Thousands of fans are expected to fill Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday morning to pay tribute to slain rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was murdered late last month in front of his local clothing store. Hussle, born Ermias Asghedom, was 33-years-old.
The public memorial service, the “Celebration of Life & Legacy of Nipsey Hussle,” will begin at 10:00 a.m. PT. Tickets to the funeral are sold out, but there are still several options for fans of the L.A. hip-hop star to watch the service.
CBS News will be livestreaming the memorial on YouTube. BET will also be livestreaming the service on its BET News Facebook page; the channel is also set to broadcast the service on Thursday morning. Tidal is also offering a free stream of the service on its app. Locally, KTLA 5 in Los Angeles will be livestreaming on its website and Facebook page, while ABC 7 said it will be broadcasting the memorial live both on TV and on its app.
Hussle’s death rocked South Los Angeles, where the rapper not only grew up but continued to play a key role in the community after he’d gained fame. Earlier this week, L.A. City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson announced the intersection of Crenshaw Blvd. and West Slauson Ave. will be named Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom Square in his honor. Hussle’s death was also a blow to many sports and entertainment stars who had either grown close to the rapper or admired his work, with Lakers star LeBron James saying “this one hurts big time” on Instagram.
Suspected gunman Eric Holder was arrested and charged last week with Hussle’s murder. He was also charged for the attempted killing of two other men at the clothing store. Holder has entered a not guilty plea.