Los Angeles community celebrates Nipsey Hussle’s legacy

Rappers and activists alike share their favorite memories of the rapper and activist.

By: Michael Tseng, Brett Chody and Maria Takigawa

Tuesday marked one year since the sudden death of Los Angeles rapper and activist Nipsey Hussle.

Hussle was murdered on March 31, 2019, near his clothing store at West Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard in South Los Angeles. He was 33.

Hussle — a high school dropout from the Crenshaw neighborhood of L.A. — released his first album in 2006. Since then, he has been nominated for a Grammy twice and his last album, Victory Lap, sold over 53,000 units. Over the course of his life, he became a staple in L.A. rap culture and also an activist in his community.

Fellow rappers Snoop Dogg, Meek Mill and T.I., posted on Instagram to honor Hussle on the anniversary of his death. All three rappers worked closely on music with Hussle.

“We’ll take memories like these and lessons we learned from your life into eternity wit us King,” T.I. wrote on his Instagram.

Fans of Hussle have taken to Twitter to remember him, hashtagging their posts with “The Marathon Continues,” the name of the rapper’s infamous 2011 mixtape. One fan account, run by Jamelia Harris, posted a thread of Hussle’s motivational speeches.

Harris, who’s been a fan of Hussle since 2013, feels a special connection to him as his music encouraged her to stay positive during a tough time in her life, she said in a direct message on Twitter.

“Just to hear a rapper telling his story on how he made it from nothing just kind of made you want to learn more about him and study his jewels but for yourself to keep on going. Nipsey’s music gave us all sides, real truth.” Harris explained.

Actor James Davis, a friend of Hussle’s, posted an Instagram photo Monday encouraging fans to go live tonight and play his music to “turn up for [Nipsey Hussle].”

“Tomorrow we turning [Instagram] into Slauson & Crenshaw,” Davis wrote.

Hussle released his long-awaited album “Victory Lap” a month before his death. He won two posthumous Grammy Awards in January for two songs on the album: Best Rap/Sung Performance for “Higher” featuring DJ Khaled and John Legend and Best Rap Performance for “Racks in the Middle” featuring Roddy Rich and Hit-Boy.

USC sophomore Jose Vasquez has been a fan of Hussle since 2013 and was spending the day remembering the rapper’s legacy.

“I guess I’m just gonna bump his music all day as I do all my work and exercise,” Vasquez said via text message. “Keep ten toes down even with everything that’s going on… It’s what he’d do… just keep working.”

Los Angeles City Councilmember Herb. J. Wesson Jr. tweeted about Nipsey’s legacy and the impact the rapper had on the South Los Angeles community.

“He was a hero to so many. He was a father, a son, and an innovator,” Wesson Jr. wrote. “He was an incredible artist, entrepreneur, community activist, and so much more.”

Hussle is remembered as a resilient, motivated creator; a pioneer for his community.

Alex Lopez, an artist in San Diego, created a 4-by-5-foot portrait of Nipsey Hussle in honor of his one year passing.

“[The art] represents hard work, something that Nipsey Hussle lived by. It also represents perseverance, not giving up,” Lopez told Intersections via text message. “[Hussle] inspires me to be a better artist. To step out of my comfort zone… made me believe that anything is possible.”