Thousands of people gathered at LA's Staples Centre for Nipsey Hussle's (born Ermias Asghedom) Celebration of Life memorial service on Thursday afternoon. One of them was the rapper's longtime love [1], Lauren London, who delivered a heartbreaking eulogy. Dressed in all white, the 34-year-old actress read an emotional text that she sent to Nipsey back in January. "Ermias, I want you to know that I feel real joy in my heart when I'm around you. I feel safe around you, protected, like a shield over me when you're around," she said. "I love you so much unconditionally. My truth is this: I'm never going to give up on you. My love and my devotion is to you."

Lauren — who was in attendance with their 2-year-old son Kross — then praised Nipsey, calling him "the strongest man that I ever knew" and "a divine light." "Ermias always used to say that you can't possess people, that you experience them, and I'm so honoured and blessed that I got to experience such a man," Lauren continued. "To Ermias, the love of my life, you know what it is. Grief is the final act of love. My heart hears you, I feel you everywhere, I'm so grateful that I had you. I love you beyond this Earth."

The sombre event brought out Nipsey's closest friends and family, including celebrities like Beyoncé, JAY-Z, G-Eazy, Meek Mill, and Cassie. Barack Obama also wrote a touching letter [2] for the memorial, which was read at the beginning of the service by hip-hop media personality Karen Civil.

Nipsey was fatally shot outside [3] of his Marathon Clothing store in LA on March 31. He was 33. Nipsey and Lauren had been together since 2013 and welcomed Kross in 2016. They also shared Lauren's 9-year-old son, Cameron Carter, from her previous relationship with Lil Wayne, as well as Nipsey's daughter Emani. Our hearts go out to Lauren and her family!