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

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N.W.A. and The Posse 1987

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Courtesy of Erik Butka, Meagan Calnon & Kathryn Anthony

Survey - Hip Hop Architecture

Hello,

I am writing an article which will be published in a popular hip hop journal, the article will create links between everyone that has studied the concept of hip hop architecture in any capacity. If you would like to be included in the publication and have your research included in the infographics that I create, please fill out the form below.

Feel free to ask me any questions that you may have.

Rolling Stone - Kanye West Talks Design at Harvard

With his Yeezus tour all fine-tuned, Kanye West took a moment yesterday to stop by Harvard's Graduate School of Design and talk about one of his favorite subjects besides himself: creating. The surprise mini-lecture found Kanye sharing his thoughts on a few different subjects, with a persistent theme emerging that he sees everything as "architected." 

"I really do believe the world can be saved by design," he said. "If I sit down and talk to Oprah for two hours, the conversation is about realization, self-realization and seeing your creativity happen in front of you." He then spoke about office jobs, politicians, creativity, and how he appreciated that his audience, the Harvard students, are not lazy. 

Everyone in the room was offered free tickets to that evening's show – but West preempted their judgments with just a bit of soul baring. "I'm a bit self-concious because I'm showing it to architects," he said. "It's an expression of emotion."

Originally posted here on Rolling Stone.
 

THE CHIEF ARCHITECT OF GANGSTA RAP

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Image Source: http://www.aceshowbiz.com

Its always been rumored that Dr. Dre studied architecture, I wish I knew if this rumor was true or not. Dr. Dre has taken over the music industry yet again with the design of Beats by Dre, which has redefined the way that music is to be heard. Check out the video below which ties Dr Dre's music career to architecture.

Ilja Karilampi’s video The Chief Architect of Gangsta Rap (2009) makes the conjecture that Andre Young, better known as Dr. Dre (b. 1965), studied architecture before becoming famous as a hip-hop producer and rapper. The Berlin-based artist describes Dre’s rise in the music industry, from his early techno-influenced records, to his role in the controversial group N.W.A., and finally to Dre’s solo albums and major collaborations with fellow rappers.Throughout the video, the artist proposes Dre’s connections to and opinions of the work of Modernist architects like Le Corbusier (1887–1965). Karilampi also incorporates his own biography into the video, speaking about how his life has intersected with Dre’s music. Though Karilampi offers no proof to his assertions, the video presents its own, nearly convincing logic. Although imagining of the types of buildings the music producer would design may seem far reaching, Karilampi’s suggestion that urban planning—in this particular case, it is that of Los Angeles’s Compton neighborhood—significantly helps in shaping the culture of a region contains more fact than fiction.

Video Description Originally Posted Here

Pharrell to Collaborate with Zaha Hadid

Two of my favorites are going to collaborate on a project. I wish I had the chance to contact Pharrell and introduce myself to him, to tell him about my passion for both design and Hip Hop, and collaborate on some of his design idea. Until then, I'll enjoy him and Hadid, one of my favorite architects, working together. Check out my blog post on Pharell's perspective furniture. See the original blog below:

Hip-Hop artist Pharrell is used to collaborating with big names – Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, and now? Zaha Hadid. 

According to an interview with Hypebeast, the artist has decided to continue his dabble into the design world (he’s written a book and designed chairs in the past) by working on a pre-fab home with the Pritzker Prize-winning architect:

Pharrell: “There’s a collaboration I’m working with Zaha Hadid, we’re touring around with the idea of a prefab for a house.

Hypebeast: Is that still at the planning stages or are you guys looking to erect something soon?

Pharell, enigmatically: “Well, we’re going to see something through.” 

Via GreatSpaces and Hypebeast and ArchDaily.

The Architectural Planning that Created Hip Hop

As architects, designers and urban planners we create the spaces and environments which hosts the day to day interactions of every living being which ultimately nurtures the development of culture. Through a series of my blog posts, you can see how architects and planners subconsciously contributed to the environments which unintentionally created the socially, economically, politically and physically restrictive spaces which resulted in the birth of the hip hop nation. A culture which rebels against social norms and social structure, a culture which results from economical, social and political deprivations.

In the portion of the video from a PBS documentary below, one of the first housing projects in New York city is displayed through the lens of utopia if you ask me. The commercial which promotes the high density housing units is laughable today, knowing what these "housing projects" became once this grand scheme disseminated across the inner cities of America.  This was Robert Moses' attempt at solving housing issues in the Bronx as he shuffled residents while as he planned and built the Cross Bronx Expressway. A grand idea, that fizzled and resulted in becoming some of the toughest places to sustain life throughout the country, "The Projects".  Fast forward to the 2:58 mark of the video for the commercial.

If you want to view the entire series "The World That Robert Moses Built" by PBS.org. Click Here 

Take a look at a previous blog post to understand how LeCorbusier's vision was implemented by Robert Moses in the South Bronx.

Le Corbusier - The Forefather of Hip Hop?

Pharrell Phurniture

In Collaboration with designer Domeau & Peres, Pharrell tries his hand in creating couture furniture for a gallery show in Paris.

I wish I was able to get in contact with Pharrell to show him some of my “BrandNU” custom and couture furniture designs! That would have been an assume meeting!

Blog Source

iknowtheledge.com

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Hip Hop Mogul - Pharrell designs new furniture

Kanye - Yezus Inspired by LeCorbusier

I must admit that this blog post has me very excited, for the past 10 years I have been creating a body of research based on the architecture of LeCorbusier and its unintended social implications and subsequent environmental backdrop in Hip Hop. Click here for Previous Post. Hearing that Kanye West's Yezus was inspired by LeCorubiser now validates my research and efforts which include the linkage of Corbu to Hip Hop and ultimately aims to create a Hip Hop Inspired Architecture. Since the culture itself has been heavily influenced by architecture, its only right that the culture now shall heavily influence architecture.

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Yeezus - Album Cover

In an interview with The New York Times, Kanye West admitted that the new sound on "Yeezus" came from somewhere none of us were expecting. "Architecture — you know, this one Corbusier lamp was like, my greatest inspiration," he claimed. 

Le Corbusier is one of the founders of modern architecture. Working in the 1930s, the French architect rejected the architectural styles before him. In fact, he rejected style entirely in favor of minimal and essential structures. He believed in function above all, and his perfectly-proportioned creations were ideal structures for the modern citizen. "Like I say, I’m a minimalist in a rapper’s body," Kanye told the NY Times, which explains his attraction to Le Corbusier's radical designs. 

Last week, MoMA opened their show on the influential architect, "Le Corbusier: An Atlas of Modern Landscapes." It seems that Le Corbusier is having a moment in the cultural spotlight. We've put together a list of why Le Corbusier is just as awesome as Kanye says he is. Meet the inspiration behind "Yeezus."

RELATED: The Design Evolution of Kanye West's Album Artwork
RELATED: The Complete History of DONDA's Work So Far

Original Post - Click Here 

Hip Hop Inspired Architecture Lecture

On April 8th 2010,  The University of Michigan’s chapter of Hip Hop Congress invited me to give a lecture on “Cultural Innovation – Hip Hop Inspired Architecture and Design” in Ann Arbor.  Click here to see the original posting by Hip Hop Congress.

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