Rapper Nipsey Hussle remembered in L.A. memorial service

Celebrities, fans and loved ones alike gathered to celebrate the life of late rapper Nipsey Hussle on Thursday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The Grammy-nominated artist, whose real name was Ermias Asghedom, died after being shot in front of his store, Marathon Clothing, in the city’s Hyde Park neighborhood on March 31. He was 33.

The program for the memorial service featured personal notes from fiancée Lauren London and others close to Hussle. Photos showed that notes from Kendrick Lamar, DJ Khaled, LeBron James and many others were also included.

The service was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. PST, but it started closer to 11 a.m. PST. Security was tight at the high-profile event. TMZ reported that the Los Angeles Police Department and the Staples Center security team were both involved in securing the venue. The Nation of Islam was reportedly also involved, because leader Louis Farrakhan was on the list of speakers.

Early on, there was an emotional moment when Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” played as a montage of photos Hussle had taken with family and friends flashed on a giant screen.

President Barack Obama sent a personal message praising Hussle for how he “set an example for young people to follow,” in investing in his community. Obama noted that he’d never met Hussle himself, but said he’d learned about him from his daughters.

Nation of Islam leader Farrakhan called for people to see Hussle’s death as an opportunity to come together and become new men and women. “We will fly away with him to a brighter tomorrow,” Farrakhan said.

Hussle’s children, including Emani, his daughter from a previous relationship, and Kross, the son that he shares with London, took the stage briefly, alongside London’s son, Kameron. Khalil Kimble, the son of rapper Skeme, went onstage, too. While Emani decided not to address the audience of thousands, Kameron explained that he’d seen Nipsey in a dream on the night of April 2 and that he’d told him, “what it was like in paradise.”

London was one of several family members and close friends who gave tearful speeches about the late artist.

“I’ve never felt this type of pain before,” London told the crowd about her fiancé. The actress explained that much of her pain was for the 2-year-old son she and Hussle shared, because he won’t remember how much his dad loved him.

Snoop Dogg delivered a rousing speech that brought cheers from the crowd, praising Hussle’s “sweet spirit” and proclaiming him an “incredible young businessman.” He thanked Hussle’s parents for bringing his friend into the world and doing such a good job raising him.

“You may have lost a son, but you have picked up another son in me,” Snoop said.

In a 2016 song, Hussle rapped about Stevie Wonder music playing at his funeral. On Thursday, Wonder made that happen, performing “Rocket Love,” Hussle’s favorite song of his, as well as a stirring cover of Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven.”

Before Wonder began the music, he called for stronger gun control laws that make it harder for people to obtain guns.

“I hope that we don’t just talk about it, but that we be about it,” Wonder said.

Since his death, Hussle’s many supporters have been vocal about their loss. An undetermined number of people were trampled at an impromptu memorial for him outside of his store after hundreds showed up.

After Hussle’s family announced plans to make free tickets to the Staples Center event available to the public, they were snapped up in minutes.

The memorial for Hussle was set to continue after the service with a procession through the city.

At the same time thousands attended Hussle’s memorial, Entertainment Tonight had a reporter outside the shopping center where Hussle was shot, and hordes of fans were gathered there to pay tribute.

Read more on Yahoo Entertainment:

• LeBron James mourns friend Nipsey Hussle: 'I still don't believe it'

• R.I.P. Nipsey Hussle, another of our favorite rappers gone far too young

• Nipsey Hussle shooting suspect Eric Holder charged with murder, could face life in prison

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