Nearly a year has gone by since the untimely death of rapper and entrepreneur Nipsey Hussle, who was gunned down in front of his Slauson Avenue business The Marathon Clothing Store, yet his presence and impact continue to be felt and seen through his unfinished business ventures and songs that narrate the life of many from the Crenshaw and Slauson Avenue corridor.
Picking up the baton to continue his marathon is longtime girlfriend and mother of his 3-year-old son Kross, Lauren London. The actress shared photos of herself and L.A. rappers Hussle viewed as brothers, YG, JStone, PacMan da Gunman and Killa Twan in track suits for the late rapper’s clothing collaboration with Puma set to launch Feb. 1.
Track suits were a staple ’fit in the rapper’s wardrobe, so it’s only fitting that the collection feature his signature look. London adorned a white and black track suit, while the fellas rocked an identical track suit in black and red.
“STANDING STRONG,” “Legacy,” and “The first lady,” read comments on the photo.
Fans first got a glimpse of the track suits in Hussle’s “Racks in the Middle” music video where he rapped, “See my granny on a jet, some s–t I’ll never forget, next day we flew to Vegas, with my Puma connects.”
Just shy of a year ago, London and Hussle, then 33, attended the 61st annual Grammy Awards, where the prolific rapper was nominated for best rap album of the year with his debut “Victory Lap.”
This year the rapper is nominated for best rap song and best rap performance for “Racks in the Middle” and best rap/sung performance for “Higher.”
“There is no denying the influence he had and his legacy will be felt for generations to come,” said Ken Ehrlich, Grammy Awards executive producer, said of the star-studded tribute to posthumously honor the Slauson Avenue legend.
Artists set to take the stage include YG, Roddy Rich, Kirk Franklin, DJ Khaled, Meek Mill, and John Legend.
“It’s all I’m tryna do, hustle and motivate,” just as he rapped on “Hustle and Motivate,” Neighborhood Nip has done so even in his passing.
The marathon continues.
