Nipsey Hussle

Nipsey Hussle emerged from the Los Angeles streets through a string of successful underground mixtapes that established him simultaneously as a respected rapper and a cherished neighborhood leader. His 2018 debut album Victory Lap earned a Grammy nomination after strong critical praise, yet he stood at the height of his career when he was fatally shot in March 2019. In the aftermath, widespread public grief propelled five separate projects onto the Billboard 200 and prompted the city to rename the Slauson and Crenshaw intersection in tribute to the fallen artist.

He adopted his stage name from legendary comedian and actor Nipsey Russell. Born Ermias Asghedom in the Slauson area, he cultivated an early audience by blending hazy humor reminiscent of Snoop Dogg with a delivery shaped more directly by the stark gangland storytelling of early hip-hop pioneer Ice-T. A one-time active participant in a particularly notorious Crips faction, Hussle drew from firsthand street experience and quickly gained traction as a mixtape artist in the late 2000s through raw, unflinching observations.

Beginning with Slauson Boy in 2005, he released three volumes of Bullets Ain't Got No Name across 2008 and 2009, followed by The Marathon and its sequel in 2011. His eighth official mixtape, Crenshaw, appeared in 2013; despite carrying a $100 price tag, it reached the Top 40 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and included contributions from James Fauntleroy, Slim Thug, Z-Ro, and Rick Ross. Mailbox Money dropped on December 31, 2014, and featured Rick Ross, Dom Kennedy, Trae tha Truth, plus production from DJ Mustard and DJ Khalil.

In 2016 Hussle collaborated with YG on the track "FDT (Fuck Donald Trump)," which climbed to number 50 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The next year he released "Still," built around a sample of Dr. Dre's "Still D.R.E." and featuring Sloanbone and Pozition. Also in 2017 he dropped Slauson Boy, Vol. 2, which showcased Mozzy, Young Thug, Dave East, Snoop Dogg, G Perico, Kirko Bangz, and Young Dolph. Before the year ended he issued the collaborative project No Pressure alongside Bino Rideaux.

Early in 2018 he unveiled his first official studio album, Victory Lap, with appearances from YG, Puff Daddy, Kendrick Lamar, the-Dream, and Cee Lo Green. The project entered the Billboard 200 inside the Top Five and later received a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 61st Grammy Awards. It remained his sole official full-length release. On March 31, 2019, Hussle was shot and killed outside his Marathon Clothing store in Los Angeles at the age of 33.

An outpouring of grief that included condolences from former President Barack Obama helped The Marathon, Crenshaw, Mailbox Money, and Slauson Boy, Vol. 2 all debut on the U.S. album chart, while Victory Lap re-entered the Billboard 200 and reached number two. In recognition of his community work, Los Angeles officials designated the intersection of Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard as Ermias "Nipsey Hussle" Asghedom Square. A tribute at the 62nd Grammy Awards in January 2020 honored his legacy and included three posthumous nominations; he won two of those awards for Best Rap Performance on "Racks in the Middle" featuring Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy and for Best Rap/Sung Performance on DJ Khaled's "Higher."