Nipsey Hussle

Nipsey Hussle’s Alleged Killer Will Finally Stand Trial In January 2022

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Nipsey Hussle (born born Ermias Asghedom) was shot and killed in March 2019 — over two years ago — outside his Marathon clothing store in South LA. But the man who is accused of murdering the beloved LA rap icon, Eric R. Holder Jr. has yet to stand trial. That is reportedly going to change in just a few months, according to a new report from Rolling Stone. The publication shared today that a Los Angeles County judge officially set the jury trial date for January 5th, 2022. “He’s nervous, but he knows it’s time to get the case moving to trial,” said Aaron Jansen, a deputy public defender who is Holder’s most recent lawyer. Jansen also told Rolling Stone he will argue that Holder was “off his medication” the day of the shooting and experiencing “a substantial mental health issue.”

Holder’s trial was delayed repeatedly by one of his former lawyers getting elevated to judgeship, and another judge’s retirement, along with pandemic-related delays. Surveillance videos reportedly show Holder firing at least ten rounds at Nipsey using both a black semiautomatic handgun in one hand and a smaller silver revolver in the other. The video also reportedly shows Holder kicking Nipsey in the head after the shooting, before fleeing the scene.

After hearings back in May 2019, a grand jury indicted Holder on one count of murder for Nipsey’s death, two counts of attempted murder for the bullets that struck bystanders Kerry Lathan and Shermi Villanueva, two counts of assault with a firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted for these crimes he could face up to life in prison.

Nipsey Hussle’s Estate Sues Several Sites For Allegedly Bootlegging ‘Crenshaw’ Merch

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In the wake of Nipsey Hussle’s death, merchandise from his store, Marathon, became such a hot commodity that it sold out all of the available stock in the weeks immediately afterward. In the years since, it’s remained popular due to the late rapper’s beloved status and elevated visibility thanks to things like his Grammy wins and massive televised memorial service in which Nipsey received praise for his community building efforts from the likes of President Obama and Jay-Z.

However, the drawback to that increased popularity is that it has allegedly attracted unscrupulous businesses looking to cash in. According to TMZ, Nipsey’s estate, led by his older brother Samiel Asghedom (aka Blacc Sam), has taken issue with a number of e-commerce sites that have begun selling knockoff merch bearing the distinctive Crenshaw logo sold at Marathon Clothing Store, as well as other trademarked properties like one reading “South Central State of Mind.” To curb the spread, Sam has filed lawsuit in the state of Illinois, where the sites appear to be doing most of their marketing, to get all the profits from the sales or $2 million per trademark violation.

The sites appear to be operating from China, and although they appear to be different sites, the lawsuit makes clear they believe that the sites could be working in concert, due to shared marketing practices, similar misspellings, and other telltale signs.

Nipsey Hussle is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Nipsey Hussle’s Estate Sues Several Sites For Allegedly Bootlegging ‘Crenshaw’ Merch

by
Getty Image

In the wake of Nipsey Hussle’s death, merchandise from his store, Marathon, became such a hot commodity that it sold out all of the available stock in the weeks immediately afterward. In the years since, it’s remained popular due to the late rapper’s beloved status and elevated visibility thanks to things like his Grammy wins and massive televised memorial service in which Nipsey received praise for his community building efforts from the likes of President Obama and Jay-Z.

However, the drawback to that increased popularity is that it has allegedly attracted unscrupulous businesses looking to cash in. According to TMZ, Nipsey’s estate, led by his older brother Samiel Asghedom (aka Blacc Sam), has taken issue with a number of e-commerce sites that have begun selling knockoff merch bearing the distinctive Crenshaw logo sold at Marathon Clothing Store, as well as other trademarked properties like one reading “South Central State of Mind.” To curb the spread, Sam has filed lawsuit in the state of Illinois, where the sites appear to be doing most of their marketing, to get all the profits from the sales or $2 million per trademark violation.

The sites appear to be operating from China, and although they appear to be different sites, the lawsuit makes clear they believe that the sites could be working in concert, due to shared marketing practices, similar misspellings, and other telltale signs.

Nipsey Hussle is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Rapper Bino Rideaux Is On A Mission To Unite LA Through Music

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LA-native Bino Rideaux has been writing raps since he was in the third grade, and now he’s on a mission to unite the city through music. With his hit 2021 album Sixtape 2 and upcoming US tour, the Nipsey Hussle protégé is undoubtedly LA’s next breakout star. Now detailing his rise in a new Magnum Scenes video presented by Uproxx, Bino explains how he’s continuing Nipsey’s legacy and creating a movement along the way.

After selling out his first-ever show at The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, Bino created a fair amount of buzz around his music. The rapper was eventually connected with Nipsey, who brought him into the studio and took him under his wing. “You should come into this game as a student. Nip was a mentor to me, for sure,” Bino said. “Being able to shadow him like that, it kinda grew me.”

After Nipsey’s tragic passing in 2019, Bino felt like the city “will never be the same.” But the rapper is motivated to carry on his legacy. “I had to live up to whatever he thought I was,” Bino said. Nipsey’s former tour DJ, DJ VIP, recognizes Bino and his OTB crew’s hard work. “Bringing the city together, that was something Nip stood by and I see that with OTB,” VIP said. “You can tell they’re really trying to put-on for LA and they’re doing it in an inclusive way.”

Elsewhere in the video, Bino shares what’s next in store for his OTB crew, so it check out above and explore the other musicians covered in the Magnum Scenes series here.

A New Podcast, ‘The King Of Crenshaw,’ Will Explore Nipsey Hussle’s Legacy In The Sports World

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There’s a new podcast coming that offers a new angle on the life of late Los Angeles rapper Nipsey Hussle and sports. Presented by 30 For 30 Podcasts and The Undefeated, the four-part “The King Of Crenshaw” will “focus on how the late Nipsey Hussle’s life, death, and legacy deeply impacted the sports world” and “examine how that overlap of Black male creativity, talent and ambition will forever live on in Nipsey’s responsibility to his neighborhood. And how NBA players are vowing to continue his marathon moving forward.”

The pod will also feature interviews with NBA All-Stars Isaiah Thomas, DeMar DeRozan, DeMarcus Cousins, plus Nipsey’s brother Blacc Sam. “Everyone knows I’m a huge Nipsey fan,” Cousins, who plays for the LA Clippers, said. “He’s more to me than just a rapper. He’s an icon.”

On March 31, 2019, Nipsey Hussle was tragically shot and killed at his Marathon Clothing store in South Los Angeles. His death shook the music world, leaving many to grieve a loss that came at the height of his career. On the two-year anniversary, his longtime girlfriend, Lauren London, took to Instagram to honor him. “The Day Of Ermias’ transition changed the course of my life forever,” she wrote. “2 years, and it feels like yesterday and eternity all at the same time. Grief and Healing have been constant companions on this journey.” She added, “In Honor of His life and demonstration… May all of Heaven exalt Your name for all You did on Earth and beyond. Brave and Beloved Soul, Ermias. You are missed deeply. You are loved immensely. You will forever be. I love you eternally.”

Look out for a full season drop of “The King Of Crenshaw” on 8/23.

Nipsey Hussle is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.