Issa Rae Remembers Nipsey Hussle: 'He Was Just So Purely About His Community'

Issa Rae spoke about the passing of her friend Nipsey Hussle, and how she was inspired by him.

April 2, 2019

issa rae remembers nipsey — WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Nipsey Hussle attends the Jhene Aiko Souled Out event sponsored by Hennessy V.S on September 9, 2014 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images for Hennessy V.S)
Image via Noel Vasquez/Getty for Hennessy V.S

In an interview with BuzzFeed News' Profile, Issa Rae said that she took the news of Nipsey Hussle's death "mad hard" since she grew up with the late rapper, who inspired her by being "just so purely about his community." Donning a shirt with Nipsey's name and face on the front, Issa remembered seeing his humanitarian work as something should could aspire to do when she had the financial means to turn that dream into a reality.

"In my mind, I was like, 'Cool, as soon as I get coin, that's the same thing I'm gonna do,'" she said. "And for him to invest so much, to be of the community and then to be gunned down in that same area is just heartbreaking."

Nispey was fatally shot Sunday outside of his Marathon clothing store in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. "It's just sad that his life was taken away," Rae said. "A sense of hope was taken away, a sense of promise was taken away and that's just a tragedy." In light of Nipsey's tragic death, Issa is determined to continue what Hussle started by using her money and influence to make a change her community.

Issa also talked about working on the Destination Crenshaw initiative, which looks to showcase the talent of black artists in the city.

"We’re gonna have historical landmarks, we're gonna have black art, we're gonna make this what Harlem is essentially, where you know that you’re coming into a black neighborhood," she said. "I'm going to continue doing the fight as much as I can, and fighting his fight, making sure we prioritize us at the end of the day."

Her entire interview with Profile will air on Facebook Watch this Wednesday.