Nipsey Hussle Square Finally Unveiled
Nipsey Hussle Square was unveiled in LA's Crenshaw district, seven years after the city first approved it. The memorial cements the late rapper's legacy as both an artist and community leader in South LA.
The intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Slauson Avenue holds deep significance as it is the location of The Marathon, the clothing store Hussle opened in 2017. This is the same spot where the rapper, born Ermias Asghedom, sold his early mixtapes from the trunk of his car and where he was fatally shot on March 31, 2019. The unveiling ceremony on February 28, 2026, included appearances by Hussle's partner Lauren London, his brother Blacc Sam, and several local officials. Among the politicians present were Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Councilmember Heather Hutt, and California State Assemblymember Isaac Bryan. During the ceremony, Lauren London shared a personal story. She recalled driving past the intersection with Hussle early in their relationship when he said, "One day they gon' name this whole section after me." Hussle, known as "Neighborhood Nip," was deeply invested in his community, launching the Vector90 co-working space and STEM center to support underserved youth. He was also a key figure in the early stages of the Destination Crenshaw project, a 1.3-mile open-air museum celebrating Black history and culture. The square is one of several posthumous honors for the artist. He has also been recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a temporarily renamed Metro station, and August 15th being declared Nipsey Hussle Day in Los Angeles. Following his death, fans initiated a petition to rename the intersection in his honor. The Los Angeles City Council announced its approval of the renaming on the day of his funeral service in 2019. The man convicted of his murder, Eric R. Holder Jr., is currently serving a 60-year prison sentence.
