Crenshaw is 2,000 miles from Detroit, but it has a lot in common with Detroit. Both are predominately African American hubs, where the crime rate is high, opportunities are few, and the love for Nipsey Hussle is abundant.
Born Ermias Asghedom, the 33-year-old father, son, brother, businessman, philanthropist, and rapper was tragically gunned down in front of his Marathon Clothing Store in Los Angeles Sunday afternoon.
Hundreds of fans and supporters decided to pay their respects to the slain rapper Wednesday night in Detroit. As the sun set on the downtown skyline, the crowd in Cadillac Square lit candles on the steps of the granite Bagley Memorial Fountain, released balloons, and danced to Nipsey Hussle’s songs during the candlelight vigil.
“Detroit is all about love and respect and we had to pay our respects to Nipsey Hussle,” said music video director Seno The Hero, who had the idea to have the vigil. “He was one of my favorites artists and a legend. He was an icon in hip hop and I want to thank Detroit for coming out tonight.”
Seno The Hero made the initial flier for the event and sent it to some of his influential friends in Detroit to get the word out. One of those people was party promoter Justin Floyd. He posted it on his Instagram, encrouraging the rap community in Detroit to show up, including rappers Snapp Dog, Stretch Money, Gmac Cash, and others.
“Tonight was a great look,” said Floyd, who hosted the vigil, equipped with a DJ. “It was important to show love to Nipsey Hussle and all he did for the hip hop community and his own community. We need a lot of that here in Detroit and his impact was felt here in our city.”
Known much for his business acumen, Nipsey Hussle invested heavily in his Crenshaw neighborhood, spearheading redevelopment efforts, opening a co-working space called “Vector 90” for entrepreneurs and launching a STEM program for L.A. youth in hopes of building a bridge between the inner-city and Silicon Valley. He also refurbished the basketball court at the elementary school in Crenshaw with Puma, and invested in an open air museum called “Destination Crenshaw,” dedicated to honoring African American artistic achievement. He was also known to provide jobs for and assist those in need in his neighborhood and co-owned the shopping plaza he was killed at.
“He was giving people jobs,” said Snap Dogg, who dedicated a song to Nipsey Hussle and filmed the video at the video. “He was opening up shops; I’ve seen this man take a man on the street and give him a job.”
“I see myself like Nipsey and I want to follow his same footsteps. I want to provide for my community, I want to let the kids know there is always a way, and to go to school. The streets is not what everybody wants. We don’t want our kids growing up in this. We want them to get up out of here.”
Police have said the suspect repeatedly came up to Hussle and spoke with him, then returned with a gun and opened fire before fleeing in a car driven by an unidentified woman.
That suspect, identified as 29-year-old Eric Holder, was captured Tuesday in Bellflower, a Los Angeles-area city about 20 miles southeast of where Hussle was gunned down.
Nipsey Hussle was killed a day before he was scheduled to meet with the L.A. police chief and commissioner about the relationship between officers and the inner-city.
He had plans to redevelop the shopping plaza on Slauson and Crenshaw Boulevard into a mixed-use commercial and residential complex. The plan was part of Nipsey Hussle’s broader ambitions to remake the neighborhood where he grew up and attempt to break the cycle of gang life that lured him in when he was younger as a member of the Rollin 60’s Neighborhood Crips.
Nipsey Hussle is survived by his two children, one whom he shared with his longtime girlfriend Lauren London.
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