ONTARIO, Calif. – Los Angeles hip-hop veteran E.D.I. Mean has been out in the community promoting “The Welcome to the West Festival” in Ontario. Local hip hop artists will take to the stage, from icons like Ice Cube all the way to up and coming artists from Southern California.

E.D.I. went to the Toyota Arena to get everything right for the show. Last year, the late Nipsey Hussle was the headliner for the festival. No one knew he would be gone just 10 months later.

“He was a consummate professional. He came and did sound check, which is like pulling teeth for certain artists. He came was on time. He was early actually. That’s correct. He was early last year, so that’s my number one memory of Nipsey,” E.D.I. said.

E.D.I. knows all too well the pain of losing a local hero. He is best known as a member of The Outlawz, a rap group which included Tupac Shakur. To this day he remembers the shock of losing one of the city’s brightest stars over 20 years ago, which tragically repeated itself this year.

“Pac obviously was a lot younger than Nipsey when he left. Nipsey was able to be here longer and accomplish certain things in the business world Pac never even got a chance to start on,” E.D.I. said. “Pac loss is significant it’s a worldwide loss. People felt it all over the world. Nipsey’s was more personal to L.A. and Southern California.”

E.D.I. is planning a personal star-studded tribute to Nipsey at the festival.

“You never know who might hit that stage for Nipsey, so you’re going to want to be here to see it,” said E.D.I.

Fans can be there for the special tribute at the “Welcome to the West Festival” this Friday. Ice Cube is this year’s headliner. For tickets you can visit the website here.