Former U.S. president Barack Obama wrote a heartfelt letter to Nipsey Hussle. The missive was read by Karen Civil, the late rapper’s business partner, at the memorial service on Thursday (April 11) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

At the memorial, Civil read the letter addressed to Hussle’s family and friends, which read in part, “Nipsey saw potential, he saw hope, he saw a community that taught him to always keep going."

"I'd never met Nipsey Hussle, but I'd heard some of his music through my daughters, and after his passing," the letter begins. "I had the chance to learn more about his transformation and community work."

"While most folks look at the Crenshaw neighborhood where he grew up and see only gangs, bullets, and despair, Nipsey saw potential. He saw hope. He saw a community that, even through its flaws, taught him to always keep going," he continued. "His choice to invest in that community rather than ignore it...is a legacy worthy of celebration."

"I hope his memory inspires more good work in Crenshaw and communities like it," he concluded.

You can read Barack Obama's letter to Nipsey Hussle below.

See Photos of Nipsey Hussle's Different Looks Over the Years

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