The King of Crenshaw
How the murder of rapper/entrepreneur Nipsey Hussle has affected many — and possibly represents a breaking point.
“Look, young rich n***a shit, pops was an immigrant
Lifestyle ill legit, but know I own businesses
Started out the trunk, ended up at the dealership
All gold Rollie, black face no blemishes”
- “Black Face”, Nipsey Hussle w/Childish Gambino
It’s 12:20 A.M. A little more than twenty-four hours after I, like many others around the globe got the word of the senseless murder of Nipsey Hussle outside of his Marathon Clothing store out in the ‘hood he loved, Crenshaw in
south Los Angeles, California. I’m out in my neighborhood with my nephew and Tone, one of the O.G.’s from around the way. We’re pulling up in his car
alongside one of the few bodegas on the main drag of Linden Boulevard that’s
open 24/7. The streets are mostly quiet. They usually are in this part of Queens, it’s what I grew up with and still experience being out here. The only
things punctuating the chilly night air is the perfume of jerk chicken being cooked at a bar and lounge across the street along with smoke from a Newport. We’re here ’cause Tone wants to cop some more beer and chop it up. There’s a dude ahead of us, hood of his sweater propped up on his head as he waits for the dude in the store. A car…
