Nipsey Hussle Gets Street Honor
The city of Los Angeles will rename the intersection of Crenshaw & Slauson in honor of Nipsey Hussle, cementing the late rapper's influence on both music and the local community. The tribute establishes Hussle's lasting place in hip-hop history and urban culture.
The intersection will be officially named "Nipsey Hussle Square" at a dedication ceremony on Saturday, February 28. The location is deeply significant, as it is home to The Marathon Clothing store he founded and the plaza he purchased shortly before his death in 2019. Hussle, born Ermias Asghedom, frequently referenced the intersection in his music, most notably on the 2013 track “Crenshaw and Slauson (True Story).” Before opening his store, he sold his mixtapes from a car trunk in the same strip mall. His goal was to invest in and provide opportunities for the Hyde Park neighborhood where he grew up. Beyond his own businesses, Hussle was a key figure in community-wide initiatives. He was a founding creator of Destination Crenshaw, a 1.3-mile open-air museum celebrating Black art and culture along Crenshaw Boulevard. His own graphic arts team even designed the project's logo as a gift. A strong advocate for economic empowerment, Hussle opened a coworking space and STEM center called Vector 90. The initiative was designed to bridge the gap between underrepresented groups and corporate partners in Silicon Valley and other tech hubs. He also had plans to create a network of similar STEM academies in cities like Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Hussle actively worked to curb gun violence, drawing from his own experiences with gang culture. He funded improvements for local schools, repaved basketball courts, and was scheduled to meet with the LAPD to discuss strategies for violence reduction the day after he was killed. The decision to rename the intersection followed a wave of public support, including a Change.org petition that garnered nearly 500,000 signatures. The motion was officially submitted by L.A. City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who called Hussle an "icon and West Coast hero." This is not the first tribute of its kind for the late artist. The nearby Hyde Park Metro station was temporarily renamed in his honor for what would have been his 40th birthday. His entrepreneurial legacy also continues through The Marathon Clothing brand, which recently announced a posthumous collaborative album with Bino Rideaux titled "Prolific." The first single, "Reckless," has already been released.
