Rapper, activist and entrepreneur Nipsey Hussle would have turned 35 on Saturday, Aug. 5 had he not been gunned down in front of his Los Angeles clothing store last March.
Though he wasn't here to receive them, birthday tributes for Nipsey, born Ermias Asghedom, poured in on Twitter in honor of the late star.
On Friday, Snoop Dogg released a new song in Nipsey's honor, "Nipsey Blue," which saw the rapper singing Nipsey-focused riffs on Dorothy Moore's 1976 stunner, "Misty Blue," tweaking lyrics to fit the pair's friendship.
Snoop released a song inspired by Nipsey after his death, as well. He later told Billboard the track, "One Blood, One Cuzz," was an appreciation of the unity he saw between gang members who wouldn't normally speak to one another.
"After Nipsey Hussle passed away, a lot of gang members that hadn't talked in 30, 40 years came together. They really loved each other as friends, but through all the madness and [ignorance] … they could never get any conversation going," he said at the time, adding that the situation reminded him of making "The Chronic" after the Los Angeles riots in 1992.
"I wanted to have a record that can unify people based off of a tragic event that can lead to some positivity and peace," Snoop said.
On Saturday, Rick Ross tweeted Nipsey's name and a dove emoji after posting, "Marathon continues …" in honor of Nipsey's store in South Central L.A.
Jay-Z's Roc Nation staff had Nipsey on their minds, too. "Happy Birthday to the great Nipsey Hussle who continues to inspire us everyday," the entertainment company posted on Twitter. Quoting the late rapper, they added, "'The best thing you can do for a person is to inspire them. That's the best currency you can offer: inspiration.'"
In addition to his music and retail store, Nispey was known for advocating for the Crenshaw community by supporting education programs, opening a co-work space for residents and speaking out against gun violence.
He was reportedly planning to meet with Roc Nation and members of the Los Angeles Police Department about fighting gun violence on April 1, 2019, one day after he was shot and killed in his own neighborhood.
He's survived by his longtime partner, Lauren London, and two children, Emani and Kross.