New Trading Cards To Focus On Rap, Hip-Hop Artists
MTV News Gallery

Want to trade in a Mark McGwire 3-D card for a Puff Daddy rookie card?

Card collectors will soon get their chance to make such an all-star swap as SkyBox, who as Fleer/SkyBox is the leading manufacturer of sports and entertainment trading cards, plans to start issuing cards featuring various hip-hop and rap artists.

As part of the new marketing strategy, SkyBox recently overhauled the look and design of its sports cards to give them a look specifically designed to appeal to urban youths. The new cards will be the industry's first to be based on hip-hop or rap musicians.

While there's no word yet on which artists will be included on the new hip-hop cards, it's a safe bet that Puff Daddy and others from his Bad Boy roster will appear on a few, as Mase and Puffy are both featured on cards currently being given out during nationwide promotional events announcing SkyBox's new campaign.

The card company will be staging one such Hip-Hop Happening on Thursday at the Fulton Street Mall in Brooklyn, New York, with special appearances by NBA star and "He Got Game" actor Ray Allen and DJ Funkmaster Flex.