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All his life, Nipsey Hussle was all about vision. Living up to his stage name, Nip relentlessly embraced the hustle in his pursuit of a better life for himself and his community. From his humble objective of earning extra bucks as a child to his altruistic goals of lifting up his Los Angeles ‘hood, Nipsey never stopped dreaming and scheming.
His fantasies weren’t relegated to daydreams; in his short life, Nipsey left a tangible imprint on music, art, business, and social development. The mortal husk of Nipsey Hussle may be no more, but the power of his grand vision endures.
Quick Facts
| Birth Date | August 15, 1985 |
| Birth Place | Los Angeles, California |
| Nick Name | Neighborhood Nip, Thundercat |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Siblings | Samiel Asghedom (brother)
Samantha Smith (sister) |
| Children | Emani Asghedom (b. 2009)
Kross Asghedom (b. 2016) |
| Most Successful Songs | “Racks in the Middle” (feat. Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy)
“Dedication” (feat. Kendrick Lamar) “Last Time That I Checc’d” (feat. YG) |
| Net Worth | Estimated value of $8 million (at the time of his death in 2019) |
| Major Awards | 2x Grammy Award winner (Best Rap/Sung Performance for “Higher” with DJ Khaled and John Legend; Best Rap Performance for “Racks in the Middle” feat. Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy)
1x platinum certification (Victory Lap) |
| Last updated | June 28, 2022 |
Early Years
Nipsey Hussle was born Ermias Joseph Asghedom on August 15, 1985, in Los Angeles’ Crenshaw district. (The name Ermias means “God will rise.”) His mother, Angelique Smith, is of African-American descent, while his father, Dawit Asghedom, came to the U.S. after fleeing war-torn Eritrea, an East African country. Ermias had an older brother, Samiel Asghedom, and a younger sister, Samantha Smith.
Dawit and Angelique divorced in 1987, but both would play an integral part in the development of the future Nipsey Hussle. While young Ermias was raised by his mother, his father remained a constant presence in his life. Most notably, Dawit took his two sons to Eritrea twice (first in 2004, then once more in 2018). Ermias would later attest that the 2004 trip lit the fire of community activism that would characterize his legacy.
Before Ermias worked for the betterment of his community, he first had to learn how to establish himself. As a kid, he admired how his big brother Samiel earned money from several “hustles.” Samiel’s example pushed Ermias to find different sources of cash flow: shining shoes, selling ice cream, and mowing lawns were among these. The diverse revenue generation of young Ermias was a precursor to the fervent entrepreneurial spirit that Nipsey exuded in his career.
Around the same time that Ermias was discovering multiple streams of income, he was also falling in love with rap music. Ermias took a special liking to the young duo Kriss Kross, who attained commercial success at the onset of their teenage years. (He was somewhat disheartened, however, when he grasped the reality of the steep price for recording equipment.)
At the age of 11, Ermias got his first taste of recording music; using the microphone and computer set of a neighbor, he rapped over Snoop Dogg‘s 1997 single “Tha Doggfather.” And when Ermias was 12, his mother enrolled him in a weekly Los Angeles program that taught him the fundamentals of music production. Slowly but surely, the creative persona of Nipsey Hussle was taking shape.
Life on the Streets
However, Angelique Smith was less than thrilled with her younger son’s immersion in gang culture. At the age of 13, Ermias had joined the notorious Rollin 60’s Neighborhood Crips to find better prospects for income generation. While Ermias did increase his earnings (thanks to drug dealing opportunities that the Rollin 60’s provided), he inevitably got involved in the other aspects of the so-called “gang-bangin’ culture.” Seeing the influence of this culture on her son—including, among other things, dropping out of school and carrying several guns with him—Angelique kicked Ermias out of her house.
Ermias then went to live with his grandmother. Ironically, his new home was situated in a neighborhood that was more deeply immersed in the gang lifestyle. Still, Ermias kept his eyes on the bigger picture: his ambition to become a successful recording artist. Using the rap name Concept, Ermias started recording music with his childhood friend Evan “Rimpau” McKenzie (first at Watts Towers, then at Rimpau’s house).
The two buddies would go on to team up with an emcee named Brian Todd Collins (later known as Kid Ink) to form the group Stranded Minds. Yet another close associate—a man who went by the moniker Baby Gooch—was responsible for giving Ermias the name by which the world could come to know him: Nipsey Hussle.
An Underground Legend Emerges
Nipsey was off to the races in 2003 when he self-distributed his first mixtape (the aptly titled “Fuck tha Middle Man”) within his neighborhood. In 2004, before going off to Eritrea with his father and brother, Nipsey joined other Crenshaw-based rappers in the compilation project The Crenshaw District Clawstraphobic Mixtape. Nipsey would also join his friend Rimpau in a local group called Hood Unit, which dropped three mixtapes before going their separate ways.
In 2005, Nipsey released the mixtape Slauson Boy Volume 1. In this project, the influence of West Coast gangsta rap (particularly the unique humor of fellow Rollin’ 60s member Snoop Dogg) was unmistakable. Though the mixtape did modestly in terms of distribution, it did catch the attention of record labels.
In 2008, Nipsey signed with Epic Records (which would later include Future, 21 Savage, and Travis Scott in its roster of artists). During his two-year stint with Epic, Nipsey released the three installments of his Bullets Ain’t Got No Name mixtape series.
In these three projects, Nipsey painted a vivid picture of the gang-bangin’ lifestyle that pervaded his community. Though more hip-hop fans came to appreciate Nipsey’s music with the release of these mixtapes, the Bullets Ain’t Got No Name series hardly made a dent on the charts or the airwaves.
Nipsey rubbed shoulders with the industry’s finest in 2009 and 2010. He appeared on Drake’s 2009 track “Killer,” which was published on the Canadian rapper’s OVO blog. Nipsey also teamed up with his childhood idol Snoop Dogg on the song “Upside Down” (off Snoop’s 2009 album Malice n Wonderland).
In 2010, Nipsey was featured in the Annual Freshman Top Ten of XXL Magazine—a list that also included J. Cole, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, and Jay Rock. That same year, he joined the powerhouse cast that produced the single “We Are the World 25 for Haiti.”
The humanitarian message of the song (which was intended to push relief efforts after a devastating earthquake wrecked the island nation) was perfectly aligned with the selfless community service that Nipsey would come to espouse.
All Money In The Marathon Commences
Ever the creative mind, Nipsey established his very own platform for releasing music with the 2010 launch of his record label All Money In. This launch was punctuated by the December 21 release of the mixtape The Marathon, which became his first project to enter the Billboard 200 chart. Curiously, on the Kokane-assisted track “Mr. Untouchable,” Nipsey rapped: “High till we die, so it’s motherfuck a detox.”
Though “Detox” happened to be the title of Dr. Dre’s much anticipated third studio album, Nipsey claimed that this line was not a diss aimed at the legendary West Coast producer. (Nevertheless, Nipsey made a posthumous appearance on the 2022 Dr. Dre song “Diamond Sign,” along with Ty Dolla $ign.)
Nip dropped the sequel to The Marathon (entitled The Marathon Continues) in 2011. The following year, he released TMC: X-Tra Laps; and collaborated with Blanco on the album Raw. He would also team up with Florida rapper Rick Ross—first on his single “Proud of That,” then on the track “Fountain of Youth” by Ross’ Maybach Music Group.
In 2013, Nipsey dropped the mixtape Crenshaw, which came in at no. 63 on the Billboard 200—his best-performing project at that point in his career. The mixtape featured guest appearances from Rick Ross, James Fauntleroy, and Dom Kennedy.
In a rather unorthodox move, Nipsey ran a campaign in which he would press 1,000 copies of Crenshaw to be sold for $100 each, even though the entire tracklist could be downloaded for free online.
Nipsey’s risky strategy paid off, as he made $100,000 from the campaign. 10% of this amount came from rap mogul Jay-Z, who bought 100 copies of the mixtape.
2014-2016: Still No Studio Album
Around this time, anticipation started to build toward the release of Nipsey’s first-ever studio album. At one point, it was slated for a 2014 release, but this did not come to fruition. Nevertheless, Nipsey dropped new material at the very end of that year: the mixtape Mailbox Money, which was released on December 31.
There was no album release for the next couple of years, either; he would stick to mixtapes (2016 releases Slauson Boy 2 and Famous Lies and Unpopular Truths) and guest appearances (on songs by artists like Jadakiss and YG).
Notably, Nipsey appeared on the audaciously titled “FDT” (which stands for “Fuck Donald Trump”), a track off YG’s 2016 album Still Brazy. YG later claimed that the U.S. Secret Service tried to block the release of Still Brazy due to the lyrics of “FDT” (which takes unambiguous shots at the then-candidate Trump).
“FDT” reached the number 50 spot on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart, and, after the victory of Joe Biden over Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential elections, the song reached no. 1 on iTunes.
Marathon Clothing: A Spectacle of Hussle
In June 2017, on the corner of Crenshaw Boulevard and Slauson Avenue, Nipsey opened an establishment that showcased the ingenuity of his entrepreneurial mind. At the Marathon Clothing Store, customers could gain access to products from Nipsey’s clothing and merchandise line, as well as his musical projects.
Wanting to create a unique vibe for his clientele, Nipsey designed Marathon Clothing to be a “smart store.” Through a digital app, guests at the store could get a glimpse of exclusive content (such as songs and music videos) from the rapper. In Nipsey’s mind, this heightened shopping and retail experience could justify the existence of a brick-and-mortar outlet, which could have otherwise lacked appeal with the advent of online shopping.
The Marathon Clothing Store went on to become a vibrant hub of activity in the neighborhood. From an establishment with a Starbucks-like atmosphere, Marathon Clothing was set for expansion; as described by a 2019 AP News report, Nipsey had plans “to turn it into a mixed-use residential and commercial center.”
However, police officials would attempt numerous times to have the place shut down, supposedly because it was a site for gang activity. Nevertheless, the store stands as a testament to Nipsey’s insatiable creativity, as well as his dedication to his mission of transforming his neighborhood.
Though Nipsey’s 2017 was largely defined by the opening of Marathon Clothing, he remained active on the music front. Before the year ended, Nipsey teamed up with Bino Rideaux on the mixtape No Pressure (which was released in November 2017). This would turn out to be the calm before the storm, as just three months later, Nipsey would finally drop the debut album that his fanbase had been waiting for.
A Two-Way Impact
Nipsey’s 2018 began with a spark of controversy. On Jan. 8, he wrote an Instagram caption that was viewed as homophobic by several netizens, including Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson. For his part, Nipsey claimed that he believes “in LOVE and acceptance,” but he doubled down on his convictions, saying, “I ain’t gotta be politically correct.”
Though Nipsey ruffled feathers with his bold tweet, he soon made headlines for an entirely different reason. On February 15, in partnership with the District 8 Los Angeles City Council, he opened a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) center for underprivileged kids in Crenshaw. In a 2017 Complex interview, he explained his rationale for this venture: to develop a grassroots STEM program that will eventually become a “pipeline from the inner city to Silicon Valley.”
Attached to the center was a collaborative workspace called Vector90. Intended as an incubator of start-up companies, Vector90 was envisioned as a driving force of entrepreneurship, equal opportunity employment, and local development. With the launch of these two initiatives, Nipsey made grand gestures to benefit his community’s present and future.
Vector90 would cultivate the growth of big ideas generated by today’s thinkers, while the STEM program would plant the seeds of those ideas in the next generation. To drive attendance for the inauguration of the STEM center and workspace, it was announced that guests would get to preview Nipsey’s much-awaited debut. A day later, Nipsey finally released his first studio album.
Victory Lap
Infused with conscious rap as well as the latest iteration of G-funk, Victory Lap debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200. Critics hailed the confidence oozing from Nipsey’s verses, along with the production that bridged the gap between the West Coast’s past and present.
Trent Clark of Hip Hop DX called the album “a primetime Hip Hop event, without the reliance on pop sensibilities or hooks tailor-made for radio.” In addition, the assists from Puff Daddy (on the song “Young Nigga”) and Kendrick Lamar (on the single “Dedication”) complemented the project’s strong rap aesthetic.
By all indications, the rather long wait was worth it for Nipsey; his debut outing went on to be certified platinum while also receiving a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album in 2019. But, as fate would have it, Victory Lap turned out to be the only studio album that Nipsey released in his lifetime. (It should be noted here that, after the tragic events of March 2019, Victory Lap went up to number 2 on the Billboard 200. In addition, three tracks from the album made it to the Billboard 100.)
The Death of Nipsey Hussle
On the afternoon of March 31, 2019, Nipsey dropped by Marathon Clothing Store. As he was interacting with fans and old friends in the parking lot, he spotted fellow Rollin’ 60s member Eric Holder within the store complex. Holder walked over to Nipsey, and they had a conversation that lasted around four minutes.
During their conversation, Nipsey allegedly advised Holder to address the rumors that Holder had been “snitching” (meaning that Holder had supposedly been giving information about the Rollin’ 60s to the police).
Despite the weighty implications of this topic of conversation, witnesses of the incident claim that neither man raised his voice or otherwise showed outward signs of tension or anger. But, a few minutes after this conversation ended, Holder walked up to Nipsey again, this time with loaded weapons. Holder then shot Nipsey multiple times; one shot hit the rapper right in the head, while two others hit his lung and spine. According to one witness, Hussle blurted out the words “You got me” as he fell to the ground.
The shocking death of Nipsey Hussle was mourned by his fans and peers in the hip-hop community. On April 1, a vigil was held in the very parking lot where Nipsey was gunned down. (The flagship store of Marathon Clothing was closed following the incident, though there are plans to reopen the store in the Melrose arts district.)
Tributes flooded social media as Nipsey’s friends, family, and admirers mourned their loss. With the outpouring of heartfelt messages from across the world, it became crystal clear that the art and advocacy of Ermias Asghedom—the literary activist known as Nipsey Hussle—would be immortalized.
Legacy
In the annals of hip hop history, many artists can be rightfully called visionaries. However, only a precious few can claim to have harnessed their vast powers of imagination to achieve the betterment of their respective communities. Nipsey Hussle leaves behind this legacy of powerful ambition. Transcending the role of recording artist, Nipsey grew to become a poet of the streets whose community ventures represented the pinnacle of his authentic lyrics. Essentially, he is an admirable example of an emcee who talked the talk and walked the walk.
Why is Nipsey Hussle Influential?
From a musical and artistic standpoint, Nipsey stands out as an independent spirit who refused to let recording deals define his scope of influence. And as far as business and entrepreneurship go, he exemplified vision, resourcefulness, and social responsibility. Because of all these qualities, Nipsey’s life and career serve as an inspiration to rappers striving to make it in the industry with their big ideas and passionate lyrics.
FAQs
Answer: Nipsey fathered two children. In 2009, his daughter Emani Asghedom was born. When Nipsey met his tragic end in 2019, Emani was placed under the care of the rapper’s family. However, her biological mother, Tanisha Foster (an ex-girlfriend of Nipsey), would later seek full custody. Aside from Emani, Nipsey has a son named Kross. Lauren London, an actress who had been the rapper’s girlfriend since 2013, gave birth to Kross in 2016. (In addition, London has a son named Cameron from her relationship with rapper Lil Wayne.)
Answer: As of June 2022, the full extent of the motive for killing Nipsey remains unclear. A key point in the murder trial was whether Eric Holder committed a premeditated act or if he had performed a crime in the heat of passion.
Answer: Former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama have paid tribute to Nipsey’s music and community involvement. Several NBA players also publicly mourned Nipsey’s death. Russell Westbrook, who was playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder at the time, dedicated his 20-20-20 triple-double on April 2, 2019, to the slain rapper. In addition, Nipsey’s fellow rappers (including Snoop Dogg, Big Sean, and Kendrick Lamar) have crafted songs and videos dedicated to his memory.
Bottom Line
On the Kendrick Lamar-assisted track “Dedication,” Nipsey Hussle called himself “Tupac of my generation.” Though many hip-hop artists have fallen terribly short of the rap icon’s legacy, this comparison neatly sums up the life and career of Nipsey. Like Tupac Shakur, Nipsey was an unapologetic storyteller who remained steadfastly connected to his neighborhood. Sadly, they also share the unfortunate distinction of emcees whose verses were, in a manner of speaking, cut short. Nonetheless, no one can deny that Nipsey’s dedication to the hustle earned him the distinction of being a true legend of thug life.