Photos: Thousands Remember Slain Rapper Nipsey Hussle

Tens of thousands of people took part in an emotional memorial Thursday in Los Angeles for the slain rapper Nipsey Hussle, whose musical peers took turns hailing his talent and tireless community organizing.

The Staples Center arena was packed to the rafters for the ceremony, and many others watched on television and online as the city bid farewell to the Grammy-nominated artist, shot in broad daylight on March 31.

Police have said the killing, which triggered an outpouring of grief in Los Angeles and among his music industry peers, was gang related and personal in nature.

Crowds of mostly young blacks and Latinos wearing T-shirts with pictures of the 33-year-old rapper started early Thursday to flow toward the Staples Center, the sports arena which hosted a memorial service for Michael Jackson back in 2009.

Some 21,000 seats were offered for free on the internet and were snapped up in a matter of minutes.

The crowd was so big the ceremony started an hour late — with a DJ playing Hussle’s hit album “Victory Lap,” which earned him a Grammy nod.

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11: Guests pose outside of the STAPLES Center prior to Nipsey Hussle's Celebration of Life at STAPLES Center on April 11, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed in front of his store, The Marathon Clothing, on March 31, 2019 in Los Angeles. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images/AFP

People console each other as they arrive to attend the Celebration of Life memorial service for rapper recording artist and social activist Nipsey Hussle, April 11, 2019 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. - Hussle, born Ermias Ashgedom, was fatally shot outside his Marathon Clothing store in South Los Angeles on March 31. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)

Dozens of Ethiopian and Eritrean living in Addis Ababa gather for the memorial service to honor Eritrean American rapper, Nipsey Hussle, on April 6, 2019 in Addis Ababa. - Rapper Nipsey Hussle died Sunday March 31, 2019 after a shooting in Los Angeles near a clothing store he owned. (Photo by Michael TEWELDE / AFP)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11: Signage is seen on the side of the STAPLES Center prior to Nipsey Hussle's Celebration of Life at STAPLES Center on April 11, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed in front of his store, The Marathon Clothing, on March 31, 2019 in Los Angeles. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images/AFP

People arrive to attend the Celebration of Life memorial service for rapper recording artist and social activist Nipsey Hussle, April 11, 2019 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. - Hussle, born Ermias Ashgedom, was fatally shot outside his Marathon Clothing store in South Los Angeles on March 31. (Photo by Robyn Beck / Robyn Beck / AFP)

One after another, speakers took to the podium to remember the slain singer as pictures of his life were shown on a screen on stage to the sound of “My Way” by Frank Sinatra.

In a letter read out at the ceremony, former president Barack Obama remembered the singer, whose music he got to know through his two young daughters.

“He set an example for young people to follow and is a legacy worthy to follow,” Obama wrote, alluding to the singer’s social work in the poor and mainly black Crenshaw neighbourhood of Los Angeles.

After the ceremony, a procession was to wind its way through that neighbourhood for people to pay their last respects, with thousands of fans already lining the route.

Eric Holder, 29, has been arrested for the murder. He has pleaded not guilty. The reasons for the killing are not known.