Nipsy Hustle
*Nipsey Hussle was born on this date in 1985. He was a Black rapper, entrepreneur, and community activist. Born Ermias Joseph Asghedom, he was the son of Angelique Smith, a Black woman, and Dawit Asghedom, an Eritrean immigrant. He was raised in the Crenshaw neighborhood of Los Angeles with his brother Samiel and his sister Samantha.
At 14, he left home and joined the local Rollin 60's Neighborhood Crips gang. His stage name is a play on the name of comedian Nipsey Russell. Originated as a nickname given to him by a childhood friend. He attended Hamilton High School in the Castle Heights neighborhood but dropped out before graduating. In 2004, at 19, his father took him and his brother Samiel to Eritrea, East Africa, for three months. He credited the trip with inspiring him to become a community activist with an "entrepreneurial spirit."
In 2007, Hussle played a small role in Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's semi-autobiographical film I Tried. In 2010, he starred in the film Caged Animal; in 2015, Hussle was featured in a cameo "The Sexy Getting Ready Song" in the pilot episode of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, rapping two bars before abruptly stopping and commenting in the middle of the production. His music discography list included: The Marathon (2010), The Marathon Continues (2011), Crenshaw (2013), Mailbox Money (2014), Victory Lap (2018), Hussle and actress Lauren London began dating in 2013. They had a child together, born on August 31, 2016. London has a child from a previous relationship with fellow rapper Lil Wayne, while Hussle had a daughter, Emani, from a previous relationship. He was very involved in Los Angeles with his businesses, charitable activities, and the homes of family and friends.
On March 31, 2019, Hussle was shot multiple times in the parking lot of his store, Marathon Clothing. Two others were wounded in the shooting. All three victims were transported to a hospital, where Hussle was pronounced dead. He was 33 years old. Police identified 29-year-old Eric Holder Jr. as a suspect. Investigators believe Holder was known to the rapper and that the shooting was possibly motivated by a personal matter. On April 2, 2019, Holder was apprehended by the Los Angeles Police Department. Nipsey Hussle is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Southern California.
On July 6, 2022, Eric Holder Jr., the gang member, was convicted of murder in the 2019 slaying.
