Entertainment world mourn Nipsey

LOS ANGELES (AP)

Rapper Nipsey Hussle, was fatally shot outside the clothing store he founded to help rebuild his troubled South Los Angeles neighborhood, plunging the entertainment industry in mourining. He was 33.

Police said Hussle was one of three men shot Sunday outside Marathon Clothing, his store in South Los Angeles - the other two were in stable condition.

Hussle, was an Eritrean-American whose real name was Ermias Asghedom. Los Angeles Police Commissioner Steve Soboroff tweeted that he and Police Chief Michel Moore, had agreed with Hussle to meet with him and representatives of Roc Nation, Jay-Z's entertainment agency and production company, today to, "talk about ways he could help stop gang violence and help us help kids."

Hussle explained where he was coming from in a Los Angeles Times interview last year: "In our culture, there's a narrative that says, 'Follow the athletes, follow the entertainers,'" he said. "And that's cool, but there should be something that says, 'Follow Elon Musk, follow (Mark) Zuckerberg.'

Hussle said his first passion was music, but getting resources was tough after leaving his mother's house at 14 to live with his grandmother. Hussle said he got involved in street life as he tried to support himself, and he joined the gang Rollin 60's Neighborhood Crips as a teenager.

He released a number of successful mixtapes that he sold out of the trunk of his car, helping him create a buzz and gain respect from rap purists and his peers. In 2010, he was placed on hip-hop magazine XXL's "Freshman Class of 2010" — a coveted list for up-and-coming hip-hop acts — alongside J. Cole Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, Jay Rock and others.

The west coast rapper continued to build more hype for himself, scoring big when Jay-Z bought 100 copies of his 2013 mixtape Crenshaw, for US$100 each, and sent him a US$10,000 check.

His critically acclaimed debut album Victory Lap, the first with a major label -Atlantic Record, made several best-of lists last year, from Billboard magazine to Complex. The album debuted at No. 4 on Billboard's 200 albums charts and featured collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Diddy, CeeLo Green and more.

At this year's Grammy Awards, Victory Lap was one of five nominees for best rap album. Cardi B's Invasion of Privacy won the honor last month, while the other nominees were Travis Scott, Pusha T and Mac Miller.

"It's my debut album so for my first one (to be nominated) out the gate, it's like, it was overwhelming a little bit," he said in an interview with the Recording Academy on the red carpet of the 2019 Grammys, which he attended with this daughter. He has two children, and was engaged to actress Lauren London.

- Snoop Dogg posted a video of himself and Hussle together on Instagram, and posted a second clip sending prayers to the rapper's family. "Prayers out to the whole family man. This (stuff has) got to stop man," he said in the second video.

- Rapper Nas mourned Hussle's death on Instagram and wrote, "It's dangerous to be an MC. Dangerous to be a b-ball player. It's dangerous to have money. Dangerous To Be A Black Man ... So much hatred. We live like our brothers and sisters in third world countries live. Right in America ... Its so deep rooted. It's not a easy fix. Hard to fix anything when kids are still living in poverty. I ain't shutting up though, Nipsey is a true voice. He will never be silenced."

— "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" — Rihanna, via Twitter.

— "Words cannot express our sadness. Nipsey was not only one of the greatest artists we worked with, but an amazing father and leader in his community. One of the kindest and brightest stars in the universe, he was inspiring to all. We will miss him, his music and everything he stood for." — Atlantic Records, Hussle's label, via Twitter.

— "Sad, mad and disappointed about my guy @Nipsey Hussle." — Ice Cube, via Twitter.