Four fingers form the Westside gang symbol, while the middle and ring fingers intertwine to form a stylised “W” with one hand. The thumb is folded towards the palm such that the back of the hand resembles a capital W.
Since the late 1980s, the W has appeared in rap music videos, making the Westside sign a popular emblem in Los Angeles. Tupac Shakur popularised the sign with Westside-themed photographs and lyrics. In 2011, following major renovations of the 1906 structure, the artist JR painted a four-story Westside sign on the east facade of the historic Bristol Apartments in Los Angeles.