DJ Khaled and John Legend paid tribute to slain rapper Nipsey Hussle during their emotional set on Saturday Night Live.
The 33-year-old rapper died after being shot near his Marathon Clothing store in Los Angeles on 31 March (19), after recording and filming the music video for Higher, his collaboration with Khaled and Legend.
The duo performed the track on the U.S. sketch show on Saturday, and Khaled made sure the slain rapper wasn’t forgotten by wearing a sweatshirt featuring a portrait of the Double Up hip-hop star.
“Long live Nipsey Hussle, the Marathon Continues,” Khaled said as he introduced Legend to the stage.
The pair were joined by Meek Mill, SZA, J Balvin, Big Sean, Lil Wayne, Jeremih and Lil Baby, who all feature on Khaled’s new album, Father of Asahd.
Two days before releasing Higher, along with the rapper’s final music video, Khaled announced that all of the song’s proceeds would be donated to Nipsey’s children – son Kross, two, with girlfriend Lauren London, and daughter Emani, 10, from a previous relationship.
“Recently, I embarked on a soul-searching journey down a road I never thought I would travel in a million years. It began when a tragedy robbed the world of an enlightened soul, a brother, a father, a partner and my friend Nipsey Hussle,” Khaled shared in a statement on Twitter.
The 43-year-old went on to reveal that just days before Nipsey was killed, “he shared his energy and positivity with me on a video set for a song called, Higher.”
“After much prayer and reflection; and with the full blessing of the Asghedom family, I am sharing that with the world,” Khaled continued.
Eric Holder was charged in April with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon over the shooting. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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