On the afternoon of Sunday, March 31, 2019 Ermias Joseph Asghedom was shot and killed near the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and W Slauson Ave in front of his place of business. Ermias aka Nipsey Hussle owned several businesses in the lot including a basic needs store, Steve’s Barbershop, Baba Leo’s Fish Shack and a smart store called the Marathon Clothing Store. To add to the list, Nipsey had opened a co-working space and STEM center called Vector 90 in the Crenshaw District. The space has a science, technology, engineering and math center.
Nipsey had an interest in technology at an early age in life. He collected computer parts from neighboring computer auctions until he had all the necessary components to build his own PC from the ground up. From there he delved deep into utilizing software and began to record and engineer himself for the love of music.
As an independent distributor of his own music, he started a record label called All Money In which currently has a partnership with Atlantic Records. The multifaceted entrepreneur also invested in a block chained based music app called Vest and then secured ownership stake in an Amsterdam based cryptocurrency called Follow Coin.
Throughout his life, Nipsey continuously gave back to the inner cities and the youth stating, “I just want to give back in an effective way, I remember being young and really having the best intentions and not being met on my efforts. You’re like, ‘I’m going to really lock into my goals and my passion and my talents’ but you see no industry support. You see no structures or infrastructure built and you get a little frustrated.”
In 2017, a provision that encouraged new opportunity investment in low income areas known as Opportunity Zones enabled investments to grow tax free. Acting on the provision, Nipsey started the Our Opportunity movement opening multiple businesses to provide jobs to rehabilitated felons. Nipsey is listed as one of the Community Partners of Destination Crenshaw, a 1.3-mile open-air museum that focuses on the culture and history of Black LA through the means of architectural design and displayed works of art by local talent. The project is set to be completed by Spring of 2020.
During an interview in February of 2018 by a New York based radio show called The Breakfast Club, Nipsey spoke about currently working on a documentary to shed light on the trial involving the well-renowned holistic Doctor Sebi. Dr. Sebi was sued by New York City in 1987 for claims of practicing medicine without a license but was later acquitted.
On March 7, 2018, IZM Radio uploaded a video on Youtube of Nipsey being interviewed by Tariq Nasheed, an American film producer, author and media personality. When inquiring about the current documentary he was working on of Dr. Sebi, his response was that he received many Tweets telling him to be careful due to the “questionable” death of Dr. Sebi on August 6, 2016. Nipsey said he addressed the concerns by responding, “You better ride for me if something happens to me.” Unfortunately, Nipsey will not be able to complete the documentary but his idea has inspired Nick Cannon to take on the project and finish out what he started.
During the same interview, he mentioned how visiting his father’s birthplace Eritrea, East Africa at the age of eighteen for 90 days had ignited his awakening, forcing him to re-evaluate his life, his future, his views on family structure and his new-found perspective of women.
Nipsey Hussle may no longer be here in the physical but his legacy as an activist, businessman, artist and philanthropist continues and his spirit lives on. Nipsey’s music and merchandise is still available for purchase online in which proceeds will go to his family’s trust fund.