BMI Mourns the Loss of Nipsey Hussle

Posted in News on April 1, 2019

BMI is mourning the loss of Nipsey Hussle, a phenomenal rapper, songwriter, philanthropist and dedicated community activist who passed away Sunday at the age of 33.

Originally from the Crenshaw district of South Los Angeles, Hussle’s name quickly rose to prominence on the back of various influential mixtapes, notably the Bullets Ain’t Got No Name and Marathon series. The impact of Hussle’s work on these mixtapes swiftly cemented him as a name to watch and led him to collaborate with names from the highest echelons of hip-hop, including Drake, Rick Ross, Slim Thug, Snoop Dogg and many more.

When not tirelessly working on further projects, Hussle contributed to 2010’s “We Are the World 25 for Haiti,” and was cited by XXL as Most Determined of the Annual Freshman Top Ten, an elite grouping of promising rap artists. Following more acclaimed mixtapes, Hussle finally released his first studio album, Victory Lap, in 2018. The album was both a critical and commercial breakthrough, earning a GRAMMY nomination for Best Rap Album.

But beyond the rapper’s celebrated status as a prolific musician, actor, restauranteur and savvy entrepreneur behind Marathon Clothing, Nipsey Hussle was also a committed father and a passionate philanthropist, devoted to the cause of nurturing the community he was born, raised and continued to reside within. Hussle spearheaded multiple projects like Destination Crenshaw, an “open-air museum” that celebrated African-American culture and accomplishment in Los Angeles, Too Big To Fail, a STEM center in his Crenshaw neighborhood and helped get beloved Los Angeles roller rink World on Wheels operational again, all for the purposes of sending the youth of South Los Angeles the message that there are viable alternatives to embracing gang culture. While the rapper was able to achieve great things through his music and career, it was his singular drive to share his influence and inspire others to follow the examples of his success and considerable business acumen that truly set him apart

Nipsey Hussle will be sorely missed by his friends and fans at BMI.

SOURCENews TAGS Pop R&B / Hip-Hop Los Angeles Obituary