Since releasing his debut single “Hussle in the House” in 2009, Nipsey Hussle had become one of the most influential West Coast artists in hip-hop. He was only 33 when he was senselessly gunned down on Sunday, but he accomplished more in a lifetime than the average person could even begin to realize. On top of being a recording artist, Nipsey was an entrepreneur, an actor, a community activist, and philanthropist.
From TMZ’s coverage: “Nipsey was incredibly involved in his local community, in which he worked to prevent gang violence. He helped spear a major art initiative in his home neighborhood called “Destination Crenshaw” — a 1.3-mile open-air museum that will feature local art. He also recently helped launch Vector 90 — a Crenshaw district based STEM learning center and workspace dedicated to developing science and technology education in the area.”
Nipsey’s death has been felt North of the border, with various artists and producers posting condolence messages on social media, including those that have worked with the Crenshaw rapper. Nipsey was clearly highly respected and influential among the Canadian scene, and the almost immediate outpouring of messages speaks to the reach he had in Canada.
