Charlamagne Tha God planned to give something to Lauren London so she could remember her late boyfriend Nipsey Hussle, so he tapped New York jewelry maker Greg Yuna, who made a detailed pendant of the rapper’s face.
The design was made from a photo of Hussle’s side profile, and it captures his braided hairstyle, tattoos, and even some of the details and definition of his face.
Moreover, the back of the pendant has paisley designs, which Yuna said symbolizes Hussle’s roots and what he represented. It also shows the words “God Will Rise” on the back, the meaning of Ermias, Hussle’s real first name.
And even though Charlamagne reached out to Yuna first, Yuna was going to honor Hussle anyway but said the design for London is even better.
“I originally wanted to make a tribute piece regardless of being approached, but to make one with this purpose was even more fulfilling,” he told Hypebeast.
Yuna then explained how the pendant was made.
“I had to find the best picture of him that I thought would be most suitable and iconic,” he said.
“Then we make a cad and spend tedious endless hours on the computer trying to get as much detail as possible in so we can print it on a state-of-the-art 3D printing machine,” added Yuna. “Finally, we cast it in gold and laser in the tattoos and do the finishing touches, including the hand-selected full cut diamond in his ear.”
Yuna only had one interaction with Hussle, but he called him a “phenomenal artist” and even a better human being.
“Even from one interaction you can tell he was a beautiful impression,” he stated.
Hussle was shot and killed on March 31 in South Los Angeles in front of his store The Marathon Clothing.
A man named Eric Holder was arrested shortly after and charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. He’s currently behind bars, and his bond was set at $5 million. Holder has pleaded not guilty.
