Source: Neilson Barnard / Getty
It’s been roughly two weeks since the world lost rapper/activist Nipsey Hussle born Ermias Joseph Asghedom and we are still trying to process what happened. Today (Apr 11) the family, friends, fans gathered at the Staples Center and on the internet to say goodbye to late rapper.
It was a grand exit for the Grammy-nominated rapper who was considered a giant in his neighborhood to so many of the people who knew him and interacted with him. 21,000 mourners filled the Staples Center on Thursday to pay their respects to the late musician who was gunned down in front of his Marathon clothing store located in the South Los Angeles neighborhood he loved and did so much for.
The service which lasted more-than-three-hours featured speeches from Hussle’s loved ones including his mother Angelique Smith, father Dawit Asghedom, brother Samuel Asghedom, girlfriend Lauren London and others who shared detailed an intimate stories about Hussle’s life growing up as a young child into the man we knew him as. When speaking about her son, Smith stated her son had a special “power and “energy” but felt relieved knowing that he was enjoying heaven. His dad reflected on Hussle’s childhood describing his son as an “engine of positivity.”
His older brother Samuel while fighting tears while talking about his younger brother said to the audience: “I hope he knows I loved him and I was proud of him. I know he loved me,, man.”
Lauren London who shares a 2-year-old son with the late rapper pulled at heartstrings reading a text message she sent to Hussle in January while he slept that was included in the service’s program.
“I Want you to know I feel real Joy in my heart when I’m around you. I feel safe around you…Protected. Like a shield over me when you’re around.”
Before she left the stage, she added: “I’m so honored and blessed that I got to experience such a man.”
Close friends including Snoop Dogg, YG, DJ Mustard, and Karen Civil who tearfully read a powerful letter sent from former President Barack Obama. In the letter from Obama, he wrote: “He set an example for young people to follow ” and pointed out that Hussle saw “hope and “potential” in an area many wouldn’t.
Minister Farrakhan was also on hand to give a riveting speech but while delivering his words mistakenly kept referring to the rapper as Nipsey Russell. The service featured a live band, DJ who kept the celebration of the rapper’s life bouncing to Hussle’s music and featured live performances from Marsha Ambrosius, Anthony Hamilton, Jhene Aiko and the living legend Stevie Wonder.
It was a homegoing service fit for a king, hit the gallery below to see the reactions from Twitter to the #CelebrationofNipseyHussle. Rest in Peace Nipsey.
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Photo: Neilson Barnard / Getty
Family, Friends, Fans & The Internet Come Together To Celebrate The Life of Nipsey Hussle was originally published on hiphopwired.com
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What a strong young man! Young Cam #CelebrationOfNipseyHussle 💙🕊 pic.twitter.com/yKDEVepZ9g
— PRETTY HU$TLAZ (@PrettyHustlaz) April 11, 2019
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"If I die today, I know I made the set proud" Samiel Asghedom quotes his brother, Nipsey Hussle 🙏💙 #CelebrationOfNipseyHussle pic.twitter.com/yX3pdMN8cU
— Complex (@Complex) April 11, 2019
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Snoop Dogg...man...that was everything. #CelebrationOfNipseyHussle
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) April 11, 2019
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This is the most classy, emotional yet hood funeral I've ever witnessed & I am loving this.#CelebrationOfNipseyHussle
— aunt candi (@ceeloqueen_) April 11, 2019
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This is a real hood send off for a real ass hood nigga. Nothing is sensored. I love it 😭#CelebrationOfNipseyHussle pic.twitter.com/VIdEus5d8p
— Santelle 🍀 (@damonesk) April 11, 2019
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“For God so loved the world, he gave us a good crip!
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 11, 2019
The late, great, neighborhood Nip!” - Snoop Dogg #CelebrationOfNipseyHussle pic.twitter.com/1eanW5hVUT
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“He didn’t wait until he had 10 albums...he named his first album Victory Lap” That’s the lap that you take AFTER the race has been won...understand the divine thing happening: it was the road to the album that gave him the victory.” - @shepcrawford 🙌🏾#CelebrationOfNipseyHussle
— Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes (@GabbyCWilkes) April 11, 2019
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“What’s in you they can’t take away, and he’s in all of us” ~ Lauren London❤️😭 #CelebrationOfNipseyHussle pic.twitter.com/tDFNSolKoR
— skyerenaee✨ (@skyerenaee1) April 11, 2019
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Lauren London:
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) April 11, 2019
"THE MARATHON CONTINUES.'
We march on in memory ✊🏽#CelebrationOfNipseyHussle
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"You can't possess people, you experience them." - Nipsey's words to Lauren.
— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) April 11, 2019
SO. SO GOOD. And SO, SO REAL. #CelebrationOfNipseyHussle
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“Make sure when you go, you go the right way. You stand up for what you believe in. You put your money where your mouth is...” Samiel 🙏🏾#CelebrationOfNipseyHussle pic.twitter.com/Oy7AqTZpYR
— Wan (@sexywan) April 11, 2019
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Nipsey Hussle has one beautiful family! 😍🙏🏾 #CelebrationOfNipseyHussle pic.twitter.com/a1cSxCfwCf
— ESSENCE (@Essence) April 11, 2019
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I had to explain to my 20-something co-workers a while back that Nipsey Hussle's name is derived from Nipsey RUSSELL.
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) April 11, 2019
They were like, "Who's that?"
You're kidding, right? He spoke in rhymes, he was in The Wiz...
"What's the Wiz?"
Aaaand I'm done.#CelebrationOfNipseyHussle pic.twitter.com/UwQyhRmwvB
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Listen Farrakhan just fumbled
— (@MentionME) April 11, 2019
I Thank Nipsey Russell
..... and after that the BOUNCE BACK was impeccable!
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well, we gon’ make them minor jokes about the minister continuing to say nipsey russell … while also noting he got trained killers behind him.
— Brandon Caldwell (@_brandoc) April 11, 2019
both things can be true.
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Farrakhan keep callin him Nipsey Russell 🤦🏾♂️
— Mibbs O.E. (@mibbsOE) April 11, 2019
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The peace Nipsey's mother is displaying is beyond my own comprehension. She is calming me. Asè.#CelebrationOfNipseyHussle
— Johnetta Elzie (@Nettaaaaaaaa) April 11, 2019
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Until we meet again...the Marathon continues Lauren London to Nipsey Hussle 🏁💙#NipseyHussleMemorial #CelebrationOfNipseyHussle pic.twitter.com/OhlusiDNdH
— Nicole Perez (@nicole_perez1) April 11, 2019
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“He was a voice, he was a brilliant mind, and the spirit of God was in his life.” #CelebrationOfNipseyHussle
— Karen Civil (@KarenCivil) April 11, 2019
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It's evident that Nipsey Hussle was bigger than music and I'm happy the world gets to see just how much he meant to the community. You can make great music, but what mark will you leave on the world when you're gone? Nipsey embodied that ideology. #CelebrationOfNipseyHussle
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) April 11, 2019
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Minister Louis Farrakhan is preaching!!!! He said sometimes when you're soaring over your circumstances, it produces envy and hate from those who haven't learned how to fly! Somebody come pick me up off the floor!!! #CelebrationOfNipseyHussle
— The Dr.Kia! 📚 (@doctor_kia) April 11, 2019
