Few use their platforms to go back to where they come from and even fewer commit their lives to changing where they came from for the better. Nipsey Hussle was one of those few. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Nipsey grew up as a member of the Rollin’ 60s Crips until he began religiously pursuing his music career. Nipsey was committed to becoming self-made and worked to keep his name separate from record labels or other artists, no matter how lucrative the opportunities were. He put out his own music for years as an independent artist for years until his debut album in 2018, Victory Lap, in collaboration with Atlantic Records. But music wasn’t all he was doing.
Neighborhoods in south LA like Crenshaw rarely saw those who made it out return. Nipsey didn’t let that stop him, though. He became one of their biggest community leaders and activists by pouring dollars upon dollars along with his time and energy into creating a safer and overall better community for those living in Crenshaw. Nipsey was able to help start a complete change in the school system in Crenshaw. He started a STEM program to bridge the gap between Silicon Valley and inner-city students (Stidhum, 2018). He created Vector90, a collaborative workspace environment with areas to conduct business alongside STEM classes taught to younger students (Stidhum, 2018). The rapper even used his own store, Marathon Store, along with his profits from his Puma collaboration to donate $10,000 to a local elementary school (Pearson, 2019). But Nipsey also wanted to show his support for his people by leading them. Trayvon Martin’s parents were joined by Nipsey at the Peace Walk and Peace Talk rally, an anti-gun and racial profiling rally (Pearson, 2019). Detestation Crenshaw, an outdoor museum honoring African-Americans from Crenshaw, was also spearheaded by the rapper (Pearson, 2019). And the list goes on. Nipsey Hussle’s contributions will forever remain unable to be quantified—and that’s to Crenshaw.
Secondary to his claim to fame as an independent artist is Nipsey Hussle’s roots in Eritrea. Nipsey’s father had escaped the war in Eritrea like many Ethiopian and Eritreans for the last 25 to 30 years but took his son back when he was 18. Nipsey said that this trip ignited his passion for helping others and connected him back to his cultural roots, something he’d bring back with him to Crenshaw. The rapper channeled his roots in the work he began doing back home in LA by giving back the way his family in Eritrea taught him how and by honoring his country by praising it everywhere he went. That praise and pride is why his death rocked the lives of so many Eritreans and Ethiopians on March 31, 2019.
March 31, 2019 was a reeling date for so many in so communities. The hip-hop community, Ethiopian-Eritrean community and the list goes on. Nipsey Hussle’s death was a tragic day for many. But his work will never stop. His legacy will continue to live on through the children he put in school, the Eritreans he made proud, the citizens of Crenshaw, and those around the world who have been touched by his talent and love. The Marathon Continues.
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