Everything We Learned About Lauren London & Nipsey Hussle's Modern Day Love Story
Black History Month will come to an end soon, and boy, have we had some ups and downs. Although this month in black media has taken on us on a roller coaster of emotions, Lauren London and Nipsey Hussle just slid through the hood to give us a dose of Black love that we didn't know we needed in their latest shoot with GQ.
In the past, the power couple has kept their relationship on the lowest of keys, but their latest shoot, which was initially mistaken for an engagement photo session, has all eyes on them. The couple, accompanied by a valiant white horse, stood tall in Louboutins and Manolos on Slauson Avenue in their GQ feature, which has since gone viral. The photos were taken by Awol Erizku, who also shot Beyoncé's amazing maternity photos when she was pregnant with the twins, so their collaboration was guaranteed to be a bop.
Growing up in the streets of Los Angeles, Nipsey, a business powerhouse from Crenshaw, always felt the need to fight. But with Lauren London by his side, it's clear he realizes that he's already won. It was reported that the couple split in November 2017, but they reminded us that they're still going strong in building their modern day love story in their latest interview.
Nipsey and Lauren share a two-year-old son and have been together for more than three years, and despite rumors of engagement, the couple has been clear that they're moving forward in their relationship on their own terms. In case you're as curious as I am about how these two powerhouses make Black love look so sexy, check out the highlights from the feature below:
How Lauren London & Nipsey Hussle Met
What 21st-century love story doesn't start with a slide into the DMs? Nipsey and Lauren initially became acquainted thanks to the power of social media when the actress sought out a copy of Nipsey's rare Crenshaw mixtape as a season wrap gift for her cast mates on The Game. He explained:
"The marketing for the mixtape was that we only made a thousand units and sold them for a hundred dollars apiece. It was a scarcity model. Jay-Z bought a few copies, et cetera."
After having a homeboy act as her wingman, Lauren followed Nipsey on Instagram, who then made an attempt at shooting his shot and was successful. The rest was history.
How Lauren London & Nipsey Hussle Complement Each Other
In the interview, Lauren joked that she and Nipsey are just like any couple: perfectly imperfect.
"He didn't like the way I made the bed this morning, so he re-did it."
And he did so, politely, which is something that, due to his hard-knock beginnings, Nipsey wasn't used to. He explained:
"I just want to make sure you're happy. I appreciate your work."
He later explained later that kindness wasn't a trait that was valued in the streets and that he's always had to fight to be accepted and understood:
"I grew up in an environment where being polite was taken as a weakness. So I just fought everybody. You're not going to scare me into being somebody I don't want to be. So I'll just fight you."
Lauren clearly served as his kryptonite to this way of thinking.
What Lauren London Sacrificed To Live Out Her Modern Story
During the interview, Lauren revealed that after her starring role in ATL, it wasn't easy to book high-paying gigs. The actress shared that she even auditioned for the role of Faith Evans in Notorious.
"I auditioned to be Faith Evans in 'Notorious'. I talked to Faith, Puff, everybody. It just came down that the director didn't believe me as Faith."
Despite her not getting the role, an even bigger opportunity was on the hills. After being handpicked for a role in a major show, Lauren discovered that she was pregnant with Nipsey's child, forcing her to make a tough choice. Nipsey explained:
"Lauren was handpicked by John Singleton to do 'Snowfall'. She read, got the part, shot the pilot...did stunts...this was her dream role. And then she got pregnant with our son. That was a really hard decision for her to make."
The show, which she had already shot the pilot for and would later become a television hit, was the big break Lauren was looking for and she felt conflicted. The ATL star added:
"It was the toughest decision of my career by far."
Nipsey told GQ that he didn't pressure her and encouraged her to make a decision that was best for her at the time. It was at that point, Nipsey shared, that he learned a tremendous amount about Lauren's core values, and that "what she believes in, she really believes in."
Lauren told GQ that although the decision was a hard one to make, there really wasn't much deciding to be done. She knew what she had to do. In a vein reminiscent of Lauryn Hill's "Zion", she shared:
"Do I choose my soul or myself? I went with my soul."
Check out the full article on GQ.com.com!
Featured image by Shutterstock.com
- Nipsey Hussle and Lauren London Have Engagement Photo Shoot ... ›
- Nipsey Hussle and Lauren London open up about relationship in ... ›
- Best Boos In The West: Nipsey Hussle And Lauren London ... ›
- Ladies, This Clip Of Nipsey Hussle And Lauren London Might ... ›
- Bagged And Tagged: Nipsey Hussle Tells Lauren London She's ... ›
- Lauren London & Nipsey Hussle Discuss Her Sacrificing Career For ... ›
- Nipsey Hussle Finally Acknowledges His "Wife" Lauren London ›
- Nipsey Hussle and Lauren London Are Not Engaged - XXL ›
- Nipsey Hussle's $100 Mixtape Brought Him to Lauren London ... ›
- Nipsey Hussle and Lauren London: California Love | GQ ›
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
It’s spring, and it’s time to blossom into our favorite pastel nail colors. We can finally part ways with dark, neutral tones, looking forward to colors that make us feel lighter in spirit. Spring is a time to lighten the mood with floral designs and other aesthetics. Soon, our social media feeds will be filled with tons of nail inspiration, giving us many options. However, we can also understand how time-consuming it can be to find the perfect nail design.
We’ve collected 10 of the trendiest nails for every aesthetic. Warning: choosing one of these designs may cause every girl to ask you where you got your nails inspo from. In those moments, it’s advised to remember us. You’ve been warned.
Subtle Pastel Girlie
So, if you want to ease into your pastel colors, we get it. This nail art is perfect for getting into the nail season without fully committing. We love the subtle flower design with nude undertones. This color palette is ideal for anyone looking to keep their “clean girl aesthetic” without being too dull. If the solid pink color is still too much for your liking, try opting for nude on all the nails and allowing the two floral design to have their moment. There are many ways to get into the season without stepping outside our comfort zone.
Chrome Flower Girl
This nail design is an absolute show-stopper! Make everyone blind every time you wave hello with this incredible chrome art. This design is unique because of the gorgeous mix of purples, pinks, and yellows. This design is for the girl ready to move on from winter and enter her “spring girl era.” As if the colors alone weren’t enough, the two floral designs are the icing on this already captivating work of art. Live spring out loud with this masterpiece!
Yellow Mellow
Yellow is a signature spring color. This design honors the season with various yellows, making it stand out. Each pigment adds contrast to the design. This color scheme makes us want to break up with the typical nude aesthetic that has been around for way too long. Move forward and be the spotlight with the incredible yellow design.
Short But Mighty
Calling all of my short-nail girls! Yes, the rumors are true - we can have fun too. Short nails get a bad rap for not being as flashy as long nails. This design put those rumors to rest with its adorable pastel nail aesthetic. We love the hint of green complimented with pink floral nail art. This design is fun, classic, and refreshing for the upcoming season. Must have short nails for your job? No problem! Don’t lose out on feeling like that girl with this not-so-subtle nail art.
Pastel Anyone?
Gorgeous, gorgeous girls wear pastels! Can’t pick one pastel color for your next nail appointment? No worries! The beauty of nail art is that there are no rules. You can wear each pastel color on your fingertips with no regrets. This nail design proves just that with its impeccable color scheme matched with chrome to make things more interesting. Don’t stress yourself trying to find a design or pick a color. Do it all! You only live once, after all.
French Tip With A Twist
We love a classic white French tip as much as the next person, but in 2024, we are stepping it up! This pastel French tip will have all the girls screaming. Become mesmerized by the swirls of pinks, blues, and yellows across your tips. With this nail design, you’ll have anyone under your spell.
Easter Treat
Easter isn’t over until we say it’s over! This adorable Easter-inspired design will have you leaping into spring. Just look at those cute bunnies complimented with Easter eggs! The colors, design, and festive aesthetic have us jumping for joy. This design also has a nice balance of nudes, which can be great for anyone who wants to have fun with their nails and stay committed to neutral tones. This design has something everyone can appreciate, from the nail art girlie to the neutral girlie.
Simple Spring Chic
We have the perfect nail inspiration for you if you want to keep things clean and classic. This simple nail color eases into the season while still maintaining a classic touch. Let your jewelry be the glam when rocking this clean nail color.
Flower Girl
This design truly captures spring without words. From the colors to the flowers, there isn’t a part of this design that isn’t refreshing. The hues of pink alone give us soft girl Barbie vibes. Let your hands do all the talking with this perfect nail art.
Seeing Things Clearly
Finally, winter is behind us, and the spring sun allows us to see things clearly - just like this nail design! Clear nails have not gotten enough respect until now. These gel x clear spring nails are all you need to set the tone for the season. Colorful flowers are the main vocal point of the design while remaining simple. This design is a breath of fresh air we’ve all been waiting for. Welcome to spring!
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Justin Lambert/ Getty Images