Nipsey Hussle

By Jasper Burnes ‘21

Some may have called him more of a businessman than a rapper or more of a songwriter than an entrepreneur, but Nipsey Hussle has held strong values of community activism that have been present throughout his life. Sadly, on Sunday, March 31st, Hussle was shot dead in South Los Angeles outside of a Marathon Clothing store in Crenshaw, the neighborhood where he lived and grew up. Crenshaw was one of the strongest parts of Hussle’s identity; throughout his rapping career, he continued to reside in his hometown and help sustain his community. Hussle advocated for his community in a variety of ways, such as his recently contacting the LAPD through Roc Nation in hopes of discussing ideas for preventing gang violence in Crenshaw. His loyalty to what he went through as a young man in Los Angeles, to his community, and to himself as a creator helped attract a passionate and loving fan base and community to surround him. His impact as a major influencer remained strong throughout his career.

From Hussle’s earliest interviews as a young, hungry rapper in L.A., his vision and determination showed clearly. In an iconic interview with Hard Knocks TV, he said: “All that is cool, but I’d rather invest in some real estate… Invest in some assets, as opposed to trick off my money on some liabilities like diamonds.” When asked about real estate, he said it’s “A real asset,” and that he’s “trying to take care of [his] people, ‘cause you know it look good, but at the end of the day you losing value.”

His understanding of what has true value in life is a mindset that he didn’t believe was shared across his community and that, once shared, would have an astounding impact on rap culture. Hussle believed that the current mindset is based around insecurity; in the same interview, he stated that “Material things ain't nothing—at the end of the day it’s who you is; you ain't born with it, and you’re gonna die without it. If you feel like you need some diamonds and jewelry to get at a female, then you must feel you lack something within yourself.” With a outlook of positivity and advocating for those around him, Nipsey Hussle was able to share this mindset of acquiring what has real value—as opposed to commercial value—with his listeners.

In a conversation with the Los Angeles Times, soon after being notified of Hussle’s shooting, Samiel Asghedom, his brother, said that Hussle would travel “in any ‘hood in L.A., Compton, Watts—solo with $150,000 of jewelry on his neck and [an] $80,000 Rolex with no security. That’s why the people loved him.” Hussle’s love for his community ended up being a cause for his shooting. His lack of security, though seemingly admirable, led to his death. His long-term dedication to the Crenshaw community is greatly acknowledged and will continue to be appreciated for the positive strides made in the neighborhood.

Rest in Peace, Nipsey Hussle, you will be missed.

Image Courtesy of Google Images