Slauson and Crenshaw intersection officially named ‘Nipsey Hussle Square’
By Carley Gomez
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LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Hundreds of fans gathered Saturday as the city named the intersection of Slauson and Crenshaw “Nipsey Hussle Square” to honor the late rapper’s life and work in his South Los Angeles community.
Nipsey Hussle’s brother, Blacc Sam, told the crowd that the artist’s impact continues to resonate.
“Hussle inspired the youth, inspired the people from the hood, inspired the uninspireable, as people would say, and he put a light on it,” he told the crowd.
Hussle’s mother, Angelique Smith, shared a message for fans during the ceremony.
“I just want to inspire everyone here, through your struggles, through your setbacks, your challenges, your haters … respond with love,” she said.
Before Hussle became a community activist and Grammy-winning artist, he and his brother often stood at the same intersection selling his mixtapes. Fans at the dedication described the rapper’s influence on their own lives.
“Ever since I was a little girl, my mom used played it around me and then my uncle … he’s a huge fan, and I lived with him most of my life so I kind of took it on for him,” said fan Savannah Stiles.
Hussle frequently spoke about reducing gang and gun violence in his neighborhood. The newly named square is also home to the Neighborhood Nip Foundation, which continues his work by creating programs that support and encourage local youth.
Los Angeles City Council member Heather Hutt said Hussle’s commitment to his hometown never wavered.
“His love for Los Angeles was insurmountable. He could have invested his money anywhere. Somewhere that cost less, somewhere with less issues, hut he determined that L.A. is where he wanted to be,” she said.
The name change comes after tens of thousands of petition signatures were submitted to City Council members urging the city to honor Hussle’s legacy.
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