By Prince Hakeem
On the fateful Sunday afternoon of March 31, 2019, the hip-hop world, as well as the black community overall, was rocked by the sudden and violent killing of Los Angeles rapper Nipsey Hussle.
The memorial and celebration of his life was a great acknowledgment of the spirit of dedication and philanthropy he embodied. Since then, his family and estate have been at the forefront of keeping his legacy alive. A prevailing testament of Nipsey’s influence was his phrase, “The Marathon Continues”. It was his calling card that helped catapult him into mainstream hip-hop success and visibility. As those words continue to sing in honor of his memory, there’s been some trouble regarding some legalities around it.
If you remember back, soon after Nipsey’s death the corporate side of the Crips sought out to trademark his “The Marathon Continues” phrase. The estate of Neighborhood Nip was angered by this move, firing off a lawsuit in retaliation. Nipsey’s brother, Samiel Asghedom, launched the lawsuit seeking the Crips to stop using his catchphrases on merchandise.
Now several months later, the two sides have come to a settlement and the lawsuit has been dropped. Details of the agreement have not been disclosed right now. There are still some details that need to ironed out before things become official.