The intersection of West Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard in the economically deprived Hyde Park neighborhood will be named in honor of the late rapper Nipsey Hussle.
Los Angeles City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson made the announcement on Tuesday. The intersection will be called Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom Square, according to Harris-Dawson.
“Ermias Asghedom, known as ‘Nipsey Hussle,’ was an icon and West Coast hero,” Harris-Dawson said in a statement.
Hussle, 33, was fatally shot outside his clothing store, Marathon Clothing Company, last Sunday. His killer, Eric Holder, 29, was reportedly upset after Hussle accused him and his girlfriend of boosting merchandise from his store. Holder reportedly shook Hussle’s hand and left the area. He returned moments later with a handgun and opened fire, hitting the rapper and two other men. Hussle died at the scene.
The Marathon clothing store was one of several businesses Hussle owned in the strip mall off W. Slauson in the Crenshaw district.
A petition to get the intersection renamed in Hussle’s honor garnered over 500,000 signatures, from fans around the world, the LA Times reports.
Harris-Dawson and Hussle worked together on the Destination Crenshaw project to revitalize the area on L.A.’s south side.
The project, including a viewing deck at Sankofa Park, is part of a masterplan designed by Hussle. It will turn a 1.3-mile stretch of Crenshaw Boulevard into an outdoor art and culture museum celebrating L.A.’s Black experience, according to the LA Times. Hussle advocated for revitalizing the area, saying “Crenshaw should be a destination.”
In January, Hussle and his business partner, real estate investor David Gross bought an L-shaped strip mall off W. Slauson Avenue. The strip mall houses Hussle’s clothing store and his Master Burger fast food restaurant.
Property records show they purchased the property for $2.5 million. Hussle and Gross also invested in a skating rink World on Wheels and they refurbished a basketball court for the neighborhood children.
Additionally, they co-founded Vector90, a “co-working space” in South L.A. and a STEM program for the youth.
Hussle was set to meet with top LAPD officials to discuss decreasing gang violence in the Hyde Park neighborhood on Monday, April 1.
Thousands will attend a “Celebration of Life” memorial service for Hussle at L.A.’s Staples Center on Thursday.
After the service, Hussle’s funeral procession will snake through South L.A. for 25 miles, stopping at landmarks that were important to him – including the intersection at West Slauson and Crenshaw.
