Rapper Nipsey Hussle Dies From Gunshot At 33

Ermias Asghedom better known as Nipsey Hussle, has died after a shooting in front of his clothing store, he was 33.

Hussle was born Los Angeles, California in 1985. He grew up in South Central L.A., and was a member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips as a teenager before finding success in music.

Hussle released his first mixtape, Slauson Boy Volume 1, in 2005. But, he really came to prominence after leaving Epic Records and going independent, where he employed a success marketing strategy that put the music industry on notice.

“The marketing for the mixtape was that we only made a thousand units and sold them for a hundred dollars apiece,” said Hussle in a GQ interview. “It was a scarcity model.”

His mixtape, Crenshaw, sold like gangbusters, earning him a lot of praise among industry veterans like Jay-Z. This success, which has become the model for self-starters, prompted him to start his own independent label, All Money In.

His 2018 album, “Victory Lap,” which featured artist like Puff Daddy and Kendrick Lamar, earned him a Grammy nomination.

Yet, despite his success, Hussle never forgot his community. He committed numerous philanthropic and community projects to help improve his neighborhood.

He gave jobs to residents who were struggling, donated money to schools so they could renovate their playgrounds, and designed a co-working space called Vector 90, to add diversity in the fields of science and technology.

“The man was instrumental in a lot of stuff. Fighting gentrification, trying to stop gang violence,” said Malik Spellman, a community activist. “The facts are he was a good person.”

His last known message before his death is a tweet that reads,”Having strong enemies is a blessing.”

Hussle is survived by his two kids and his partner Lauren London. The music industry mourns his death.