Police say he was shot six times and died at the hospital shortly after. Following the devastating news of his death, fans and friends gathered at the crime scene. For legendary manager Steve Lobel, it was a horrific de ja vu. Hearing how Hussle died was a painful reminder of how another close friend, Jam Master Jay was slain.“It all started right here man. My man right here, me and big Yu, got [Nipsey’s] CD, put it in the car, the Slauson Boy,” Lobel reflected of first meeting Nipsey a decade and half ago. “The rest was history.”
Lobel, who currently reps Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Scott Storch among others, took Nipsey under his wing and was shopping a deal for him to no avail.
“When I took Nipsey around the industry, everybody told me I was crazy,” Lobel continued, visibly angry at the loss of such a great. “[They said he] looked like Snoop Dogg, Rolling 60 Crip. I told everybody ‘I don’t give a fuck what you feel. I go with my gut. From day one.’ That was 15 years ago. Now, after the man worked his ass off ... I was just with him yesterday at the Texas Tech game, we went to the game together yesterday. That was like my bro. People over there are saying ‘the white man killed him.’ I’m a white man, put him in the game. I don’t understand that. It’s not a color thing, race, religion. I started the game with Run-DMC. My man Jam Master Jay got shot in his own studio by somebody he probably knew. Nip gets killed in his own hood, trying to help his own hood. It’s fucking wack. It’s fucked up. It took 15 years to do this and somebody takes his life. He was a father, he was a brother, he’s a son. It’s fucked up. God bless Nip.”Hussle’s murder in the very community where he was loved, and was trying to improve is baffling to everyone. People are coming up with theories as to who killed him and reasons why, including that he was murdered by someone in the military. At the time of writing, police have no suspects, further stoking the speculative fires.
In potentially related news, Nipsey was scheduled to meet with the LAPD in an effort to further prevent gang violence in his area.
“We (@LAPDChiefMoore and I) were meeting, at the request of @NipseyHusslewith him and @rocnationtomorrow at 4pm to talk about ways he could help stop gang violence and help us help kids. I’m so very sad” said L.A. Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff. According to reports the meeting is still on and will now take place in Nipsey’s honor with possibly a representative from Roc Nation, who helped coordinate the meeting.
“Our hearts are heavy over the loss of our brother, Nipsey Hussle” read a statement from Roc Nation. “Rest In Peace. Our thoughts, love and prayers to his family and friends.