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The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is celebrating the 40th birthday of the late hip-hop icon and community leader Nipsey Hussle with the release of two limited edition TAP cards and the temporary renaming of Hyde Park station in his honor starting Friday, Aug. 15. This is the first of a new Metro x Culture series launched by the transit agency.
The Metros x Culture series aims to connect the agency with the heart of Los Angeles’ vibrant cultural landscape by collaborating with prolific local artists, musicians, community heroes and influential brands. Through these partnerships, Metro seeks to reflect the city’s diversity, creativity and energy, celebrating the unique identity and stories of LA’s neighborhoods while cultivating real connections with residents and visitors alike.
“The Hussle family is proud to be partnering with Metro for the renaming of the station in honor of Nipsey for his 40th birthday. Access to Metro played a vital role in providing transportation from South Central to Watts to pursue his early musical aspirations. Metro helped bridge the gap, not just between neighborhoods, but between his vision and his future,” said Nipsey Hussle’s family. “Metro provides access and opportunity to so many people who without this resource wouldn’t be able to pursue their passions. The family hopes insight to Hussle’s early years utilizing the Metro will bring light to Hussle’s favorite quote, ‘the highest human act is to inspire.’”
It is through this inspiration that the commemorative TAP cards were developed in close partnership with Hussle’s family to honor the legacy of an icon whose roots run deep in South Los Angeles, and highlight the area around Crenshaw and Slauson, where Hussle built not just a business, but a movement. By featuring his image on these limited-edition cards, the agency is celebrating Hussle’s lasting impact on LA culture, entrepreneurship, and the spirit of community.
The limited-edition TAP card designs include images that are emblematic of Hussle’s life:
• “Crenshaw & Slauson”: A black-and-white horizontal portrait of Hussle captured by acclaimed hip-hop photographer Jonathan Mannion, taken at the iconic intersection that became synonymous with Hussle’s journey.
• “Watts”: A color-stylized horizontal portrait of Hussle aboard a Metro bus, symbolizing his roots and connection to the city.
Only 12,000 of these collectible TAP cards will be released starting Friday, Aug. 15, and will be available at the following:
• Select Metro station ticket vending machines, including Hyde Park, Crenshaw, Slauson, Compton, Hollywood/Vine and Expo/Crenshaw.
• All six Metro Customer Centers, with additional quantities available at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw and Rosa Parks locations.
• Through Metro’s LIFE Program, where eligible new participants signing up in South Los Angeles will receive one of the commemorative cards. Each LIFE card includes nine months of free transit access across multiple agencies—a value of over $600.
As part of this tribute, Metro’s Hyde Park Station will be temporarily renamed “Nipsey Hussle Station” from Aug. 15 through Aug. 31.
“Hussle’s legacy goes far beyond music. He was a visionary who understood the power of community, connection and opportunity. At Metro, we share his belief that public transportation is more than just a way to get around; it’s a vital lifeline that can unite neighborhoods, open doors and uplift lives,” said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “Honoring Hussle with these commemorative TAP cards and temporarily renaming the Hyde Park station is our way of celebrating his enduring impact on Los Angeles and reaffirming our commitment to building an accessible, inclusive transit system that serves all Angelenos.”
This initiative showcases Metro’s commitment to bridging transit, culture, and community, highlighting how public transportation can serve as a platform for storytelling, remembrance, and progress.
For more information please visit: metro.net/nipsey.
About Metro
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan. Metro is the lead transportation planning and funding agency for L.A. County and carries nearly 1 million boardings daily on four light rail and two subway lines and 119 bus lines utilizing 2,000 low-emission buses.
Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at metro.net, facebook.com/losangelesmetro, x.com/metrolosangeles, x.com/metroLAalerts and instagram.com/metrolosangeles.
About Nipsey Hussle
Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom founded his record label, All Money In, in 2008, and burst on the scene with a trilogy of ground-breaking mixtapes, Bullets Ain’t Got No Names. In 2010, Hussle dropped critically acclaimed mixtape, The Marathon, deemed one of XXL’s “100 Best Mixtapes of 2010.” In 2011, Hussle released The Marathon Continues followed in 2013 by Crenshaw, the latter of which morphed into a media sensation when 1000 first-edition CDs priced at $100 each sold out in less than 24 hours at the first Proud 2 Pay pop-up in Los Angeles’ Fairfax district.
A year later, Hussle embarked on the Crenshaw Tour before releasing Mailbox Money. This time, the budding entrepreneur offered a limited-edition run of 100 physical copies priced at $1000 each, all of which sold out instantly. After creating a weekly #MarathonMonday series, Hussle released the 17-track Slauson Boy 2 in 2016. The rapper later teamed with hip-hop peer YG for the landmark single, “FDT (F*** Donald Trump),” praised by the Los Angeles Times as “the most prophetic, wrathful and unifying protest song of 2016.”
Hussle announced his partnership with Atlantic Records in 2017, releasing his label debut album, Victory Lap, to worldwide popular success, critical applause and a “Best Rap Album” nomination at the 2019 GRAMMY® Awards. The following year saw Hussle awarded posthumous GRAMMY® Awards for “Best Rap Performance” for his own “Racks In The Middle (Feat. Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy)”) and “Best Rap/Sung Performance” for DJ Khaled’s “Higher (Feat. Nipsey Hussle, John Legend).”
Hussle’s creative vision wasn’t limited to his roles as an artist and label executive. The savvy businessman created The Marathon Clothing (TMC) brand in 2009, then years later remodeled and opened his first flagship smart store in 2017 in his beloved Crenshaw District. The owner of several other successful business ventures including The Marathon Agency and SC Commercial Ventures, Hussle also launched Vector90, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) initiative for Crenshaw neighborhood youth in 2018, the first in a planned chain of STEM academies within other inner cities, such as Atlanta, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. 2022 saw the long-awaited grand opening of The Marathon (Collective), a premier THC and CBD retail store at 7011 Canoga Ave. Since his passing, Nipsey Hussle’s family has continued his work with the Neighborhood Nip Foundation. The foundation’s headquarters will be located in Nipsey Hussle Plaza at 3420 W. Slauson Ave., the original location of The Marathon Store. The Neighborhood Nip Foundation will serve as a community center for elementary through high school level students including access to studio equipment for budding music enthusiasts as well as homework assistance and exclusive access to The Marathon store, Steve’s Barbershop and more. The Neighborhood Nip Foundation slated to launch youth programming later this year. For more information, or to make a donation, please visit neighborhoodnipfoundation.com.
