During John Singleton's movie, "Boyz n the Hood", starring Ice Cube (who once wanted to become an architect) and Cuba Gooding Jr, the concept of gentrification is explained to the youth of South Central Los Angeles by Lawrence Fishburne.
Getty Works with Ice Cube To Celebrate Eames
I've blogged on several occasions about Ice Cube receiving a degree in architectural drafting prior to NWA's success. He has continued to show his love and affection for the profession in a variety of ways, including his involvement Getty, as they released a celebration of Charles and Ray Eames. Below is the recreation of the Classic Eames shot in the extremely rare DAT-1 chair created by Eames in 1953. See my previous post "Ice Cube Celebrates the Eames" for a video tour of South Central LA and Ice Cube's reflection on Eames in a style that only Cube can pull off!
Read MoreIce Cube Interview - Becoming an Architect as BackUp Plan
I've blogged about Ice Cube graduating from technical college during the early days of NWA to become an architectural draftsman, but not until now have I seen an interview where he actually discusses the topic. Take a look at the short clip and enjoy.
Read MoreN.W.A.Straight Outta Compton 1988
Ice Cube - The Architect?
Imagine if N.W.A never took off resulting in Ice Cube became an architect after starting his architectural education in 1987 at Phoenix Institute of Technology. Would Cube be the same house hold name that he is today? Could he have applied that same drive and determination and rawness to the field of architecture? The world may never know. I'm glad N.W.A. reached its level of greatness because where would hip hop be without N.W.A.? Another question that will go unanswered.
Ice Cube has the unique opportunity of employing anyone he wants and can be instrumental with pushing the concept of hip hop inspired architecture to the next level, through his various media projects. I would love to work with Cube, rather its being a movie scene location scout or designing architectural elements needed for scenes. The power to advance many of today's minority architects to starchitects does exist in the hands of those doing constant work with a high level of visibility and success, the hip hop moguls. One mention in a hip hop song, one shot in a hip hop video, or any permanent link to the culture will propel the field of architecture.
I wonder if Cube still has the love for architecture he had back when he was in school? What about some of the other film makers with architectural educations? Click here for an article on ww.archdaily.com which reveals some of the most relevant film makers who studied architecture.
Take a look at my previous video blog: Ice Cube Celebrates Eames
N.W.A. and The Posse 1987
Courtesy of Erik Butka, Meagan Calnon & Kathryn Anthony