Former POTUS Barack Obama Pays Tribute to Late Rapper Nipsey Hussle

Nipsey Hussle’s funeral took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, during which Karen Civil read a touching tribute to the late rapper penned by Barack Obama.

A rush of over 20,000 mourners showed up for the late rapper’s funeral which caused the service to start about an hour after the announced start time.

Many are still in shock after Nipsey died outside his clothing store in Los Angeles on March 31 when Eric Holder shot him several times following an alleged argument.

During the service, an emotional Karen Civil went on stage and shared a special tribute to Nipsey Hussle. “We would like to read a letter from the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama,” she began to cheers from mourners.

In the letter, the former president showed the admiration he had for what Nipsey worked at accomplishing in his neighborhood as he wrote:

"While most folks look at the Crensh neighborhood where he grew up and see only gangs, bullets and despair, Nipsey saw potential. He saw hope. He saw a community that, even through its flaws, taught him to always keep going."

Barack further sang Nipsey’s praises for what he achieved in the gang stricken neighborhood as he added:

"To build a skills-training center and a co-working space in Crenshaw; to lift up the Eritrean-American community; to set an example for young people to follow -- is a legacy worthy of celebration. I hope his memory inspires more work in Crenshaw and communities like it."

The late rapper’s longtime 34-year-old girlfriend, Lauren London also shared a few words on the love of her life with whom she shared a 2-year-old son, Kross Asghedom.

"I'd like to say something to my city, Los Angeles," Lauren began. “This pain is ours. We know what Nip meant to us. We lost an incredible soul. We lost someone very rare to us, and we lost a real one, and we won't ever be the same."

Lauren’s 9-year-old son with rapper Lil Wayne, Cameron Carter, in turn, shared a dream he had about Nipsey. “On the night of April 2, I had a dream. I was in a paradise, and I was playing in the ocean water when Ermias popped up right behind me,” Cameron said calling Nipsey by his birth name.

“He said, ‘What up killa,’ cuz that’s my nickname to him. I turned around, and I yelled his name and gave him a hug. Shortly after he was gone, but it was still cool I guess,” the youngster added.

When Cameron told his mum about the dream he had, the 9-year-old also realized that Nipsey told him about heaven. “He told me it was paradise,” he said before he got the crowd into saying “Respect” out loud.

During the memorial which lasted three hours, Nipsey’s mother, Angelique Smith gave an emotional speech and revealed that she sensed something terrible was going to happen.