Nipsey Hussle Honored by LA Metro with Limited-Edition TAP Cards and Temporary Station Renaming

Los Angeles Metro is paying tribute to the late rapper and entrepreneur Nipsey Hussle with a temporary renaming of the Hyde Park Station and the release of two limited-edition TAP cards in celebration of Nipsey Hussle Day on August 15, which would have marked his 39th birthday.

The initiative is part of Metro’s Metro x Culture series, which spotlights Angelenos whose contributions have shaped the city’s cultural fabric, particularly those who once relied on the Metro system to launch their careers.

Limited Edition TAP Cards
Only 12,000 commemorative cards will be available, sold exclusively on Nipsey Hussle Day at the following Metro stations:

• Hyde Park Station (K Line)
• Crenshaw Station (C Line)
• Slauson Station (J Line)
• Compton Station (A Line)
• Hollywood/Vine Station (B Line)
• Expo/Crenshaw Station (E Line)

The two card designs feature photographs captured by Jonathan Mannion and Anthony Pham. One, titled “Crenshaw & Slauson,” shows a smiling Nipsey standing in the middle of the street at the intersection that bears his name. The second image depicts him seated on a Metro bus, a nod to his early career days traveling between home and the recording studio.

Metro also released an accompanying video, blending archival footage with Nipsey’s own words reflecting on how the city’s public transit played a role in his journey from local artist to cultural icon.

From August 15 through the end of the month, Hyde Park Station will carry Nipsey Hussle’s name. The station sits at the corner of Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard, steps from Nipsey Hussle Square and his Marathon Clothing store — the site where the 33-year-old artist was tragically killed in 2019.

The Grammy-winning rapper and businessman was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022. His legacy continues to be celebrated not only for his contributions to hip-hop, but also for his deep community investment and entrepreneurial spirit.