Countless athletes and entertainers are paying tribute to rapper Nipsey Hussle after he was shot and killed outside his Marathon Clothing store in his hometown of South Los Angeles on Sunday evening.
NBA star LeBron James said on Instagram he had just been texting Hussle, born Ermias Ashgedom, about how “proud” he was of him.
“May you rest in PARADISE Young King,” James said. “THIS ONE HURTS BIG TIME.”
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Rihanna tweeted that the shooting didn’t “make any sense” and that her “spirit is shaken” by the attack.
This doesn’t make any sense! My spirit is shaken by this! Dear God may His spirit Rest In Peace and May You grant divine comfort to all his loved ones! ???
I’m so sorry this happened to you @nipseyhussle pic.twitter.com/rKZ2agxm2a— Rihanna (@rihanna) April 1, 2019
Fellow L.A.-bred rapper Kendrick Lamar honored Hussle as a “warrior” and “solider” during a performance in Argentina on Sunday. “We love you Nipsey!” Lamar said after a moment of silence.
Drake said Hussle’s death had his “whole energy at a low right now,” and that he’d planned on working with the 33-year-old performer later this year. “I’m only doing this here cause I want the world to know I saw you as a man of respect and a don.”
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Several other celebrities, including “Insecure” star Issa Rae and Colin Kaepernick, shared their thoughts on Hussle’s death on Twitter Sunday night and into Monday morning.
Watching Nipsey inspired me to invest and own in our communities. He was a solid man who loved his woman, his family and his community. This hurts.
— Issa Rae (@IssaRae) April 1, 2019
RIP @NipseyHussle. Madness and Sadness.
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) April 1, 2019
Nipsey you a legend. I respect and admire your career path and what you did for the neighborhood. My heart broke today when I saw the news. I’m praying for your loved ones. This was sposed to be the year we got one in. God had bigger plans for you ??
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) April 1, 2019
This is so painful! @NipseyHussle was doing great work for the people. Keep his legacy alive by carrying on his work! Sending love to his family. Rest in Power King ? pic.twitter.com/hE2MNibbZ7
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) April 1, 2019
RIP Nipsey. I just spent Thursday with him filming a video for a beautiful new song we created with Khaled. We filmed in Inglewood, close to where he grew up. He was so gifted, so proud of his home, so invested in his community. Utterly stunned that he's gone so soon.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 1, 2019
Broke me…. we really fighting for our lives against our own kind and really have to take risk and match the level of hatred that we are born in .. I’m tired ?? prayers for my brother and his family
— MeekMill (@MeekMill) April 1, 2019
L.A. Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff tweeted that he had been set to meet with Hussle on Monday on ways to “help stop gang violence and help us help kids. I’m so very sad.” Hussle had also recently helped launch a STEM-focused startup incubator in South Los Angeles, called Vector 90.
We (@LAPDChiefMoore and I ) were meeting , at the request of @NipseyHussle with him and @rocnation tomorrow at 4pm to talk about ways he could help stop gang violence and help us help kids. I’m so very sad https://t.co/rcGtvw9c6L
— Steve Soboroff (@SteveSoboroff) April 1, 2019