Press Releases
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2025
Contact: (212) 839-4850, press@dot.nyc.gov
Rapper’s Delight: NYC DOT Releases Limited Batch of Hip Hop Boulevard Signs to Celebrate the Genre's Musical and Cultural Legacy
NEW YORK – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced a limited number of authentic street signs honoring Hip Hop Boulevard in the Bronx. Today's release is part of the agency's monthly 'sign drops,' where the agency sells limited batches of authentic street signs produced by the NYC DOT Sign Shop. The NYC DOT Sign Shop hand-makes over 70,000 street signs each year.
“Hip hop embodies the rhythm and soul of New York City,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “We are proud to honor the genre's genesis in the Boogie Down Bronx and celebrate its influence on New York City and the globe over the past 52 years.”
“For more than half a century, hip-hop has captured the essence of New York City's dynamic identity and been the soundtrack to some of its most memorable moments,” said DCAS Commissioner Louis A. Molina. “With this latest sign drop, we're paying homage to the humble beginnings of a musical genre born in our city, but felt worldwide. Hip-Hop Boulevard is more than a destination, but a journey into the nexus of music and culture; add it to your collection today!”
Hip Hop Boulevard is located at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, in The Bronx. The street sign’s placement commemorates the location where Hip Hop was ‘born’ on August 11, 1973, when 18-year-old Clive Campbell, aka DJ Kool Herc, threw a back-to-school party with his sister. That night laid the foundation for one of the most popular music genres today. Since its humble beginnings, hip hop has transformed music and culture by uplifting communities and giving a voice to the voiceless. The future of hip hop is vibrant with many different artists innovating the genre.
A limited release of 100 signs, 50 in each design, will be sold online for $100 per sign and are available one per customer. All signs will be sold via the CityStore, the Official Store of the City of New York, and proceeds will benefit the city's general fund.
Monthly sign drops from NYC DOT feature signs for iconic New York City streets, commemorations of famous New Yorkers, celebrations of special occasions, and other custom releases. NYC DOT began its monthly drops in June 2024, with the release of Christopher Street/Stonewall Place street signs to commemorate Pride Month.
Other recent sign drops include:
- Welcome to Queens: The World’s Borough
- Gay Street in recognition of Pride Month
- Wall Street
- Leaving Brooklyn: Fuhgeddaboudit
- East 161st Street and Shea Road in honor of baseball's opening day
- Love Lane to recognize Valentine's Day
- Broadway in celebration of Broadway Week
- Cornelia Street to honor the street's prominence among pop music fans
About the NYC DOT Sign Shop
The New York City DOT Sign Shop is in Maspeth, Queens and manufactures over 70,000 signs each year. A team of 32 Sign Shop employees hand-make street signs, highway signs, directional signs, parking signs, and more. There are about one million NYC DOT signs in use across the 6,000 miles of streets in New York City.
The monthly sign drops are the latest iteration of sales that have historically been available from the Sign Shop.
About the CityStore
CityStore is the Official store of the City of New York. CityStore is operated by the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services. 100% of sales benefit the City of New York.
CityStore is similar to a museum store, which complements the museum by highlighting the treasures within while serving as a stand-alone retail entity for wonderful gifts, collectables and research materials. A museum store is a revenue source for the museum and reinforces and protects the integrity of the museum brand. CityStore is the 'museum store' for the entire City of New York.