Nipsey Hussle's community foundation has received a generous monetary gift from Atlantic Records.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the music label has made a six-figure donation to the Neighborhood Nip Foundation—a nonprofit recently launched by the late rapper's family. Karen Civil, Nipsey's good friend and former business partner, confirmed the news via Instagram on Friday; however, the exact sum of the donation has not been disclosed.
The Neighborhood Nip Foundation was formed to continue Nipsey's legacy of philanthropy and commitment to his community.
"[Nipsey] was very adamant about being purposeful and intentional and giving back and doing that right where he came from," said Steve "Steve-O" Carless, a co-founder of the Marathon Agency marketing film. "For us, it’s an honor to know we are going to be able to carry that vision on in the future, and we want to make sure it has the fortitude that he had. We’re really excited about it, and this is just the first step."
Nipsey's brother, Samiel Asghedom, told the Times that his family is still developing the foundation's initiatives, but said it will focus on music-related programs for youth. Asghedom said the mission was partly inspired by the Watts Tower programs, which gave Nipsey free access to recording studios when he was a teen.
"We used to talk a lot about [what the Watts Towers program] meant to him. A push, a little help can go a long way, and that’s what this foundation will 100 percent be about," Asghedom said ."The foundation will be aligned with everything Nip believed in and what helped him."
In 2017, Nipsey's label All Money In partnered with Atlantic on a multi-album deal, which included his Grammy-nominated project Victory Lap. Atlantic's CEO Craig Kallman and COO Julie Greenwald spoke about their company's donation in a joint statement to the Times.
"Nipsey will be forever missed, but his courageous, generous spirit lives on in his incredible music and the impact he made on the community," they said. "Nip’s love for the generation coming up behind him is a big part of what’s inspiring this foundation, and we’re proud to celebrate his life by supporting his legacy."
Proceeds from Nipsey's upcoming Puma collaboration will also benefit the Neighborhood Nip Foundation. The co-branded range, which was announced just months before Nipsey's death, will arrive Sept. 5.
