Stars and fans world-wide have payed homage to fallen rap star Nipsey Hussle. In interviews and posts, millions have spoken out about their interactions and the legacy of a true community hero.
Yet, those closest to him are just now beginning to speak out and share their most intimate feelings and thoughts about the rapper/activist. Nipsey’s mother, long-time girlfriend, Lauren London, and many others closest to him sat down with the LA Times to share their feelings about Ermias Asghedom and how they are coping with his death.
Lauren London, his girlfriend: “He was a protector and wanted us to be our best at all times. He was a truth seeker and truth speaker. I’m going to keep my head high and always represent for my king to the fullest. He loved his kids. He was a family man. His family came first.”
Dawit Asghedom, his father: “It was like he was sent by God to give some love to bring us together because that’s what his lyrics were saying, always. He’s not shy to tell the truth even though it might not look good. He wasn’t scared of anything. [God] sent him to send a message. It looks like, ‘Your time is up because you have completed what I sent you to do.’ We all have a plan, but God has his own plan. So he had completed what he needed to be doing and he did it early so [God] probably want to take him early too.”
Angelique Smith, his mother: “I would like for him to be remembered as a humble, spirited, respectful man who had, since his childhood, had an extraordinary and unlimited intellectual capacity.” Mourners have been arriving since Sunday to offer their condolences, but Smith said she finds herself comforting them and “chasing away the spirit of fear and grief … retaliation and anger. I’ve been at perfect peace.”
Samiel Asghedom, his brother: “There’s a lot of politics within the area that we grew up in, but he stayed the course and showed what he was about. He made something work in an area that was run-down, that people were scared to come to, and he turned it into a landmark.”
