A fitting honor!
This year’s Grammys will feature a tribute to slain rapper, Nipsey Hussle, featuring performances by DJ Khaled, John Legend, Kirk Franklin, Meek Mill and more, The Root reports.
Nipsey, born Ermias Joseph Asghedom, was a rising legend in the music industry who was tragically killed this past spring in Los Angeles, leaving the world mourning, with many bringing attention to the importance of his legacy, including Forever President, Barack Obama.
The 33-year-old rapper burst onto the scene in 2005 with his mixtape, Slauson Boy Vol.1, a homage to his Crenshaw upbringing, CNN reports. A member of the Rollin 60s Neighborhood Crips, Nipsey sought out to create a legacy that was bigger than his street persona, using music as the medium to unite communities of color. He became known in the music industry for his legendary mixtapes and savvy business acumen. Releasing his eighth one in 2013, the “Crenshaw” mixtape sparked interest from many, mainly because it was sold for $100 with only 1,000 available copies. The “Proud 2 Pay” campaign sparked the interest of music heavyweights, including the likes of Jay-Z who bought 100 copies.
By the time the Eritrean father of 2 launched his first official album in 2018, he was already a legend in his own right. He owned his own music label, The Marathon Clothing smart store, The Marathon Agency, a talent and marketing company in partnership with marketing maven Karen Civil and Def Jam executive Steve Carless, and a number of other small businesses spanning industries from beauty to food. After he dropped Victory Lap, his fame only intensified and Nipsey capitalized on it all to continue to push his mission forward of elevating his community.
He went on to open a STEM center, Vector 90, that served as an incubator space for those in the inner city. And just hours after his passing, Commissioner Steve Soboroff of the Los Angeles Police Department, announced that he was scheduled to meet with Nipsey and Jay Z’s Roc Nation to discuss a partnership that would help stop gang violence in the Crenshaw community. As a result of his untimely death, many have sought out ways to honor the late rapper’s legacy.
This week, the Recording Academy announced that they too, would be honoring Nipsey in a major way. Before his passing, Nipsey’s 2018 debut album, Victory Lap, earned a Grammy nomination. This year, he has received three posthumous nominations including Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song for his hit “Racks In The Middle,” and Best Rap/Sung Performance for his song “Higher” with DJ Khaled and John Legend.
The tribute to the Crenshaw legend will feature performances from gospel superstar Kirk Franklin, famed producer and DJ, DJ Khaled, singer/songwriter John Legend, and hip hop artists Meek Mill, Roddy Ricch and YG.
Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of the Grammy Awards issued a press release about the tribute saying, “An activist, entrepreneur and rapper, Nipsey Hussle had a lasting impact on not just his community, but also the culture at large. There is no denying the influence he had and his legacy will be felt for generations to come. We are honored to bring together this amazing group of artists to celebrate Nipsey’s life and pay tribute to his many contributions to music. It’s sure to be a memorable performance.”
The 2020 Grammy Awards will also include performances from Lizzo, H.E.R., Run DMC, Charlie Wilson and more!
To see the full lineup visit www.grammy.com. The award show will air Sunday, January 26th on CBS.
Rest in peace Nipsey Hussle. The marathon continues.
Photo Courtesy of Lenny Santiago/Instagram