Thousands expected to celebrate Nipsey Hussle at memorial tonight

The life of US artist Nipsey Hussle will be celebrated at a memorial service for the star on Thursday, where thousands are expected to gather.

The memorial is set to take place at the Staples Centre in LA at 7pm SA time. Prior to the memorial, the star's body will take a "Victory Lap" around the neighbourhoods he supported. The procession will cover 40km.

Tickets for the memorial were given to LA residents free of charge but sold out in 20 minutes.

Los Angeles Times reported that tickets soon surfaced online for as much as $400 or R5,600. The Source claimed that Craiglist had also removed posts selling tickets. 

The service is being aired on several US TV stations and online services.

The city of Los Angeles earlier this week announced that an intersection in the rapper's childhood neighbourhood of Crenshaw will be renamed "Ermias 'Nipsey Hussle' Asghedom Square".

The renaming was prompted by an online petition to rename the intersection after Nipsey.

Nipsey was gunned down in March outside of his clothing store in Los Angeles, allegedly by Eric Holder. Holder has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and attempted murder.