"An activist, entrepreneur and rapper, Nipsey Hussle had a lasting impact on not just his community, but also the culture at large. There is no denying the influence he had and his legacy will be felt for generations to come. We are honored to bring together this amazing group of artists to celebrate Nipsey's life and pay tribute to his many contributions to music. It's sure to be a memorable performance.
Nipsey Hussle grew up in L.A. and broke into the West Coast hip-hop scene in the mid 2000s. With success came self-imposed responsibility, and Hussle, denouncing gun violence and speaking about his own gang experiences, worked with communities in L.A. to improve local schools and inspire young men. His album Victory Lap was nominated for Best Rap Album at last year's ceremony.
On March 31, 2019, Hussle was gunned down in L.A. outside the store he owned.
During the show, some friends, collaborators, and admirers will pay tribute to his music and activist legacy. DJ Khaled and John Legend, in particular, had collaborated with Hussle on Higher (which was nominated for a Grammy). The two superstar musicians are also being joined by several other major players from the hip-hop world
Here's everyone included in the Nipsey Hussle tribute:
Kirk Franklin
Franklin is a choir director and gospel singer who has been performing since the age of four. He is associated with The Family, Gods Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC). Franklin has released 9 studio albums and has won 13 Grammy Awards. Hes often dubbed the Reigning King of Urban Gospel. He's been featured on songs with the likes of Kanye West and Chance the Rapper before.
Meek Mill
Rapper Meek Mill (birth name: Robert Rihmeek Williams) began his career as a battle rapper in Philadelphia, and released his debut album in 2012. After a series of charges including gun possession, drug dealing, and violation of probation, Mill co-founded REFORM Alliance Foundation with Jay-Z. The nonprofit's mission includes working to reform the criminal justice system by focusing on policies surrounding probation and parole. Mill has both beefed with Drakehe's the subject of "Back to Back"and collaborated with him; the duo's song "Going Bad" was one of last year's biggest hits.
Roddy Ricch
The youngest of the group, Roddy Ricch (21) has been rapping since he was eight. His early mixtapes were praised by Mill and Hussle, and Ricch has since collaborated with Mill. Riich was nominated for three Grammy Awards this year, and is currently atop the Billboard charts with his song "The Box."
YG (TBD)
After Hussle's death, YG posted this on his Instagram:
