Nipsey Hussle’s Family and Close Friends Pay Their Respects to Their Beloved One in Private Viewing

A day before thousands of fans reunited at the Staples Center to celebrate Nipsey Hussle’s life, the rapper’s family and closest friends got to pay their respects in a private viewing.

Nipsey Hussle was put to rest on Thursday, April 11, after an emotional funeral service aptly titled a “Celebration Of Life,” which reunited over 21,000 fans, family, friends, and colleagues of the rapper at the Los Angeles Staples Center.

However, TMZ reports that on Wednesday, those who were closest to the Crenshaw rapper got the chance to pay their respects and say their final goodbyes in a more private setting.

Hussle’s family organized a private viewing at the Angelus Funeral Home on Crenshaw Blvd. and security was so tight that they had a guest list to make sure only those who were part of Nipsey’s inner circle were allowed inside the venue.

THE MEMORIAL SERVICE

At the Staples Center, Nipsey’s coffin sat center stage, adorned with white and violet flowers.

Three huge photos of the slain rapper covered the back of the stage in giant screens, and a wall with flowers, a piano, and a harp, gave the sports arena a calmer atmosphere.

Hussle’s family, his girlfriend Lauren London, and Snoop Dogg among others, spoke about the rapper’s legacy and offered his fans words of comfort that were healing for everyone at the funeral.

Stevie Wonder, Jhene Aiko, and Marsha Ambrosius performed, and Karen Civil read a letter sent by former president Barack Obama, who said that, although he never met Hussle in person, he knew his music thanks to his daughters.

Following the emotional service, a 25-mile funeral procession took the streets going from downtown Los Angeles through Inglewood, South L.A., and Watts, passing outside the clothing shop where Hussle was killed.

NIPSEY’S TRAGIC MURDER

On Sunday, March 31, Nipsey Hussle was shot to death while he talked with some friends outside of his Marathon clothing line store.

Footage obtained from surveillance cameras showed how a man approached the rapper, shooting him once from afar and then twice at close range, then kicked his body and ran away. Two more people were also injured but survived.

Hussle’s death certificate revealed that the rapper didn’t die immediately from his wounds in the head and torso. He was pronounced dead 35 minutes later, even though paramedics said they did everything to save his life.

A suspect, identified by police as Eric Holder, was arrested the following Tuesday in the Bellflower neighborhood.

He was charged with four counts, including one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

The 29-year-old is being held on a $5 million bail and entered a not guilty plea through his attorney, Chris Darden.

Holder also faces a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and could face life in prison if convicted.