Nipsey Hussle’s Mom Gives Emotional Speech as Family Accepts His BET Humanitarian Award

Nipsey Hussle's family including his girlfriend Lauren London expressed their gratitude as they accepted his posthumous BET Humanitarian Award presented by T.I. "You've done your job, you've made your mark," his grandmother said.

It was an emotional moment at the BET Awards when Nipsy Hussle’s family along with his girlfriend, Lauren London received his posthumous Humanitarian Award.

"YOU'VE MADE YOUR MARK"

Leading the late slain rapper’s pack was his grandmother, 88-year-old Margaret Boutte who thanked everyone for their support.

“I was so amazed at how much love was out in the world for him that you uplifted me. I accepted his life as God said, ‘Nipsey, 'You've done your job, you've made your mark. I'm welcoming you into Heaven so you can rest.’”

Angelique Boutte Smith expressed her belief in the afterlife as she recounted feeling a sense of peace visiting her son’s Marathon Clothing store where he was shot to his death.

"EVEN THOUGH OUR BODIES SIGH...OUR SPIRITS LIVE"

Hussle’s parents were equally grateful. His father, Dawit Ashgedom spoke of how the 33-year-old was excited to attend the BET Awards the year before. “He made it to perform here,” he said.

Meanwhile, his wife, Angelique Boutte Smith expressed her belief in the afterlife as she recounted feeling a sense of peace visiting her son’s Marathon Clothing store where he was shot to his death.

“Even though our bodies sigh as they call it on this side of eternity, our spirits live. We look out of this vessel and we continue on.”

She also told the audience that Hussle was “nesting” before he died because he was fixing his home. “Ermias [Hussle’s real first name] was nesting, because his baby spirit was about to be born.”

"THE MARATHON CONTINUES"

London, who joined Hussle’s family on stage with Kross, her two-year-old son with the rapper, kept her message short. "I just want to thank you guys for all of the love and support and the marathon continues again."

Also with them was Hussle’s 10-year-old daughter, Emani and his sister, Samantha Smith who's now Emani’s legal guardian after winning a custody battle against the young girl's mother, Tanisha Foster.

“He was real, a true king, simply concerned with promoting human welfare and uplifting those around him.”

"HE WAS A REAL, TRUE KING"

Hussle’s family was introduced by T.I. who had a lot of kind words for his late friend in his speech.

“There will never be another Nipsey Hussle. Ermias ‘Nipsey Hussle’ Asghedom was more than a rapper, activist. His emphasis on the power of equity and ownership of our art led the charge of independence and created a blueprint for up-and-coming artists today to follow,” he proclaimed. “He was real, a true king, simply concerned with promoting human welfare and uplifting those around him.”

“I feel that he taught a generation of people how to hustle within your community.”

"HE TAUGHT A GENERATION OF PEOPLE HOW TO HUSTLE"

In a pre-taped segment, Snoop Dogg paid tribute to Hussle by lauding him for his efforts in giving back to the community. “He was reuniting neighborhoods and people that would not normally talk to each other,” he said. “I feel that he taught a generation of people how to hustle within your community.”

HIS MUSIC AND LEGACY LIVES

While he was alive, Hussle contributed in the improvement of his Crenshaw neighborhood by providing locals with employment through his local businesses like his Marathon store. For this, he was deserving of BET’s Humanitarian Award. In his honor, a blue carpet was rolled out this year in lieu of the traditional red. Nipsey blue as it was famously coined was his signature color.

BET’s tribute culminated in a medley of the rapper’s hits performed by Marsha Ambrosius, YG, John Legend and DJ Khaled.

HE DIED BY THE HAND OF SOMEONE HE KNEW

Hussle died in March outside his clothing store after he was shot in the head and torso by Eric Holder, a man he knew and had an altercation with earlier that day. Holder was later arrested and charged with murder. He is currently behind bars under solitary confinement awaiting trial after pleading not guilty. He faces life in state prison if convicted.

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