Stevie Wonder sang at Nipsey Hussle's memorial service on Thursday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Stevie Wonder sang at Nipsey Hussle's memorial service on Thursday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and also called for stronger gun control laws in the wake of Hussle's death.
Hussle was fatally shot on March 31 outside his clothing store in South Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced on April 4 that Eric Ronald Holder Jr. was charged with fatally shooting Hussle and wounding two others in Los Angeles. The two other men survived.
Wonder sang his song "Rocket Love," which he said was one of Hussle's favorite songs of his, and then launched into a cover of Eric Clapton's "Tears In Heaven."
"It is a heartbreak to lose a member of our family," Wonder said, adding that he had previously met Hussle as well as Hussle's girlfriend, Lauren London. "It is a heartbreak because it's so unnecessary. We, to be a civilized nation, civilized world, we still are living in a time where ego, anger, jealousy, is controlling our lives. It is so painful to know that we don't have people taking a position that says, 'Listen, we must have stronger gun laws.' It's unacceptable. It's almost like, the world is becoming blind.
"I pray that we will grow, that the leaders that have a responsibility to perpetuate life will do it by making sure that the laws will make it so very hard for people that have guns and to take their frustrations out to kill life," he continued. "I'm very happy that in his short life he was able to motivate people and I hope that it motivates you enough to say, 'Listen, enough of people being killed by guns and violence.' I hope that we just don't talk about it, but we are able to make a difference for our future."
Earlier in the memorial service, Jhene Aiko sang her song, "Eternal Sunshine." Watch the video below for more:
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