Five years. That’s how long Ermias Asghedom, the man the world knew as Nipsey Hussle, and Lauren London had. It wasn't a lifetime, but if you look at how people still talk about them in 2026, you’d think they were together for fifty years. Their connection wasn't just some red-carpet performance. It was a blueprint for a specific kind of partnership that felt grounded, even when the lights were at their brightest.
The thing about Nipsey Hussle and Lauren London is that they didn't meet at a fancy Hollywood party or through an agent. Honestly, it started because of a DM. Not the thirsty kind, either. Lauren wanted to buy copies of Nipsey’s Crenshaw mixtape—the one he famously sold for $100 a pop—as wrap gifts for the cast of a show she was working on. She reached out, he responded, and the rest is basically hip-hop history.
People always want to know if they were actually married. The short answer? No. But they were deep. Like, "sharing a soul" deep. That 2019 GQ photoshoot they did right before he passed away had everyone convinced they’d eloped. They looked like royalty. In reality, they were just two people from Los Angeles who found home in each other.
Why the Nipsey Hussle and Lauren London Connection Still Hits Different
You’ve probably seen the videos. Nipsey walking into a room and Lauren’s face just lighting up. There was a level of respect there that’s kinda rare. When Lauren got the lead role in John Singleton’s Snowfall, she found out she was pregnant with their son, Kross. She ended up turning down the role—her dream role—to focus on the pregnancy. Nipsey later said in interviews that he never pressured her. He just watched her make a choice based on what she believed in, and he respected the hell out of her for it.
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The Realities of Co-Parenting and Family
Their household was a blend of a lot of love and different dynamics. You had Kross, their son born in 2016. Then there was Emani, Nipsey’s daughter from a previous relationship, and Kameron, Lauren’s son with Lil Wayne. They weren't just "dating"; they were building a tribe.
- Kross Ermias Asghedom: Born August 31, 2016. He’s nine years old now, and if you see photos of him, the resemblance to his father is actually startling.
- The Estate: As of late 2025, reports confirmed that Kross and Emani are the primary beneficiaries of Nipsey’s $11 million estate.
- The Bond: Lauren has often spoken about how Nipsey treated Kameron like his own. Even Lil Wayne has publicly acknowledged the "family" vibe they all maintained.
It wasn't always perfect, though. They actually split up briefly in 2017. Nipsey tweeted about it, saying they’d decided to part ways but still had a lot of love for each other. It didn't last long. They were back together shortly after, and honestly, that brief break seemed to make them even tighter.
The "Marathon" After March 31, 2019
When the news broke that Sunday afternoon in March, it felt like Los Angeles stopped breathing. Nipsey was killed right in front of his own store, The Marathon Clothing, on Slauson and Crenshaw. It was a place he owned. A place where he was trying to hire people from the neighborhood and give them a second chance.
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Lauren’s eulogy at the Staples Center is something most people won't ever forget. She read a text she’d sent him months before he died. It was basically a love letter while he was still alive. She called him her "sanctuary." She talked about how he’d wake up, light sage, and play music to make sure their energy was right before they left the house.
How Lauren London is Keeping the Legacy Alive
She didn't just crawl into a hole and disappear. She’s been incredibly intentional about how she handles his memory.
- The PUMA Collaboration: The "L.A. Love Story" collection wasn't just clothes. It had Nipsey’s lyrics stitched into the fabric. It was her way of letting fans "wear" his energy.
- The 100K Pitch Competition: In 2024 and 2025, she’s been active with the Nipsey Hussle 100K Pitch Competition. It gives grants to Black-owned businesses. This was Nip’s whole thing—economic empowerment and "buying back the block."
- The Neighborhood Nip Foundation: She works closely with his brother, Samiel (Blacc Sam), on this. They recently did a massive Thanksgiving drive in 2025 that fed over 2,500 families in South L.A.
Addressing the Misconceptions
A lot of people think Nipsey was just a "rapper." That’s a massive understatement. He was a tech investor who opened a STEM center (Vector 90) for kids in the hood. He was a real estate mogul who bought the entire plaza where his store was located. He wanted to prevent gentrification by being the one who owned the land.
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Lauren, on the other hand, is often cast as the "grieving widow," but she’s much more than that. She’s a producer and an actress who has slowly started taking roles again, like in Netflix’s You People. She’s been very open about the fact that she’s not looking for a new relationship. In a 2024 interview, she basically said she’s already experienced "pure love" and doesn't feel the need to chase it again. That’s a heavy statement, but it shows the depth of what they had.
Actionable Takeaways from Their Story
If you're looking at Nipsey Hussle and Lauren London as an example of how to move in your own life, here’s what actually matters:
- Ownership is everything: Nipsey didn't want a boss. He wanted to own his masters and his real estate. Whatever you're building, try to own the "dirt" it sits on.
- Grief isn't a straight line: Lauren has been very transparent about "curling up in a ball" for a long time. It’s okay to not be okay, as long as you eventually keep moving.
- Build a village: The way they blended their families and stayed respectful with ex-partners is a masterclass in maturity.
The marathon didn't stop when Ermias died. It just changed form. Whether it’s through the "Smart Store" technology at The Marathon Clothing or the community centers being built in his name, the footprint he left—and the way Lauren guards it—is why we're still talking about them today.
Practical Next Steps for Fans and Supporters:
If you want to support the work they started, look into the Neighborhood Nip Foundation's annual L.A. Marathon team. You can also visit the new "Marathon Collective" locations in Los Angeles, which continue to operate as a hub for the community Nipsey loved so much. Support Black-owned businesses in the Crenshaw district to keep the economic vision alive.