A prominent mural devoted to the late Nipsey Hussle was defaced last night in South Los Angeles — then defaced again after a local artist attempted to repair it.
The Nipsey Hussle mural is situated near the busy intersection of Slauson and Crenshaw in the heart of South Los Angeles — right next to the spot where the rapper was killed in 2019. At this point, it’s unclear why the mural was defaced, though at least one arrest has been made according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Additionally, the LAPD towed away a suspicious vehicle parked near the scene of the crime.
Nipsey, whose real name is Ermias Joseph Asghedom, was gunned down outside of this Marathon Clothing Store on March 31st of 2019. His killer, Eric Holder, remains imprisoned but has refused to testify in court or reveal any information surrounding the killing.
The mural itself was actually defaced twice. After the first vandalization was repaired by a local artist, the mural was then quickly defaced again. It’s likely that the same person is responsible for both vandalizations, though there’s little information currently on the suspect.
Sadly, this isn’t the first time that a Nipsey Hussle mural has been attacked. Just recently, a woman in Hartford, Connecticut brazenly defaced a Hussle memorial, though it’s unclear if the vandalization was tied to any issues with the slain rapper. The mural was quickly restored by community artists.
Back in Los Angeles, the defacement could be gang related, and the specific markings over Nipsey Hussle’s face suggest a targeted message of disrespect.
Separately, a mural featuring both Nipsey Hussle and Kobe Bryant has drawn controversy in the nearby LA neighborhood of Downey. The reasons of the complaints aren’t clear, though Downey officials clarified that there are no plans to remove the artwork. “There are no plans to have the mural removed,” a Downey official relayed, while confirming that multiple complaints were made about the memorial.