Lauren London Rebuilds After Nipsey's Death: "Lost The Love Of My Life"

BY Erika Marie 9.6K Views
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Lauren London, Nipsey Hussle, LA Times, Death, Loss, Murder
The actress discussed rebuilding her life and re-entering into her acting career over the past 2+ years.

In an age where it seems as if everyone is looking for their Andy Warhol-predicted 15-minutes of fame, Lauren London remains fiercely private about her personal life. The actress has been in the industry since 2003 when she made her debut appearance in the music video for Pharrell Williams and Jay-Z's "Frontin'," but she's probably most famously remembered as Nu-Nu from the movie ATL alongside T.I.

However, London's relationships with the father of her children—Lil Wayne and Nipsey Hussle—have often made headlines, and following Nipsey's callous murder back in the Spring of 2019, London has dedicated herself to continuing his legacy. The Southern California native recently sat down with the Los Angeles Times to speak at length about her career, loss, and rebuilding after a tragedy.

“I think when really hard things happen to people it’s just hard to think that life will ever be sweet again. So that’s something that I’m learning again, is how to do that," said London. “I lost what I would say is the love of my life. ... So I had to go so deep within myself. I was so in a dark space and it was just like, ‘What is this? Who am I? God, please show me.’ ... When you’re facing God face-on, you’re asking real questions and you want real answers. It wasn’t for play. I really wanted to know what was going on. So, I think it just has expanded because of my quest for peace."

The actress spoke about meeting Nipsey back in 2013 after a few casual interactions. He reportedly slid into her DMs and their friendship grew into a romance. “Nipsey made the biggest joke that L.A. was my gang, that I bang L.A.,” she said. Since his passing, London has spent time focused on her family and her spiritual practices, but she eased back into the industry by starring in Without Remorse with Michael B. Jordan.

"I always say I’m a seeker of truth. I always say that. Because I want to know the truth," said London. "I want to know what it really is, and I think that also has been what has helped me in my spiritual practice too. It’s a tenacity for God."

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.