On Thursday afternoon, Los Angeles’ Staples Center hosted the funeral service for late rapper Nipsey Hussle. Following an emotional slideshow and a performance from Marsha Ambrosius, Karen Civil took the stage to read a letter of tribute from former President Barack Obama. “While most folks look at the Crenshaw neighborhood where [Nipsey] grew up and see only gangs, bullets, and despair, Nipsey saw potential,” wrote Obama. “He saw hope. He saw a community that, even through its flaws, taught him to always keep going.”

President Obama is just the latest in a long line of celebrities and artists that have been paying tribute to Nipsey since he was killed late last month. A suspect in the shooting, Eric Holder, has been arrested and formally charged with Nipsey’s murder. Since his death, Nipsey Hussle’s studio album Victory Lap has shot to the #2 spot on the Billboard 200 chart.

Nipsey’s full memorial service is currently streaming on TMZ, TIDAL, and BET. TMZ reports that G-Eazy, Big Sean, James Harden, and Meek Mill are among those in attendance at the Staples Center. Also attending the service is Russell Westbrook, who dedicated his recent triple-double to Nipsey. Read President Obama’s full tribute to Nipsey Hussle below, and watch a clip of Karen Civil’s reading via ABC News.

Thank you to @BarackObama for sending this letter for me to read celebrating @NipseyHussle’s life & legacy. 🏁 pic.twitter.com/qwEjjb6O9d

— Karen Civil (@KarenCivil) April 11, 2019

NEW: Letter from former Pres. Barack Obama read at memorial service for rapper Nipsey Hussle.

"While most folks look at the Crenshaw neighborhood where he grew up and only see gangs, bullets and despair, Nipsey saw potential. He saw hope." https://t.co/KyBQh8Fu8n pic.twitter.com/jxRemZowSp

— ABC News (@ABC) April 11, 2019

This article originally appeared on Spin.