Ermias Joseph Asghedom, better known as Nipsey Hu$$le came into this world on August 15, 1985, and tragically departed from this earth on March 31, 2019. Not to be confused with his namesake, the late comedian and poet Nipsey Russell. Nip was a prolific rap artist, which he had clearly written on his face, but he was so much more. He was an ambassador for the City of Los Angeles, as well as an ambassador for the West Coast Rap genre. Nipsey Hussle embodied Hip-Hop music, and one of his first missions was to sell Mixtapes under his “All Money In” record label independently out of the trunk of his car. Some Mixtapes even sold for $100.00 a pop, under his Proud 2 Pay campaign. All Money In Records would later team up with Atlantic Records, to cook up the famous Victory Lap album featuring the track Double Up ft Belly, Dom Kennedy which received a Grammy Award nomination in 2018, but Nip still planned to continue with his Proud 2 Pay campaigns.However, during his humble beginnings, Nip Hussle sold T-shirts, incense or whatever he could sell to make a profit. And he eventually showed signs of a true entrepreneur, when yet another business venture presented itself. This was for him to later become a clothing designer, with the assistance of older Brother Samiel Asghedom and their homeboy Bolt Da Fatts or more affectionately called Fatts from their neighborhood.
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- Later, Fatts was later tragically killed, but they had the strength to keep it moving. The Marathon Clothing store was later born. In fact, they bought the entire strip mall in their very own neighborhood on Crenshaw and Slauson. Unfortunately, it is the same location where Nipsey Hussle was assassinated on March 31, 2019. According to popular belief, Nipsey Hussle was killed because of jealousy and hate that was stirred up within his own neighborhood comrade. According to popular belief, Nipsey Hussle was killed because of jealousy and hate that was stirred up within his own community, just because he was successful. Unfortunately, this is something that has plagued many of our intercity communities throughout America for many decades. With high-profile defense attorney Christopher Darden, former prosecuting attorney in the OJ Simpson trial, officially off the Eric Holder case, the community is in outrage of all the evidence on video after his not guilty plea. Questions come to mind as to where the money came from in the first place for Darden to take the case. He says it’s pro bono, but anyone can do the math.But this time it’s different. They got someone trying to rebuild his community. On top of that he was a self-made man, not to mention a world class celebrity. Even though Neighborhood Nip was from 60s, he bled Purple and Gold. Nip and Loren could be seen often on the front row at Laker games. After Nipsey passed, the Los Angeles Lakers paid tribute to their fallen friend. Most ballers befriended Nip, such as James Harden and Russell Westbrook of the Houston Rockets, to this day Westbrook can be seen shooting practice hoops to Nip’s music.
The intersection of Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard will also be renamed ‘Nipsey Hussle Square‘ to honor Nipsey Hussle. This is the primary location of The Marathon Clothing store, which is famous for the signature Crenshaw T-Shirt and it remains one of the store’s biggest sellers, named after the famous Crenshaw Boulevard in South Los Angeles, California.
The famous Crenshaw Boulevard is ironically named after a banker and real estate developer named George Lafayette Crenshaw, who is responsible for building many residential properties and developments in mid-city Los Angeles and South Los Angeles areas in the early 1900s, who died in early 1937.
After Nip’s assassination however, The Marathon Clothing store had the parking lot covered with candles, plaques and banners to honor the slain Rapper and Entrepreneur. 
Many famous Rappers, Hip-Hop artists, Gangsters, Hustlers. Moguls and Business Owners came by to pay their respects.
Murals were also painted on many walls throughout the city of Los Angeles, as well as in the alleyway of the Marathon store. As a known gang member of one of the biggest gangs in Los Angeles, the Neighborhood Rolln’ 60s Crips, Nip would move differently.
He moved around all hoods, which most would consider dangerous because of known rivals. But Nip didn’t necessarily have any rivals, he had plenty of comrades and fans. And most would show Nipsey Hussle love, you could be just chillin’ at any random location in LA and then out of blue, there goes Nip.
This is a tremendous tragedy and loss of a family man, and we hurt just like we miss a loved one. But this hurt cuts harder, cuts deeper, and slices through the very fabric of the city of LA’s being.
Nip’s longtime girlfriend Lauren London was deeply saddened after that day but managed to pay her respects on Instagram days later after the shooting. Most people only dream of doing what Nip did, in the most notorious streets of Los Angeles, California. Particularly near the corner of Crenshaw & Slauson. The neighborhood which he called home. As an entrepreneur, Nipsey Hussle had enormous energy that was unmatched by any Harvard University graduate, or any other Ivy League College student. He had his hand in many pies, such as with Vector90, a co-working community and incubator, focused on developing underrepresented entrepreneurs within the urban sector, he helped to revitalize, reshape and Renovate World On Wheels Roller-Skating rink in Mid-Town Los Angeles, and some say he helped The Fish Spot attempt to survive. With ten toes down, Nipsey Hussle’s Mixtapes made all the noise in the hood. Just about any and all still bump Nip’s music throughout LA, and now America for that matter.
When Nip Hussle was fatally shot and killed in front of own property, it was a sad day indeed. He died one day before he was to hold meeting with the Los Angeles Police Department and Commission. The mission was to hold dialogue on how he could help community relations with the LAPD, as well as how to prevent Gang Violence within the City of Los Angeles. Just like what Snoop Dogg and The Game did back in 2016, with them holding a meeting with then Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti in a joint call for peace. However, even though Nip was advocating peace in the streets, it is reported that the LAPD was still investigating Nipsey Hussle when he shot. You took his life, but your memory he’ll never take. – ‘Scarface from The Diary Album.” During the Live showing of Nip’s memorial held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California at LA Live thousands came out to pay their respects. The program started with DJ Battlecat playing “Right Hand 2 God” and “Victory Lap”, followed by the one and only Marsha Ambrosius.
We heard profound stories from Nipsey’s Family, Nip’s Mother, Nip’s Father, Nip’s Brother, Nip’s Sister, Nip’s Soulmate Lauren London and his children. Words from Snoop Dogg, YG, DJ Mustard and songs from Jhene Aiko and Stevie Wonder. The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama even penned an open letter about Ermias. A lot will miss him within the Los Angeles community, and Hip-Hop culture in general. In fact, the entire world will miss Nip tremendously.
Today, the city of Los Angeles witnessed a powerful and profound moment that is destined to continue the Marathon movement. Literally thousands of people lined up to get a glimpse of Nipsey Hussle. Just as his silver Cadillac hearse carrying the casket of Ermias Asghedom as his funeral procession toured throughout the city from Watts to South Central Los Angeles, back to Marathon Clothing then to Angelus Funeral Home in the Crenshaw District. As Crips and Bloods from different sets came through to show nothing but respect for Nip Hussle. The effects of the Unity Meeting held previously was in full effect. However, peace still remained elusive for a few when bullets rang out in Watts at 103rd and Main Street during a drive-by shooting.
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Shooting after Nipsey Hussle’s funeral procession leaves 1 dead and 3 injured. Police Chief Michel Moore said this senseless killing has got to stop.” Not to sound too preachy, but one may say that there is no coincidence that Nipsey Hussle was assassinated at the tender age of 33. It was written that Jesus died at the age of 33 as well. They nailed him to a cross because his own community, the Jews said he was the self-proclaimed King of the Jews, or what they call the Messiah. The neighborhood politics dictated for Jesus to have a trader within his mists, and then he turned him over to be killed. Now, if you believe the story told for many millennia that this man, was or is the son of God, and the original plan was for him to die for all our sins. Again, not to sound too preachy, or compare Nipsey to Jesus Christ, but you believe what you wish to believe.
Though this entire experience tends to remind us of this man who died before, and he did nothing but good to his fellow man, within his own community. Yeah, they killed him too. Is this a coincidence, well you choose what you believe, but just know that on Nip’ Hussle’s bangin’ bonus track “Right Hand to God”, off the Victory Lap album, he said “I put my right hand to Jesus”. 
Which leads one to believe that he already made a pledge to get it done, and it was good. In fact, on 2Pac’s Makaveli album, “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory”, there is an illustration of 2Pac being crucified on the cross just like Jesus.
Is all this a coincidence, again you choose what you wish to believe, but these are powerful messages that both prolific artists have delivered. It just feels like a double echo to consider Ermias as a modern-day Tupac Shakur.
The fact remains for those who live in America, where the Blue and the Red hang on the very flag that is raised around public and private properties, and or institutions. This same flag is also represented at every football, basketball game or any other sport for that matter, yet America still kicks folks like Colin Kaepernick in the ass for taking a knee. Just because black lives matter.
Believe what you want to believe, but the very meaning of Ermias, is “God Will Rise”. Which is more than just about Crenshaw and Slauson, even though it’s all about Crenshaw and Slauson. But the entire nation can learn from this important lesson. It’s about moving different, and being different and calling your own shots, and owning your own business, just like Nip.
Because America’s Blue, is called the Democratic Party, and the Red is called the Republican Party. The bad example is what each party continues to show us, is just pure fuccery, right now in front of all our eyes. They’re fighting over a wall. A wall to keep Mexicans from coming into America illegally, yep that’s what their fighting over, a wall. The city of Los Angeles however knows much more about this. It wouldn’t be LA without Mexicans“ by 2Pac from the single “To Live and Die in LA“ from the Makaveli Album.” When Nipsey Hussle was senselessly gunned down by his own homeboy, countless Celebrities posted on Social Media networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Literally millions of people on Social Networks offered their condolences to actress Lauren London, Nipsey’s longtime girlfriend, his family, and friends. Even Big Boy from The Real 92.3 Radio Station cried Live on the air, that is when it hit home that LA had lost a true champion.
Nipsey was more than a just a Westcoast Rapper, Pioneer of the New G-Funk Era, Gangsta Rap, Reality Rap or whatever you want to call it. He was a Motivator and a Visionary that was known from Coast to Coast, and all that in-between.
Where 2Pac told us what we should be doing, Nipsey did it. He knew about becoming a landlord, and not succumbing to American programming, and settle to just get a good job. Nip was a Boss for real, believe it or not, his philanthropic principles are also held in high esteem.
About a week after Nip passed, the scene was surreal, there was a makeshift memorial with candles and many rival gang members fro OGs to Baby Gs gathered around to call a city-wide truce. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan even had the Fruits of Islam out in full force to provide security as everyone, Brown or Black, Crip or Blood payed their respects at The Marathon Clothing store on Slauson and Crenshaw Blvd. As many knew, Nipsey often read a lot of books, he was book smart just as much as he was street smart. And just as he honored the G-Code, he would recite quotes from books he read. One particular quote that Nip would often recite from a book he read is “The highest human act is to inspire”, and within this principle, Nipsey Hussle inspires the HussleNomics: Money, Ownership & Business Lessons Inspired by Nipsey Hussle book, by Ash Cash on paperback available on Amazon. The fact is, King Ermias rather Nipsey Hussle, delivered a very powerful message to LA, and all the inner cities across America. Own your own land, start your own brand, and make your own way without any handouts. Read a good book. Do the work and stop the violence. Ermias reminds us all that the almighty God is in us, and we can do anything that we put our minds to do. On Friday April 12, 2019 Ermias J. Asghedom was buried at Forrest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, California in a private ceremony for the family to pay their respects.“Now, rule two is a hard one: watch for phonies, keep your enemies close nigga watch your homies”. ― Tupac Shakur ~ From the from the single “Blasphemy“ from the Makaveli Album.”
I hope my story inspires everyone out there to keep hustling and chasing their dreams. – Nipsey Hussle
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But it’s not over, the legacy of Nipsey Hussle will live on for generations to come, to listen to his albums and MixTapes, rock his gear, and head his message. The Marathon Clothing store will unfortunately be forced to close indefinitely. They have switched their focus online. However, the very popular brand Puma has paid tribute recently selling out most of Nipsey’s signature clothing items at the Shoe Palace on Melrose in one of his most prominent deals he made before his untimely death. The Family also announced the Neighborhood Nip Foundation will so be underway, and they also have plans to build a Tower at the very Stripmall on Slauson and Crenshaw to honor Nip.
”Rest in Peace young Soldier. Salute !
It was nice meeting you King °•☆ RestInPower RIPNip – It still hurts y’all. #NipseyHussleMural °•☆#Socialbilitty #Entertainment #SocialBlog #EntertainmentEqualsDiversity #DiversityNews #DiversityisKey #DiversityinHollywood Period. #Allyway behind #TheMarathonClothing
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