Nipsey Hussle was an activist, entrepreneur, and rapper from America. With every mixtape he released during his fourteen-year career, he gained more and more prominence, eventually emerging as one of the major figures in West Coast rap.
Nipsey Hussle was an activist, entrepreneur, and rapper from America. With every mixtape he released during his fourteen-year career, he gained more and more prominence, eventually emerging as one of the major figures in West Coast rap.
Nipsey Hussle was an activist, entrepreneur, and rapper from America. With every mixtape he released during his fourteen-year career, he gained more and more prominence, eventually emerging as one of the major figures in West Coast rap. As a result, his highly regarded debut album Victory Lap was released in 2018. His interests went beyond music, as evidenced by his 2017 opening of Marathon Clothing and his subsequent devoting of time to community action. Although his life was cruelly cut short at the young age of 33, his contributions and influence continue to be felt throughout the hip hop community and beyond.
Childhood
The birth of Nipsey On August 15, 1985, Ermias Joseph Asghedom was born in Crenshaw, Los Angeles, California, to African-American lady Angelique Smith and Eritrean immigrant Dawit Asghedom. Along with his sister Samantha and brother Samuel, he grew up in the South Los Angeles neighborhood of Crenshaw. He attended Alexander Hamilton High School but left before receiving his diploma. When Hussle was fourteen years old, he ran away from home and joined the Rollin 60’s Neighborhood Crips, a local gang that was located mostly in his Crenshaw neighborhood and was a part of the bigger Crips gang. He would subsequently, nevertheless, try to dissociate himself from the gang and devote a significant portion of his professional life to gang prevention. “None of my peers survived in my section of the Crenshaw District in the Rollin’ 60s,” he would later remark. Not one of my friends escaped prison. Not one of them. Everyone has strikes, felonies, and bullet wounds. Thus, it’s a victory to emerge from prison or drug use while psychologically well. Eventually, Nipsey’s stage name was derived from a play on the name of comedian Nipsey Russell, which began as a childhood friend’s nickname for him. His father accompanied him and his brother on a three-month journey to Eritrea when he was nineteen. He would later claim that the trip gave him the motivation to develop a “entrepreneurial spirit” and become a community activist.
Career in Music
To mediocre local popularity, Nipsey self-released his debut mixtape, Slauson Boy Volume 1, in December 2005. He joined with Epic Records and Cinematic Music Group. Hussle’s music gained a lot more recognition after he released the first two mixtapes in his Bullets Ain’t Got No Name series in 2008. His cadence was very different from the more pop-adjacent hip-hop that dominated the airwaves in the mid-2000s, but his style was defined by a fondness for the West Coast gangsta rap of the 1990s.
Nipsey’s career took off in 2009 when he worked with Snoop Dogg and Problem on the song “Upside Down” and Drake on the single “Killer”. He dropped “Hussle in the House,” his commercial debut single, and the third installment in Bullets Ain’t Got No Name. Despite receiving positive reviews from critics, the song did not chart well.
Following financial difficulties at Epic Records in 2010, Nipsey made the decision to depart and pursue his career as an independent musician. After that, Hussle had an appearance on the song “We Are the World 25 for Haiti” and was named the “Most Determined” student in his class for the XXL Magazine “Annual Freshman Top Ten” feature, which included ten up-and-coming hip-hop artists to watch. October 2010 was Hussle’s scheduled release month for his debut album, South Central State of Mind. Before the album’s release, Lloyd’s track “Feelin’ Myself” served as its lead single. J.R. Rotem, Scott Storch, Mr. Lee, Play-N-Skillz, Terrace Martin, and 1500 or Nothin’, featuring Trey Songz, Jay Rock, and Sean Kingston, comprised the album’s protection team. Nipsey also said that he and Jay Rock would be collaborating on a mixtape titled Red and Blue Make Green. The album’s release date was planned for December 21, 2010, following the release of the music video for “Feelin’ Myself”. Both initiatives, meanwhile, were ultimately put on indefinite hold.
Nipsey started his own record label, All Money In, after quitting Epic. His debut All Money In Records mixtape, The Marathon, featuring Kokane and MGMT, was released on December 21, 2010. On November 1, 2011, he released a follow-up mixtape titled The Marathon Continues, featuring L.A. rappers Dom Kennedy and YG. Crenshaw – Nipsey Hussle (2013), Mailbox Money – Nipsey Hussle (2014), 25/8 No Breaks – J Stone (2014), Boyz N Tha Hood – BH (2015), Slauson Boy 2 – Nipsey Hussle (2016), Neighborhood Watch – J Stone (2016), Victory Lap – Nipsey Hussle (2018), 6 Days – J Stone (2018), No Guts No Glory – Pacman Da Gunman (2019), The Definition of Loyalty – J Stone (2019), 60TH ST – Pacman Da Gunman (2019), Ground Zero – J Stone & Pacman Da Gunman (2020), Esta Loca Vida Mia – Pacman Da Gunman (2020), The Definition of Pain – J Stone (2020).
Rapper Blanco and Nipsey collaborated on the album Raw, which was released in April 2012 and included YG, Mistah FAB, Yukmouth, B-Legit, Kokane, and Freeway. Nipsey dropped the song “Proud of That,” featuring Rick Ross, in May of 2012. The song “Fountain of Youth” by Ross’ Maybach Music Group, which can be found on the label’s second album Self Made Vol. 2, also features him. October 1, 2012, saw the debut of the music video. Nipsey dismissed the speculations that he would be signing with MMG and stated that he was still searching for the ideal label to sign with.
The third and last chapter of The Marathon mixtape series, TM3: Victory Lap, was announced by Nipsey to be released in 2013 following a postponement from December 2012. He also declared that he and fellow West Coast rapper YG would be collaborating on a mixtape. Victory Lap became his debut album when he declined to join to a major label because he felt too restricted in his creative freedom.
In 2013, he started dropping singles off his upcoming mixtape Crenshaw, such as “Face the World,” which was produced by 9th Wonder, and “Blessings,” which was produced by The Futuristics and 1500 or Nothin’. Crenshaw would be a tribute to his upbringing in a close-knit, mostly black neighborhood of south Los Angeles. In September 2013, Hussle made the track list for Crenshaw public. Among the guests on the album were Rick Ross, Dom Kennedy, Slim Thug, James Fauntleroy II, Z-Ro, Skeme, and Sade. The Futuristics, 1500 or Nothin’, 9th Wonder, Mike Free, Ralo, and Jiggy Hendrix, among others, produced the mixtape. The Crenshaw documentary, which was released that day to promote the mixtape, was released alongside the record. He dropped a second teaser for the mixtape on October 3, 2013, and it created quite a stir when he disclosed that 1,000 physical copies of the mixtape will retail for $100 apiece, while digital versions would be distributed for free. Nipsey stated, “I tailor make my music for those who are listening, which is why I chose to charge $100 dollars each copy and only start with 1000 units.” Jay Z purchased 100 copies individually. It is believed that he made $100,000 after selling all 1,000 copies in less than a day. Nipsey also started seeing Lauren London in 2013, the woman who would end up being his lifelong spouse.
Following the release of Crenshaw, Hussle announced that Victory Lap will be out in 2014 and that Ralo, 1500 or Nothin’, The Futuristiks, DJ Mustard, Don Cannon, and DJ Khalil would all be producing the record. Hussle released a new mixtape, Mailbox Money, on New Year’s Eve 2014, selling 1000 hard copies for $100 apiece. The year passed with no additional releases.
In 2015 and 2016, Hussle collaborated with YG, Trae Tha Truth, and Jadakiss to give a variety of features. His second mixtape, Famous Lies and Unpopular Truth, was released in 2016. In response to Trump’s past attacks on Mexican immigrants in the US, Hussle released the song “FDT” (“Fuck Donald Trump”) alongside YG, which highlighted Hussle’s good encounters with these immigrants. Nipsey and Lauren London welcomed a boy together in 2016. Nipsey joined Atlantic Records in 2017.
Victory Lap, Hussle’s first studio album, was finally released on February 16, 2018, after a few delays. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and sold 53,000 album equivalent units in its first week of release. Critics praised the album for its overall excellence, and several of its tracks, such as “Dedication,” “Last Time I Checc’d,” and “Double Up,” made it into the Billboard Hot 100. Hussle made his chart debut as a lead artist with this release. In addition, the album received a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 2019 61st Annual Grammy Awards. After Hussle’s murder on March 31, the album reached a new peak of number two on the Billboard 200 in April 2019, more than a year after it was first released. After his passing, his song “Racks in the Middle,” which featured Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy, also achieved a new high on the Hot 100, peaking at number 44.
Career Away from Music
Long before he started recording music, Nipsey was working hard. When he was eleven, he used to shine shoes for $2.50 to help pay for his school clothes. His daily target is one hundred shoes. In his neighborhood strip mall, he used a car trunk to sell his mixtapes. In addition, Nipsey dabbled in unconventional marketing techniques like charging premium prices for mixtapes that contained tracks that were given away for free.
Inspired by his Marathon branding, Hussle co-founded the Marathon Agency in 2013 with Steve Carless, Karen Civil, and Jorge Peniche. The talent-based brand was intended to draw in a wide range of customers at different phases of their professional lives. Hussle made a significant initial investment in the agency.
On June 17, 2017, Nipsey inaugurated the Marathon Clothing store. It was vital to him to open the store in the Crenshaw commercial district because he wanted to invest in and create opportunities in his community, Hyde Park. Through an app, buyers would be able to access exclusive music and other stuff generated by rappers through the “smart store.” Eventually, Hussle would purchase the tiny shopping complex that housed his establishment.
Nipsey attempted acting as well. He appeared in a brief part in the semi-autobiographical film I Tried, directed by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, in 2007. He costarred with Ving Rhames, Gillie Da Kid, and Robert Patrick in the 2010 movie Caged Animal. He rapped two bars of “The Sexy Getting Ready Song” during an appearance in the 2015 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend pilot episode.
Nipsey was passionate about grassroots activism in addition to music. “Giving solutions and inspiration” to young black males like himself was what he wanted to concentrate on. He freely discussed his experiences with gang life and has consistently opposed gun violence through his songs, influence, and community engagement.
In addition to spending time with students and funding school renovations in the neighborhood, he also took part in panels discussing the impact of gang culture and growing up in the region. Convinced that communal workspaces would be beneficial for young people and that the Crenshaw neighborhood was underutilized, he founded a co-working facility that he named Vector 90. Inspired by Silicon Valley’s disruptive thinking, he wanted science, technology, and math education for children to be offered at the center. The Destination Crenshaw initiative, which will highlight the history and culture of African Americans in his community, was likewise closely planned by Nipsey. He had reached out to LAPD representatives to set up a meeting where they could discuss what steps Roc Nation and he might take to help stop gang violence in South Los Angeles. The date of the meeting had been set for April 1, 2019.
March 31 marked the assassination of Hussle. In order to carry on the activist’s work in Hussle’s name, Los Angeles Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff has stated that department representatives will meet with Hussle’s representatives at a later time to discuss these problems.
Demise and Heritage
At around 3:19 p.m. on March 31, 2019, Hussle was shot at least ten times in the South Los Angeles parking lot of his business, Marathon Clothing. The shooting also injured two more people. At 3:55 p.m., Hussle was declared deceased at the hospital. His age was thirty-three. Nipsey is interred in Southern California’s Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
The news of his passing shocked the entire world. Music enthusiasts, celebrities, and rappers all expressed their condolences. Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles, sent his condolences to the Hussle family. “While most folks look at the Crenshaw neighborhood where he grew up and see only gangs, bullets, and despair, Nipsey saw potential,” wrote Barack Obama in a letter recognizing Nipsey for his community work. Tickets for Hussle’s memorial event were given away free of charge on April 11 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. About 21,000 people watched the 25.5-mile funeral procession wind through South Los Angeles’ streets. YG honored his legacy with a 2019 Coachella appearance.
Since then, Nipsey’s legacy has only gotten bigger. A petition was created to rename the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Slauson Avenue as “Nipsey Hussle Square” in the vicinity of the Marathon Clothing store. The council declared on the day of his burial that Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom Square would be renamed in his honor and in recognition of his contributions to the community. Since his passing, Hussle’s store has not opened.
He was mourned by many via innovative art forms. In just a few months, the City of Los Angeles saw the painting of over 50 murals honoring the rapper. Local chapters of The Marathon Book Club have emerged, spurred on by the books that MC Hussle has highlighted in songs, interviews, and inspirational speeches. In observance of Hussle’s legacy, DJ Khaled, Kirk Franklin, John Legend, Meek Mill, Roddy Ricch, and YG paid tribute to him during the 2020 Grammy Awards. In September 2019, Puma unveiled the Marathon Clothing line, donating all net profits to the Neighborhood “Nip” Foundation. Another apparel company started by Hussle, AMB, opened its doors on Crenshaw Boulevard in September 2019. Netflix is producing a Nipsey Hussle documentary.
