Photo Credit: CPA/BestImage
Rapper Nipsey Hussle’s death has shaken the hip hop community with around the clock coverage and tributes online. The mainstream media conveniently has had more important things to cover. This comes as no surprise because as Sirius radio host Sonnie Johnson said, he represented capitalism and that goes against the narrative of a dependent and needy black community. Then Conservative media hasn’t spoken about him for being in a gang, despite the fact he was working to change gang culture from the inside.
Hussle’s family was struggling to find an event venue for his memorial service large enough to hold all of his supporters. They were turning down venues seating 2,000 people in favor of one that would hold 15,000 which has lead them to the Staples Center next Thursday. To show the extent of the importance of this event, the Staples Center is the same venue to hold Michael Jackson’s memorial service. Sources have said a “spectacular” service is being planned for slain rapper Nipsey Hussle, whose real name is Ermias Asghedom.
His 88 year old grandmother spoke to CBS Los Angeles about how she found out Nipsey had been shot. She says she was home with his brother Samiel Asghedom when he was called about what happened. “He got the call and he ran out of here so fast. He never did that in the morning,” she shared. “Right away, I called his mother. I said, ‘Angel, something must have happened.’ I said, ‘Samiel jumped up, he didn’t take his shower, he got out of here so fast. Sammy got up there soon enough to start helping his brother. Ermias knew Sammy was there before he died.”
His death has even caused area gangs to come together in solidarity to acknowledge a good person who actually helped their community passed. A peace march was held Friday in Crenshaw not far from where he had been gunned down. Leaders from Watts, Compton, L.A. and Inglewood all met up for a ceasefire. It was the first march of its kind since the 1992 riots. It was said to be the first of a call by the gang leaders to show more unity starting with that march.