Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) has initiated a unique partnership with The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), commemorating "Hip Hop At 50 - A Legacy of Rhythm, Revolution, and Soul." This celebration marks 50 years of Hip-Hop, uniting the worlds of music and transportation in homage to the genre's enduring legacy.

UMe have created 80,000 “MetroCards” together with the MTA, which are available in subway vending locations across New York City. The collectible cards feature Hip-Hop legends LL COOL J, Rakim, and Cam'ron, as well as late rapper Pop Smoke. LL COOL J's cards coincide with the 2023 Rock The Bells Festival, which is taking place on Aug. 5 in Queens, NY.

“When I first started in Hip-Hop, we were using tokens and then in the 90's the MetroCard came out. And through the pandemic I remember riding the subway anonymously by myself. Now in 2023 I have my own limited-editionMetroCardin celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop. This is a beautiful full circle moment. Hip-Hop is amazing!” 

The LL COOL J cards can be found in Forest Hills at the 71stAve metro stop in CTR areas N333, N333A, and N333B. In collaboration with the Shoot For The Stars Foundation, the Pop Smoke cards appear at the Canarsie-Rockaway Pkwy stop in CTR area R634, in addition to the New Lots Ave stop in CTR area H041, while vending machines with the Cam’Ron and Rakim card swill be revealed soon.

Catch both Rakim and LL COOL J at the Rock The Bells Festival on Aug. 5 in Queens, NY.