PHOENIX -- Jordan Clarkson was one of many NBA players shocked and saddened by the news of rapper Nipsey Hussle being fatally shot outside his own Los Angeles clothing store on Sunday.

stop killing Period! stop gun violence! — Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) April 1, 2019

Clarkson -- who has been more active on social media since the shooting and made the internet rounds for his emotional message about gun and gang violence at a Scottsdale nightclub late Sunday night -- said it feels like somebody took “part of my family.”

“We was on a bus and kind of all talking and stuff like that. It’s crazy,” Clarkson told cleveland.com Monday afternoon. “I was like, ‘Man, it felt like somebody took my family member from me.’ That’s what it felt like. This is a whole thing, man. It’s just embarrassing to us. It’s just crazy, man. Crazy stuff.”

The 33-year-old Grammy-nominated West Coast rapper was known for his reality-based lyrics and work in the South Los Angeles community. He had developed an interest in technology and community development, and was part of a team of artists and entrepreneurs who developed Destination Crenshaw, an open-air museum devoted to honoring African-American artistic achievement.

According to TMZ, Nipsey was supposed to be meeting with LAPD brass Monday to discuss ways of preventing gang violence.

“He’s so important to the culture and it’s detrimental in terms of that,” Clarkson said. “In terms of everything, you have a black man that’s doing good for himself no matter his past or whatever he had done. In his own neighborhood, started his own business, had his own thing going and he gets shot on a Sunday. It’s almost embarrassing to our culture and to us as people that we would do something like that.

“It does hurt because I feel like he has touched all of us in many ways. Then even people bringing their phones out and recording him while he’s on the ground and stuff like that, it’s a lot. We just have to change as people to be honest with you. I don’t see no other races doing that. We definitely have to change as people. We just need to look in the mirror.”

Clarkson said he only met the rapper, born Ermias Asghedom, a few times. Nipsey Hussle frequently sat courtside at Staples Center for Lakers home games. The two talked “here and there” and exchanged pleasantries on Twitter.

But the talented rapper still made a profound impact, which became more clear by the outpouring of messages and condolences.

“Feel like he’s the 2Pac of our generation to be honest with you,” Clarkson said. “Same impact. He has that much pull on people. You see how much in terms of people showing love.”

Earlier this year, Nipsey’s long-awaited debut studio album, “Victory Lap,” earned a Grammy nod for best rap album. It featured lyrics about surviving street life, including fighting off would-be robbers. He collaborated with Kendrick Lamar, CeeLo Green, Diddy, The Dream and YG on that album.

One of the tracks, “Grinding All My Life,” was used in Isaiah Thomas’ documentary titled “Book Of Isaiah,” while chronicled Thomas’ trade from Boston and return from injury.

Clarkson’s favorite track, “7 Days a Week,” came from Nipsey’s “The Marathon” mixtape. Earlier this season in Los Angeles, Clarkson got a tattoo on his lower leg of deceased rapper Pimp C. Asked if he will pay tribute to Nipsey Hussle with some ink the same way, Clarkson said “I don’t know yet. We’ll see.”

“He was a real dude,” Clarkson said. “He always kept it honest. Even when he started his stuff to everything, he kept it real. Went back to his neighborhood and opened businesses and doing stuff for the community. That’s why everybody feels like this. Man, took a good one away from everybody and from the culture, period."

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