LOS ANGELES – Former US President Barack Obama sent a letter, Stevie Wonder sang, and Snoop Dogg called slain rapper Nipsey Hussle a “peace advocate” at a Los Angeles memorial on Thursday attended by family members, friends and thousands of fans.
The 21,000-capacity Staples Centre, a sports and pop concert venue, was packed with fans wearing white and blue for the three-hour memorial. It was followed by a 40km procession through the streets of south Los Angeles. “For God so loved the world, that he gave us a good Crip, the late great neighbourhood Nip. Rest in peace,” Snoop Dogg said. He called the Grammy-nominated singer “a peace advocate” because of his work with all members of the community.Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan said Hussle has become “to hip-hop and rap what Bob Marley was to reggae.”