Kross Ermias Asghedom is the younger brother of late rapper Nipsey Hussle, whose real name was Ermias Joseph Asghedom. Nipsey Hussle was a popular American rapper and community activist who was tragically shot and killed in 2019 at the age of 33.
Kross was born in 2016 to Nipsey Hussle’s longtime girlfriend Lauren London. As Nipsey Hussle’s brother, Kross has been kept largely out of the public eye as he grows up. However, some details are known about his family and background.
Kross’ Family Background
Kross Ermias Asghedom was born on August 31, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. His parents are model and actress Lauren London and rapper Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom.
Kross’ father Nipsey came from an Eritrean background, as his parents had immigrated to the United States from Eritrea in East Africa. Nipsey grew up in the Crenshaw neighborhood of Los Angeles and was very involved in giving back to his community through his music, activism, and business ventures.
Kross’ mother Lauren is an actress known for roles in films like ATL and shows like Entourage and The Game. Lauren had a previous relationship with rapper Lil Wayne, with whom she shares another son named Kameron.
In addition to older half-brother Kameron, Kross has an older sister named Emani Asghedom from his father Nipsey’s previous relationship.
Overall, Kross comes from an eclectic family background rooted in music, acting, activism, and the Los Angeles community.
Memorializing His Late Father
Unfortunately, Kross’ father Nipsey was shot and killed in 2019 outside of his Los Angeles clothing store Marathon Clothing. Nipsey’s death sent shockwaves through the music industry and Los Angeles community.
To honor and remember his late father, Kross Ermias Asghedom was given the middle name of Ermias, which was Nipsey Hussle’s real first name. This ensures that Nipsey’s legacy will live on through his son.
Kross’ mother Lauren has also shared that she makes sure to keep Nipsey’s memory alive for both Kross and Kameron, even though they were very young when their father passed. She frequently shows them old videos and pictures of their dad so they know who he was and what he represented.
It’s clear that Kross comes from an incredibly strong support system on both his mother and late father’s side of the family. The Asghedom family and Lauren London continue to uphold Nipsey Hussle’s community-oriented message in raising Kross as well.
Kross’ Early Life and Upbringing
Given the high-profile status of his parents, Kross Ermias Asghedom’s early childhood has been kept mostly private thus far. Both Lauren London and the Asghedom family have made an effort to shield Kross and his older half-brother Kameron from growing up in the spotlight.
In the aftermath of Nipsey Hussle’s death, Lauren expressed wanting her sons to have as normal an upbringing as possible. She has shared small glimpses into family life with her sons on Instagram, but has refrained from making them public figures during these formative years.
What is clear is that Kross is being raised with strong values of family, community, entrepreneurship, and social justice – principles that were incredibly important to his late father.
As Kross grows older, details may emerge about his interests, hobbies, and goals for the future. But during these early years it seems the family is focused on allowing Kross to have a childhood not defined by fame or public expectations.
Speculation Over Who Kross Resembles
One popular topic on social media has been speculation over whether Kross Ermias Asghedom resembles his late father Nipsey Hussle or his mother Lauren London more.
Given that most young toddlers naturally bear strong resemblance to one parent or another, fans and commentators have enjoyed debating if Kross takes more after the Asghedom side versus Lauren’s features.
From the limited photographs shared by Lauren London, it appears Kross may slightly favor his father’s side in terms of facial structure. However, he undoubtedly possesses a bright smile reminiscent of his beautiful mother.
As Kross continues to grow older, the debate over his resemblance will probably continue. And there may be no definitive answer, as Kross seems to represent an equal blend of both parents’ strong genetic lineages.
Kross’ First Haircut Controversy
In 2021 when Kross Ermias Asghedom was around 5 years old, he got his first major haircut. His mother Lauren London shared a photo of Kross’ new short hairstyle on Instagram.
This prompted some controversy, as a few fans expressed disappointment that Kross’ long hair had been cut. Some commenters felt the haircut erased part of Nipsey Hussle’s legacy, as Kross had notably inherited his father’s long braided hairstyle previously.
However, most fans were very supportive of Lauren’s right to choose her son’s hairstyle and embraced his new look. Lauren herself refrained from responding to any of the negative commentary.
The minor controversy highlights the passion of Nipsey Hussle’s fanbase and their sense of protectiveness over his legacy living on through his younger brother Kross.
Kross’ Potential Future in Entertainment
Given his family pedigree in music, film, fashion, and community activism, some fans have speculated if Kross Ermias Asghedom might follow in his parents’ footsteps someday.
However, it is much too early to tell if Kross himself will pursue being any kind of public figure. His family seems intentionally focused on allowing him a normal childhood first and foremost.
If Kross does decide to enter show business or community leadership later on, he will undoubtedly have incredibly strong guidance and support from his family network on both his mother and late father’s side.
For now though, Lauren London clearly just wants her son to have the chance at a happy, healthy childhood paying tribute to his father’s memory but not defined by unrealistic expectations.
Kross Serves as Inspiration for Nipsey’s Posthumous Music
Though Kross was only 3 years old when Nipsey Hussle passed away, he has already served as inspiration for some of Nipsey’s posthumously released music.
In June 2022, Nipsey’s family estate released his first official posthumous album titled “The Marathon Continues”. The last track on the album is a song called “Kross Town Legend” featuring audio clips of baby Kross.
In the song, Nipsey can be heard tenderly talking to his son Kross with affirmations like:
“You a Kross town legend in the making”
“Today’s your birthday, you a big boy now”
“You smart, you bright, whole world in your eyes Kross”
The intimate father and son audio snippets provide a touching, never-before-heard glimpse at Nipsey’s relationship with Kross. It’s clear his baby brother held a special place in Nipsey’s big vision even amidst the height of his rap career before suddenly passing.
So while still young, Kross Ermias Asghedom has already served as a poignant symbol of the marathon continuing in Nipsey Hussle’s legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kross named after?
Kross Ermias Asghedom is named after both his mother and late father. His middle name “Ermias” is from his father Nipsey Hussle’s real first name, to honor his memory.
Is Kross Nipsey Hussle’s only son?
No, Kross’ older half-sister Emani Asghedom was born to Nipsey and his ex-girlfriend Tanisha Asghedom in 2008. But Kross is Nipsey’s only child with longtime love Lauren London.
How old is Nipsey Hussle’s brother Kross?
As of 2023, Kross is around 7 years old as he was born on August 31, 2016.
What does Kross Ermias Asghedom look like?
From the limited public photos, Kross appears to resemble his late father’s facial features but with a bright smile like his mother’s. He has been seen recently with short cropped hair.
Will Kross carry on his brother Nipsey’s legacy?
It remains to be seen if Kross decides to enter music, acting or community leadership like his parents. For now his family seems focused on allowing him a childhood not defined by fame or expectations from his lineage.