NYC’s Subway Cards Pay Tribute To Hip-Hop Icons For The Genre’s 50th Anniversary

Hip-hop, a genre that has transformed global music and culture, traces its roots to the vibrant streets of the Bronx, New York City, during the 1970s. Hip-hop originated as a means of artistic expression for communities facing social and economic difficulties and marginalization. The elements of rap, DJing, breaking, and graffiti art converged, creating a multifaceted movement that empowered voices often unheard.

In a harmonious collaboration, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) and the Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) have unveiled a dynamic initiative, capturing the essence of East Coast hip-hop on 80,000 MetroCards dispersed throughout New York City’s subway stations. Four figures, Cam’Ron, LL COOL J, Rakim, and Pop Smoke, are immortalized on these collectibles.

Embarking on a subway journey, passengers can cross paths with the LL COOL J cards at the 71st Ave metro stop in Forest Hills. These designs are strategically placed across areas N333, N333A, and N333B.

Simultaneously, the legacy of Pop Smoke is celebrated with cards distributed at Canarsie-Rockaway Pkwy and New Lots Ave stations, an endeavor in collaboration with the Shoot For The Stars Foundation.

Fans of Cam’Ron and Rakim will have yet to wait as their likeness will only grace the metro tickets later this month.

[via StupidDOPE and Time Out, cover image via UMe/Business Wire]