Following the untimely passing of rapper Nipsey Hussle, the Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti praised the Grammy-nominated emcee for being a “tireless advocate for this city,”. LAPD Commissioner Steve Soboroff spoke at a press conference and said the rapper, along with Jay Z was set to meet with the department to help stop local gang violence. But recent reports have surfaced that show the LAPD was actually investigating Hussle prior to his murder.
A NY Times report released on Monday revealed that the “Victory Lap” rapper was being investigated by the LAPD and the Los Angeles city attorney’s office for gang activity. The probe was launched in early March, prior to his March 31 death, and remains ongoing.
As a self-proclaimed member of the Rollin’ 60s Crips who also worked with former gang members and ex-convicts to help them improve their lives, the LAPD was investigating Hussle’s Marathon Clothing Store over belief it was a hub for gang activity and other crimes.
The LAPD was looking to prosecute the rapper and get the landlords of his store’s building to evict him, the NYT reports. However, after Hussle and his business partners purchased the building for $2.5 million, they were unable to kick the rapper out.
Josh Rubenstein, an LAPD spokesman, said police have been in contact with Hussle’s business partners “to mitigate some of those crime issues,” but he wouldn’t go into specifics.
City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson says he’s been trying to get information on the probe and won’t allow it to halt any of the rapper’s posthumous plans.
“I think everybody in the community will do everything we can to make sure the ventures he started will continue,” said Harris-Dawson. “And this is a very confusing hiccup in this process.”
Eric Holder was arrested for fatally shooting Hussle outside his Marathon Clothing Store on March 31. He was charged with various charges including one count of murder. He pleaded not guilty and is currently in jail on $7 million bond.
