A moment of silence was scheduled for 3:20 p.m. PT, the time police say the 33-year-old was shot a week ago at The Marathon Clothing store. It was organized by the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable.
“Here was a young man who was not exclusively about the bling, flash, cash, cars, party, fun, and the fast life. Here was a guy who had his head screwed on right and was giving back to the community by investing in the community,” Earl Ofari Hutchinson, the group’s president, wrote in a column after his death.
A candlelight vigil at Alexander Hamilton High School in the Castle Heights neighborhood Sunday featured the school’s alumni along with fans and members of the community. The Grammy-nominated rhymesmith briefly attended school before dropping out at age 15 to pursue his musical career.
Those who decided to speak at the vigil discussed Nipsey’s legacy and how to keep his entrepreneurial spirit alive. Two speakers were mothers who discussed the impact of Nipsey’s death because they were raising black men of their own. The vigil ended with the release of blue balloons in honor of the rapper, as his song “Dedication” played in the background. In the song, Nipsey discusses his commitment to achieving his goals and ambitions despite his circumstances.
Two of his mixtapes — “Slauson Boy Vol. 1” and “Crenshaw” — took their names from the area. The Marathon Clothing store sits near West Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard.
Both police officers and rival street gangs were saddened by his death. Nipsey had reached out to Los Angeles Police Department to request a meeting to discuss ways to curb gang violence and help children, police said following news that he’d been killed.
Street gangs, meanwhile, brokered a truce in Nipsey’s honor, with a former leader of the Crips and (reportedly Nipsey’s onetime manager), Eugene Henley, announcing on Instagram that they had organized a Friday march among “Bloods, Crips with a like mind, that want to support and pay homage to one of our lost soldiers, one of our good brothers and teachers and leaders.”
Nipsey was a member of the Rollin 60s Neighborhood Crips, and Eric Holder, who police accuse of killing the rapper, is believed to belong to a gang as well, though Police Chief Michel Moore declined to specify gang affiliations. The shooting came after a dispute between Holder and the rapper and does not appear gang-related, the chief said.
CNN’s attempts to reach Holder’s attorney were unsuccessful. He is being held on $5 million bail and is scheduled to be back in court May 10.
NBA star Russell Westbrook dedicated his historic Tuesday night performance to the “Last Time That I Checc’d” rapper, and Blood-affiliated artists YG and The Game also honored their friend and counterpart in social media posts.
In a particularly poignant Instagram post, his sister, Samantha Smith, wrote of the father of two, “I need you please let me hold you again. You are my baby. To the world you are the strongest man and to me you are the most vulnerable innocent child. Your heart is pure they don’t know you like we know you. Your love is expansive. Talk to me again. You’ve taught me so much. You hold me down through everything.”
Police have since placed restrictions on the memorial outside his clothing store, closing it at 10 p.m. each night and asking people not to congregate in front of the many items left in tribute.
CNN’s Steve Alamasy contributed to this report.
Source : CNN