On Thursday (August 15), a day worthy of global recognition and honor has arrived as fans, family and friends remember hip-hop’s fallen angel, altruist, and rap artist Nipsey Hussle on what would have been his 34th birthday.

Born Ermias Asghedom, Nip’s life was devastatingly cut short on March 31, 2019 in a fatal shooting that stifled his Slauson hometown and hip-hop community alike. Tributes and memorials poured out just as heavily as tears fell for the beloved icon from family, friends and fans all over the world. Nipsey left behind an unmatched hip-hop discography and a foolproof blueprint for the advancement of Black ownership, independence and wealth. He gleamed in authenticity among industry brotherhood and Black fatherhood. A brother, a lover, a son and a hero to many, the Victory Lap artist not only selflessly set a paramount standard for Black excellence, but excelled far beyond it. Among the several gems cemented into his legacy, three words encompass his lasting impact for years to come and extending beyond his short 33 years of life: The Marathon Continues.

We’ve gathered some of the most stirring, honorable and important tributes in acknowledgment of the day Nipsey The Great's marathon began: