius interview, that the owner of one of the stores wouldn’t allow people from the community to hang out around the place. The owner removed the seating so that customers would have to order their food and leave.
“I remember that being young and thinking, ‘How dare you?’ And now he’s our tenant,” Hussle said.
That was only one of Hussle’s investments in his community.
Nipsey and his business partner, David Gross, also has Vector 90, a coworking space and STEM incubator for young people to gain training, professional development and other tools to build their own businesses. The rapper was an advocate for bridging the gap between black kids and technology careers. He also worked with elementary schools and helped to bring STEM programs in the community.
Hussle had many other businesses in the Crenshaw area, including a seafood market, a barbershop, and a Fatburger. All of his businesses helped the community in some way whether he hired local homeless people to supply them with jobs or gave hope to the kids who came to his business often.
Residents of the community recanted through social media to tell of all the wonderful things Nipsey did for their community. A woman left a comment on the rappers clothing page, The Marathon Clothing, to tell of a story about Nipsey and her husband, a street light engineer. Her husband would always speak about Nipsey but he was not aware that he was a rapper, as he always called him a business owner in the area. He told her of how he always did special things for the kids and people in the community like giving out food, money, any resources he could. When he found out the rapper was killed, he called his wife in tears and said, “No one has ever treated me so kindly and respectful as he did, on any job I’ve done.”
The death of Nipsey Hussle goes beyond his music. His spirit and actions were felt throughout the country as he displayed his community efforts publicly. He was an activist that wanted to bring better life and opportunities to the African-American community but his work in his community was the start. Although he is known for his music, he will always be remembered for doing the groundwork to ensure a better life and neighborhood for the Crenshaw residents.
Kierra Black, Junior, Clark Atlanta University, MMA Major
