The late rapper was honored with limited-edition LA Metro TAP playing cards and a brief station renaming to mark what would have been his fortieth birthday.

Nipsey Hussle was honored Friday (August 15) with a pair of limited-edition LA Metro TAP playing cards and momentary station renaming on what would have been the late rapper’s fortieth 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”—every paying tribute to the Grammy Award-nominated artist’s legacy and affect. The “Crenshaw & Slauson” card incorporates a black-and-white portrait of Hussle taken by acclaimed Hip-Hop photographer Jonathan Mannion, whereas the “Watts” model captures the rapper aboard a Metro bus.

A complete of 12,000 playing cards have been launched throughout choose Metro stations, together with Hyde Park, Crenshaw, Compton, Hollywood/Vine and Expo/Crenshaw. The Hyde Park station, positioned close to Hussle’s Marathon Clothing retailer, has been briefly renamed Nipsey Hussle Station by 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 mentioned in a press release.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Metro Art Los Angeles (@metro.art.la)

By early Friday morning, lengthy strains had already fashioned at merchandising machines as folks rushed to safe the collectible playing cards, a tangible tribute to the late rapper’s enduring affect on town. Most of them have bought out.

Hussle was gunned down on March 31, 2019, outdoors his Marathon Clothing retailer on Slauson Avenue. He was 33. The man convicted of his homicide, Eric Holder Jr., was sentenced to 60 years to life in jail in February 2023.

Hussle’s demise despatched waves by the Hip-Hop world and past, as he was broadly revered not only for his music however for his work locally. He was a vocal advocate for financial empowerment, youth mentorship and gang intervention packages in South LA.

His household has continued his philanthropic work by the Neighborhood Nip Foundation, which helps initiatives centered on training, entrepreneurship and social justice.

Related