Nipsey Hussle, a hometown hero, immortalized at memorial

LOS ANGELES — Nipsey Hussle’s legacy as a persistent rapper, community activist, uniter, doting father, protective sibling and a loving son were underscored at his public memorial service on Thursday, with deeply personal testimonies from those closest to the rapper, including his actress-fiancee Lauren London, collaborator and dear friend Snoop Dogg and his mother, who said she was at peace with the death of her “superhero” son. Standing onstage with Hussle’s father, Dawit Asghedom, she declared: “Ermias was a legacy.” London, who was in dark sunglasses, was emotional but stood strong onstage as she told the audience: “I’ve never felt this type of pain before.” London called Hussle “majestic” and “brilliant” and said she had learned so much from his presence. Snoop thanked Hussle’s parents multiple times and told his father that “you picked up another son in me.” Hussle’s father said he knew his son was strong because when he was born, the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck but he prevailed. A montage of photos featuring the rapper from infancy, childhood and adulthood, with fellow rappers, his family and London, were shown to the crowd, set to Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” Stevie Wonder was the last performer to pay tribute to Hussle, who he said he had the chance to meet, saying: “We had a good conversation.” Before he sang “Rocket Song,” one of Hussle’s favorites, Wonder denounced gun violence and told the audience “there’s enough people being killed by guns and violence.” Anthony Hamilton invoked the spirit of a church service when he performed in Hussle’s honor.