The rapper’s Neighborhood Nip Foundation to participate as an official charity partner
The extraordinary legacy of the late, great Nipsey Hussle continues as the Neighborhood Nip Foundation gears up to participate as an official charity partner in the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon. Hussle’s The Marathon Clothing (TMC) brand will enter a team of 15 or more, with all funds raised by each runner benefitting the Neighborhood Nip Foundation. The participating team is being sponsored by The Marathon Clothing (TMC), The Marathon Water, and Puma.
The 39th running of the Los Angeles Marathon presented by ASICS takes place in Los Angeles on March 17, 2024. All potential participants who wish to run in support of The Neighborhood Nip Foundation can apply at NNF’s Marathon website. Hussle’s desire to give back to his community and support those in need has inspired The Neighborhood Nip Foundation to sponsor individuals who are not able to afford the fees that come with running the marathon.
“Hussle always spoke about the brand being involved with the LA Marathon. So, it’s a privilege for the team to be an official charity partner and enlist community participants to join the 2024 LA Marathon in honor of his legacy,” says The Marathon (TMC) team. “Nipsey Hussle’s iconic legacy is a beacon of inspiration for everyone in the City of Los Angeles and we are delighted to welcome the Neighborhood Nip Foundation as an official charity partner in March,” said Melissa Christian, Charity Director for the Los Angeles Marathon. “The Los Angeles Marathon is so much more than just a race; it’s a platform to empower communities and this partnership truly embodies that spirit, uniting our neighborhoods in a shared commitment to build a healthier world while celebrating Nipsey Hussle’s enduring legacy of resilience in the city he loved.”
The Neighborhood Nip Foundation was created in 2019 with a mission to extend Nipsey Hussle’s legacy and mission to inspire the community through initiatives that will benefit underprivileged youth. The Neighborhood Nip Foundation will kick off programming in 2024 with a complete reconstruction of the Nipsey Hussle Plaza property, located at 3420 W. Slauson Ave., the original location of The Marathon Store. Breathing new life into the location and following Hussle’s passion for creating a program that aids and encourages youth to reach their highest potential, the renovated site will serve as a massive community center for elementary through high school level students. Led by staff members of the foundation and additional volunteers from the community, programming will range from academic studies to music and studio-specific access. Additionally, the plaza will offer exclusive access to The Marathon Store, which will not be open to the public, as well as free haircuts at Steve’s Barbershop named after Hussle’s childhood friend Stephen “Fatts” Donaldson. Hussle’s estate plans to open the doors of The Neighborhood Nip Foundation in 2024.
Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom founded his record label, All Money In, in 2008, and burst on the scene with a trilogy of ground-breaking mixtapes, Bullets Ain’t Got No Names. In 2010, Hussle dropped a critically acclaimed mixtape, The Marathon. In 2011, Hussle released The Marathon Continues followed in 2013 by Crenshaw, the latter of which morphed into a media sensation when 1000 first-edition CDs priced at $100 each sold out in less than 24 hours at the first Proud 2 Pay pop-up in Los Angeles’ Fairfax district.
A year later, Hussle embarked on the Crenshaw Tour before releasing Mailbox Money. This time, the budding entrepreneur offered a limited edition run of 100 physical copies priced at $1000 each, all of which sold out instantly. After creating a weekly #MarathonMonday series, Hussle released the 17-track Slauson Boy 2 in 2016. The rapper later teamed with hip-hop peer YG for the landmark single, “FDT (F*** Donald Trump).”
Hussle announced his partnership with Atlantic Records in 2017, releasing his label debut album, Victory Lap, to worldwide popular success, critical applause and a Best Rap Album nomination at the 2019 Grammy Awards. The following year saw Hussle awarded posthumous Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance for his own “Racks In The Middle” featuring Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy and Best Rap/Sung Performance for DJ Khaled’s “Higher” also featuring John Legend.
Hussle’s creative vision wasn’t limited to his roles as an artist and label executive. The savvy businessman created The Marathon Clothing (TMC) brand in 2009, then years later remodeled and opened his first flagship smart store in 2017 in his beloved Crenshaw District. The owner of several other successful business ventures including The Marathon Agency and SC Commercial Ventures, Hussle also launched Vector90, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) initiative for Crenshaw neighborhood youth in 2018, the first in a planned chain of STEM academies within other inner cities, such as Atlanta, Baltimore and Washington, DC. 2022 saw the long-awaited grand opening of The Marathon (Collective), a premier THC and CBD retail store at 7011 Canoga Ave. Since his passing Nipsey Hussle’s family has continued his work with the Neighborhood Nip Foundation. The foundation’s headquarters will be located in Nipsey Hussle Plaza at 3420 W. Slauson Ave., the original location of The Marathon Store. The Neighborhood Nip Foundation will serve as a community center for elementary through high school level students including access to studio equipment for budding music enthusiasts as well as homework assistance and exclusive access to the Marathon store, Steve’s Barbershop and more. Hussle’s estate plans to open the doors of The Neighborhood Nip Foundation in 2024.
