Nipsey Hussle Square is officially open for business. 

After years of mourning and construction, the intersection of Crenshaw Blvd and Slauson Ave has officially been renamed in the late rapper’s honor. Family, friends, and fans gathered on Feb. 28 to celebrate the unveiling, with Lauren London and his brother Blacc Sam delivering emotional speeches about the journey it took to make the moment possible. 

“When me and Nip first started dating, we would drive by over there. He would be like, ‘You know, Boogie? One day they gon’ name this whole section after me.’ And here we are today.” London shared. “So thank you all for showing up. Thank you to our family for being strong, beautiful, and inspiring me. So God bless you all, and peace and love.”

Blacc Sam gave insight into his brother’s mission and why the Marathon Clothing store at this exact corner mattered so deeply. “I say all that to say how important this parking lot is and how important this corner is, from little kids to ownership and even what happened to my brother in this parking lot,” he said. 

He further explained that there were moments he tried to convince Nipsey to move the business, but he remained 10 toes down on building in the neighborhood they lived in. As he reminisced about their conversations, he shared that Nip always returned to his why. “He said we're opening this first Marathon store here because my sh*t has to inspire. My sh*t has to inspire people, first and foremost; it has to inspire the people that grew up here, that grew up where I grew up. That was with me, and seen me and having to understand that you can do it.”

And the Marathon continues. A new Marathon Burger location has just opened in Long Beach on March 1, carrying forward Nipsey’s vision of black ownership and community investment. Even 7 years after his passing, Nipsey Hussle’s legacy remains rooted in the values he refused to leave behind and the neighborhood that raised him.