Los Angeles Metro Honors Nipsey Hussle on His 40th Birthday

On August 15, what would have marked his 40th birthday, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) honored Nipsey Hussle by temporarily renaming Hyde Park station to Nipsey Hussle Station. In tandem, Metro unveiled two limited‐edition TAP cards featuring the late rapper as part of its Metro × Culture series, a tribute to the city’s vibrant artists, musicians and community icons.

“The Hussle family is proud to partner with Metro for this station renaming in celebration of Nipsey’s 40th birthday,” reads the family’s joint statement. “Metro played a pivotal role in Nipsey’s journey, ferrying him from South Central to Watts as he chased his musical ambitions. Beyond connecting neighborhoods, Metro bridges dreams with reality, offering opportunities that empower individuals to pursue their passions. We hope this homage to Nipsey’s early Metro commutes illuminates his favorite maxim: ‘The highest human act is to inspire.’”

Limited to just 12,000 units, the commemorative TAP cards will be sold at select station vending machines, Metro Customer Care centers and through Metro’s LIFE Program. The “Crenshaw & Slauson” design features a monochrome portrait of Nipsey by photographer Jonathan Mannion, while the “Watts” edition depicts him aboard a Metro bus.

The station will retain the Nipsey Hussle moniker through August 31. Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins remarked, “Nipsey’s influence transcended music—he envisioned the power of unity, opportunity and community. At Metro, we share his belief that public transit is more than transportation; it unites neighborhoods, opens doors and uplifts lives. These commemorative TAP cards and the station renaming celebrate Nipsey’s lasting impact and underscore our dedication to creating an accessible, inclusive transit system for all Angelenos.”

Nipsey Hussle was tragically killed in a daylight shooting outside his Marathon Clothing store in South Central Los Angeles on March 31, 2019.

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