Actress Lauren London was thrust into the spotlight when her partner, Grammy-nominated
artist Nipsey Hussle, was murdered in March 2019.
The very private mom of two has opened up a bit as she grieves, but there's a lot you
may not know about the slain rapper's girlfriend.
Formerly engaged to Lil' Wayne
Since 2013, Lauren London has been known partially as Nipsey Hussle's TV star girlfriend, but
he wasn't the first rapper that the actress called her beau.
According to Bossip, there were rumors that London got engaged to Lil' Wayne in 2007,
but she didn't confirm the fact until years later in an interview with Skin Deep author
Kathleen Cross:
"We tried more than once to revive it, and we were engaged briefly years ago, but we
eventually parted ways."
The actress reportedly first met Lil' Wayne when she was 15 years old, and contrary to
popular belief, they didn't have a one-night stand.
The pair did have a child, but worked hard to protect him from the public eye.
Almost cast in 'Notorious'
It can't be easy trying to fill Faith Evans' stilettos.
The platinum-selling recording artist is a cultural icon whose love life made it to the
big screen in 2009 with Notorious.
Fans know that Antonique Smith of Rent landed the coveted role, but at one point, Lauren
London was up for the part.
In an interview with GQ, London revealed that things got pretty serious during the auditions,
and she even met P. Diddy and Evans.
It wasn't London's first time working with talented rappers: She starred alongside T.I.
in her breakout role as New-New in the 2006 dramedy ATL.
"Um, I would say I relate to New-New, when i was seventeen-years old… just, not being
comfortable with who I was yet, and still trying to find who I was."
Although she ultimately wasn't cast in Notorious, she ended up having a pretty great 2009.
She landed roles in the films I Love You, Beth Cooper and Next Day Air:
"What's up?
You're not mad at me no more."
"I'm not.
But I can't speak for Ms. Jackson.
She wants to see you in her office right now."
That same year, she wrapped up her run as Christina Worthy on 90210.
She struggles with fame
Lauren London seems completely at ease in front of the cameras, but that might just
mean she's a really great actress.
The star tends to shy away from fame and is reportedly still getting used to being in
the spotlight outside of work.
In an interview with author Kathleen Cross, London revealed that she struggles with fame.
"I can't remember a time when I didn't want to be an actor.
It's crazy though because I'm such a private person."
London first got into acting because she was an only child who spent a lot of time alone
and used movies to keep herself company.
She had absolutely no desire to become a genuine celebrity, though she admits she occasionally
relishes the special attention.
London revealed that she's not the type of celebrity who gets hounded by the paparazzi
every day, although she does occasionally get recognized by fans.
Auditioning for ATL
Lauren London's fiery portrayal of New-New in the coming-of-age film ATL is largely considered
the star's breakout role, but landing the part was no easy feat.
Prior to nabbing the gig alongside rapper T.I., London had only two semi-notable acting
jobs on her résumé: a cameo in a 2006 episode of Everybody Hates Chris, and an uncredited
part in a Pharrell Williams and Jay-Z music video.
According to BET, the actress didn't even have an agent when she tried out for ATL.
She landed the part after a whopping five auditions!
In 2013, she told Vibe Vixen:
"Before ATL, people didn't know about me…
No one gave me that.
I did that."
Nipsey slid into her DMs
One of hip hop's biggest power couples met the not-so-old-fashioned way.
"I don't have a celebrity crush.
I'm with my celebrity crush."
"Right."
Lauren London and Nipsey Hussle's relationship was truly a modern fairy tale born out of
mixtapes and Instagram.
The pair's longtime love might have never happened if it wasn't for Hussle's $100 mixtape.
According to a profile in GQ, the actress was looking to buy some of the rapper's rare
mixtapes as gifts for her co-stars on The Game in 2013.
Once the starlet got her hands on some of Hussle's music, she started following him
on Instagram.
Hussle followed her back and promptly slid into her DMs.
The rest is history.
An enduring romance
Lauren London and Nipsey Hussle's romance endured more than five years, which is pretty
much a lifetime in showbiz.
Although the pair was fielding engagement rumors in 2019, that doesn't mean the couple
never fell on hard times.
The superstars briefly went their separate ways about a year after London gave birth
to their son.
According to XXL, breakup rumors hit headlines in 2016 after rapper T.I. accidentally let
it slip that the pair was expecting a child.
He was quick to shut it down, but by 2017, it looked like London and Hussle were having
trouble for real.
In a since-deleted tweet, Hussle wrote:
"We are deciding to separate…
This was a mutual choice, and we will function with each other as family [with] love and
respect."
That breakup obviously didn't stick, and the pair was back on not long after the split.
Though she stayed quiet in the first few days after Nipsey Hussle's tragic death, London
posted a moving tribute to Hussle on Instagram on April 2nd, 2019:
"I am completely lost / I’ve lost my best friend / My sanctuary / My protector / My
soul....
/ I’m lost without you / We are lost without you babe / I have no words."