The late rapper was honored with limited-edition LA Metro TAP cards and a temporary station renaming to mark what would have been his 40th birthday.
Nipsey Hussle was honored Friday (August 15) with a pair of limited-edition LA Metro TAP cards and temporary station renaming on what would have been the late rapper’s 40th birthday, celebrating his deep ties to South Los Angeles.
In partnership with the Nipsey Hussle Estate, LA Metro unveiled two commemorative TAP card designs—“Crenshaw & Slauson” and “Watts”—each paying tribute to the Grammy Award-nominated artist’s legacy and influence. The “Crenshaw & Slauson” card features a black-and-white portrait of Hussle taken by acclaimed Hip-Hop photographer Jonathan Mannion, while the “Watts” version captures the rapper aboard a Metro bus.
A total of 12,000 cards were released across select Metro stations, including Hyde Park, Crenshaw, Compton, Hollywood/Vine and Expo/Crenshaw. The Hyde Park station, located near Hussle’s Marathon Clothing store, has been temporarily renamed Nipsey Hussle Station through August 31.
“This partnership with his estate is a powerful example of how Metro is bridging transit, culture, and community to celebrate the enduring spirit of Los Angeles,” LA Metro said in a statement.
By early Friday morning, long lines had already formed at vending machines as people rushed to secure the collectible cards, a tangible tribute to the late rapper’s enduring impact on the city. Most of them have sold out.
Hussle was gunned down on March 31, 2019, outside his Marathon Clothing store on Slauson Avenue. He was 33. The man convicted of his murder, Eric Holder Jr., was sentenced to 60 years to life in prison in February 2023.
Hussle’s death sent waves through the Hip-Hop world and beyond, as he was widely respected not just for his music but for his work in the community. He was a vocal advocate for economic empowerment, youth mentorship and gang intervention programs in South LA.
His family has continued his philanthropic work through the Neighborhood Nip Foundation, which supports initiatives focused on education, entrepreneurship and social justice.