Hip Hop artist and social activist Ermias Asghedom, known as Nipsey Hussle, died Sunday afternoon in South Los Angeles, Calif. after being shot six times. The Grammy-nominated artist was shot in the parking lot of his store, Marathon Clothing, at around 3:25 p.m., police sources say.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital not long after. Two other men were also shot, one is being treated at a local hospital and the other refused treatment, per Lt. Chris Martinez. The suspect fled the scene and their whereabouts are unknown.

The news broke minutes after Hussle had tweeted “Having strong enemies as a blessing”. Hussle has documented his affiliation in the Rollin 60s Neighborhood Crips, a prominent gang in Los Angeles, to Complex Magazine in 2010.

However, as his popularity and relevance in hip hop grew, so did his mentality on the message he wanted to send to his community. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times last year, Hussle says, “In our culture, there’s a narrative that says, ‘Follow the athletes, follow the entertainers,’ and that’s cool but there should be something that says, ‘Follow Elon Musk, follow Mark Zuckerberg.’ I think that with me being influential as an artist and young and coming from the inner city, it makes sense for me to be one of the people that’s waving that flag.”

Hussle has invested in Vector 90, a space that offered classes in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to inner city children in South Los Angeles. He was recently involved in the development of an open-air museum called “Destination Crenshaw” which showcased and celebrated African-American art. He also started a brand in 2017 titled “Marathon Clothing”, a shop where fans can buy exclusive gear. His last and only studio album Victory Lap that was released February 2018 and was nominated for a grammy the following year.

The news comes as an unfortunate shock to everyone in the entertainment industry. It was a loss that transcended the music industry, where Hussle was admired in. Fans, artists, and sport stars throughout the world mourned the passing of Hussle, who seemed to have a trajectory that was limitless. A man that was poised on changing his society for the better, regardless of where his past may have led him. The music community itself loses a figure that was authentic and respected.

The community of South Los Angeles loses a leader that was set on reversing it’s narrative. One that was continuing to open pathways for children to avoid the lifestyle he fell into. A man determined to create opportunity for those that were drawn into a life that reaped no benefits.

Asghedom is survived by his girlfriend Lauren London and his two kids.