Looking into the death of Nipsey Hussle

Rashawn Raysor/Staff Writer

 

The Grammy-nominated Los Angeles rapper, Nipsey Hussle died on Sunday, March 31. He was shot multiple times outside of the Marathon Clothing store that he owned. The community mourns his passing as Nipsey Hussle was influential in the South Los Angeles area.

Hussle was involved in numerous community projects. He invested in the coworking space, Vector 90. It was at this coworking space that south central L.A. youths could take science, technology, engineering and math classes. He also had hopes of new locations in other cities. Hussle was also known for creating the Marathon Clothing with two other co-owners.   

Since his death fans and celebrities have taken to social media to express their outrage over his passing. There were plenty of condolences, thoughts and prayers, as well as outrage over the street violence that claimed Hussle. Alongside the online grieving a different response was brewing on social media. A section of his fans had come to believe in a conspiracy theory about his death.

The conspiracy theory states that Nipsey Hussle was assassinated because he was working on a documentary about Alfredo Darrington Bowman, or commonly known as Dr. Sebi. Those they believe in this conspiracy believed the rapper was silenced by a higher authority before he could spread the truth to the black community.

Bowman was a Honduran herbalist. Bowman made claims of being able to cure diseases such as AIDS and cancer with unique alkaline-based diet. Bowman’s diet was discredited by the medical community though

Hussle’s documentary would be about Bowman’s trial in 1987, where New York City charged him with practicing medicine without a license.

As odd as this theory maybe. it is not entirely without reason or logic. African-Americans have reason to believe in conspiracy theory more than most Americans as the U.S. has enacted various injustices against its black citizenry that have been hidden from the public.

Two of the most notable being the Tuskegee Syphilis experiment and COINTELPRO. The Tuskegee Syphilis experiment was an unethical medical study in which, African-American males were infected with the syphilis virus under the guise of free health care. The men were then observed for 40 years, during this time they were not given treatment.

COINTELPRO was an FBI program in the 60’s that targeted various groups deemed as “subversive”, these groups included various civil rights agencies and black nationalist organizations. Incidents such as these as well as recent activity against Black Lives Matter has provided some justification for believing in government conspiracies. As too often for African-Americans conspiracy theory has transformed into conspiracy fact. Fans have reason to question the nature of the rapper’s death, even if that questioning is misguided.

Whether a government assassination or yet another incident of street violence, Hussle will be fondly remembered his fans, his community, and those closest to him. He has survived through his partner Lauren London and their children.

Eric Holder, a suspect in the murder, was arrested by the L.A. police department on Tuesday April, 2.   

Featured photo taken from Wikipedia. 

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