Nipsey Hussle’s signature style is being embodied in a special way — with the span of his legacy spreading far beyond music.
On Tuesday, the late rapper’s estate unveiled the release date for his debut Puma collection, reports The Undefeated. The highly anticipated release for September 5 follows Hussle’s years-long relationship with the global sportswear company.
"Nipsey spearheaded this project from concept to final product over the course of last year, flying to meetings, reviewing samples, bringing in material references he liked, and most importantly ensuring that it reflected his style authentically with no compromise. Each detail from logo placement, fit, colorways, and materials was thoughtfully done,” Hussle’s estate wrote on Instagram.
Hussle, owner of The Marathon Clothing store, was killed at the age of 33 outside his Los Angeles store on March 31.
Ian Forde, Puma merchandise manager, believes that Hussle’s new collection is special because it “speaks to the different facets of who he was," according to The Undefeated.
Puma wrote on Twitter that the collection “pays tribute to Nipsey’s vision and legacy." The company also shared that all proceeds will go toward The Neighborhood “Nip” Foundation stating that “he wouldn’t want it any other way.”
On September 5th, 2019 the collection will be available with 100% of the net proceeds from sales going directly to the Neighborhood “Nip” Foundation. Nipsey always put his community first and we know he wouldn’t want it any other way.
— PUMA (@PUMA) August 20, 2019
“He was super attentive. He paid attention to the details … the larger picture. He treated everything like an album or a project, and every item in the collection is almost like a track, right?” Forde continued.
Last year, Hussle and fellow California rapper G-Eazy teamed up with the brand to surprise dozens of Las Vegas students with free sneakers.
“I remember being a kid and how important shoes were…I’m happy that I can give on behalf of Puma and inspire some kids,” Hussle said.
Hussle also leveraged his relationship with Puma by initiating an idea to refurbish a local Los Angeles basketball court located near his grandmother’s house.
Puma's history of embracing music artists goes beyond Hussle as noted by their previous collaborations with the likes of Rihanna, Big Sean and The Weeknd.