The Legacy of Nipsey Hussle
Late rapper Nipsey Hussle’s impact will live on.
Written by Mandie Meier
Photo Courtesy of Jorge Peniche via Forbes
On March 31, 2019, West Coast rapper Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed outside his clothing store in Los Angeles. Although Nipsey was best known as a “rapper,” he was known by his community as a leader, by his girlfriend as a protector, and to most people as an inspiration.
Nip got his start in the mid-to-late 2000s. His first mixtape was released in 2005, titled Slauson Boy. In 2008 and 2009, Nipsey released Bullets Ain’t Got No Name. The acclaimed mixtape trilogy landed him more applause and recognition. Nipsey was then featured on XXL “Freshman Class List” on April 1, 2010. The class featured other rap moguls such as J. Cole, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, Jay Rock, and more.
As part of the feature in XXL, he was asked what the next 10 years in hip-hop would be like. He answered, “My reign.” The next nine years of Nipsey’s life were nothing less.
In 2013, Nipsey notoriously released his eighth mixtape, Crenshaw, for a price point of $100. Overall, he made $100,000 in just one day from the mixtape. He was featured in Forbes for the mixtape, then later again in 2015 for his success without Epic Records. After his success with Crenshaw, he sold his 2015 mixtape, Mailbox Money, for a whopping $1,000 each as a part of the Proud2Pay campaign.
But Nip was far more than just a money hungry rapper. Rather than blowing his wealth on cars and jewelry, Nipsey used that money to invest immensely in his community.
Nipsey spoke openly about his past gang affiliation and how he moved forward from it. He didn’t glorify the violence. He simply told true stories of his life. Moving past this gang affiliation allowed him to stay in his neighborhood and eventually give back to the community that raised him. The Crenshaw neighborhood had a bad reputation, and he was determined to change that.
In 2017, he opened his clothing store called Marathon on Crenshaw and Slauson Avenue, a street that Nipsey was working to uplift. He hired felons who had trouble getting jobs after their convictions. This was just one of the properties that Nipsey bought in South Central Los Angeles. Others include a seafood market, Fatburger restaurant, and a barber shop.
He spoke publicly about his real estate investments as far back as 2006, when he stated that he wanted “a real asset to take care of my peoples. You know, [cars and jewelry] look good, but at the end of the day, it’s losing value. It ain’t appreciating, it’s depreciating.”
His commitment to his community wasn’t defined just by real estate. Nip helped found and later rapped about Destination Crenshaw, a billion-dollar project that created a 1.3-square mile outdoor space, specifically targeted to help grow the arts and culture of black Los Angeles. Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson was the main effort leading the project but Nipsey was one of his biggest supporters from the start.
Nip also invested time into the local 59th Street Elementary School. He donated shoes to all the students and renovated their basketball courts and playground. He also advocated for STEM programs at the school.
Beyond Crenshaw, the rapper has also spoken out about wider political issues. In 2016, he rapped on the notorious anti-Trump anthem “FDT.” At the time, Donald Trump was a candidate for the 2016 election. Due to Trump’s violent and racist rhetoric, YG and Nipsey decided to speak out. “Look, Reagan sold coke, Obama sold hope / Donald Trump spent his trust fund money on the vote / I’m from a place where you prolly can’t go / Speakin’ for some people that you prolly ain’t know.”
Nip finally released his most anticipated project, the debut album Victory Lap in 2018, featuring Diddy, Kendrick Lamar, YG, The-Dream, and others. The album received a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.
After his amazing year and a decade of grinding, he was finally getting the recognition he deserved. Nipsey was tragically taken from us while he was still young and thriving. He’s survived by his two children, Emani and Kross Asghedom, and his girlfriend, Lauren London, Kross’s mother. London broke her silence on Tuesday, stating she is “lost without him.”
A heap of public figures spoke out as well following his murder. These figures included LeBron James, Rihanna, Chance the Rapper, and many more. Kehlani, Drake and The Game were just some of the artists that planned to make projects with Nipsey in the future. Other artists have also pushed back their own musical releases out of respect for Nipsey. YG, ScHoolboy Q, Machine Gun Kelly, and others have all vowed to postpone their releases.
As his loved ones, collaborators, and fans grieve his loss, the conversation surrounding Nipsey Hussle has turned to his legacy. Friends and activists suggest that we can best honor him by dedicating ourselves to our own communities the way he did. If we can get out and provide sustenance for people in need, Nipsey’s spirit will continue past his life.