"...you know, this one [Le]Corbusier lamp was like, my greatest inspiration. I lived in Paris in this loft space and recorded in my living room, and it just had the worst acoustics possible, but also the songs had to be super simple, because if you turned up some complicated sound and a track with too much bass, it’s not going to work in that space. This is earlier this year. I would go to museums and just like, the Louvre would have a furniture exhibit, and I visited it like, five times, even privately. And I would go see actual Corbusier homes in real life and just talk about, you know, why did they design it? They did like, the biggest glass panes that had ever been done. Like I say, I’m a minimalist in a rapper’s body. It’s cool to bring all those vibes and then eventually come back to Rick [Rubin], because I would always think about Def Jam." - Kanye West
Read MoreThe Bronx Recognized As “Place of Invention” At Upcoming Smithsonian Exhibit
It’s not often that the Bronx is mentioned in the same breath as Hollywood and Silicon Valley. But an exhibit being planned at the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center in Washington, D.C. will pay homage to these areas and others as “hot spots” of innovation
Read MoreInternational African American Museum - Moody Nolan
The International African American Museum works with Moody Nolan as the organization intends to build a new international museum that is devoted to telling the story of the passage of African peoples from slavery to emancipation and freedom in South Carolina. The purpose of the museum is to be a valuable, lasting resource where residents and visitors alike can learn the history of how Africans and their descendants shaped – even through the experience of enslavement – successive eras.
Read MoreArmstrong Park in New Orleans, named after the famous New Orleans jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong, is a beautiful outdoor communal space that features a jazz concert series in the spring and fall as well as weekly drum circles in Congo Square, the birthplace of jazz.
Congo Square and Louis Armstrong Park, New Orleans Louisiana
While working as a designer at Hamilton Anderson Associates in Detroit, Michigan I had the privilege of working with a design team on renovating the historic, Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square in New Orleans Louisiana. This project is extremely significant to American history, especially the history of African American culture
Read MoreThe Sound Track To My Previous Hip Hop Architecture Presentations
Here is a list of the tracks, in order, from my most recent Hip Hop Architecture lectures and seminars. The lists range from old school classic hip hop to modern day rap. The use of the tracks not only provides a transition between topics as I make an argument for hip hop architecture, the tracks contextualizes the discussion points through lyrical references. It is my hope that the memory evoking power inherent in music will allow attendees recall discussion points from the presentation once its concluded.
Read MoreTowards a Hip Hop Architecture: Syracuse University
This symposium explores a wide range of questions. Does hip-hop architecture, however it is defined, exist? If so, who are its practitioners? Is there an architectural image or a style that reflects hip-hop ideals? Is there a formal language or organizational structure that it should employ? Or is there a process and attitude towards design that will separate hip-hop from conventional architectural practice?
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The Gospel of Hip Hop and Its Relationship to Hip Hop Architecture
After reading KRS One's, The Gospel of Hip Hop, First Instrument for the Temple of Hip Hop and The Hip Hop Deceleration of Peace within its' pages I had to introduce the powerful text to the hip hop architectural community to assure that we abide by the principles set fourth by the founders of hip hop culture.
Read MoreFlashback: AIA Detroit - Pecha Kucha Night 2009 + Hip Hop Architecture
On March 25, 2009, I was selected to present my research on Hip Hop Architecture during AIA Detroit's Pecha Kucha Night at the Hard Rock Cafe in Downtown Detroit. The presentation focused on the re purposing of materials to create architectural spaces which encouraged the development and entrepreneurial spirit of hip hop culture.
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Photo: Maya Robinson and Photo by Getty
How Hip Hop Failed Black America
Quest Love's thought proving series examining How Hip Hop Has Failed Black America written for Vulture, make us hip hoppas think critically about the gravitas nature of our culture. Although Quest questions the legitimacy of hip hop architecture, I am happy to know that he is aware of the architectural investigation. I would love to discuss with him, how the hip hop generation is incorporating our culture into the architectural profession.
Read MoreHip Hop Architecure Lecture: University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
On Friday, February 13, 2015 I will team with Eryk "The Arch-E-Tect" Christian to deliver a lecture at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee's School of Architecture and Urban Planning titled, "LeCorbusier, The Forefather of Hip Hop?". The lecture focuses on the subconscious contributions of famed architects and urban planners to the environments which necessitated the birth of hip hop culture. This lecture will culminate with urban culture’s influence on the architectural profession through three interconnected realms: academic research, professional practice and media, ultimately introducing a new architectural style, one inspired by hip hop culture.
Read More2015 NOMA Magazine Staff Volunteers
The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) announced its talented and diverse group of 2015 NOMA Magazine Volunteer Staff, a group I am honored to be a part of. Our editor in chief is Devanne Pena I'm excited to work with her as she brings new energy and direction to the bi-annual publication.
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GEICO TV Spot, 'Push It: It's What You Do' Featuring Salt-N-Pepa Whether you're in an elevator or taking a baby class, be prepared to be ambushed by Salt-N-Pepa who will tell you to push. Besides pushing, we're all likely to switch to GEICO.
Salt-N-Pepa + Architecture = Berlin's nhow Music Hotel
Europe’s first music hotel is here - in the heart of Berlin. Located directly on the banks of the river Spree, and at the epicentre of the music, fashion and creative scene, a new lifestyle hotel that has yet to meet its match in Europe: the nhow Berlin. The nhow Berlin is located right next to Universal Music and MTV Europe.
Read MoreZvi Belling of ITN Architects + End to End Project Rendering
End to End Office Building - ITN Architects
Big thanks to my big homie, Zvi Belling of ITN Architects in Melbourne for sharing project imagery of his End to End Project which the second of three architectural projects based on hip hop culture. The first in the series, The Hive, has received acclaim around the world as Zvi used graffiti as a permanent, structural element as opposed to a temporal, surface application serving aesthetic purposes.
Read MoreThe Hive Apartments - Zvi Belling ITN Architects
The Hive Apartments
Big thanks to my homie Zvi Belling at ITN Architects in Melbourne for providing me with images of The Hive. I applaud Zvi for using graffiti as a structural element within the facade transitioning it from a temporal, surface application typically serving aesthetic purposes only.
Read MoreJuxtaposition: Hip Hop + Architecture International Design Competition - DEADLINE EXTENDED
What happens at the intersection of urban culture and architecture? How can the four elements of hip hop (DJing, MCing, Breaking and Graffiti) inspire the built environment? Participants are encouraged to create a sketch using mediums of their choice to depict new building forms, urban design concepts, and/or architectural products inspired by the four foundational elements of hip hop.
Read MoreDesign Competition - Barack Obama Presidential Library
A conceptual design competition has been launched for visualizations of President Barack Obama's Presidential Library. Competitors are limited to the site area located on the west bank at the confluence of the North, South and Main Branches of the Chicago River. Please see the attached Site Plan A for details. Join Today!
Read MoreRebecca Willis - Bleeding Heart Design
Rebecca "Bucky" Willis of Bleeding Heart Design was named one of "8 Women who Will Change Everything You Know About Detroit" by The Huffington Post. I am honored to say Rebecca Willis is one of my former students at University of Detroit Mercy! Take a look at the video below where she mentions that reclaiming our visual real estate is vital in transforming improvised neighborhoods. This strategy is discussed at great length in Dr Craig Wilkins' book, "The Aesthetics of Equity - Notes on Race, Space, Architecture and Music"
AIA Brooklyn + Hip Hop Architecture
Thanks to AIA Brooklyn (American Institute of Architects - Brooklyn Chapter) for publishing images of the Hip Hop Inspired Architecture exhibit at the 2014 National AIA Convention in Chicago, Illinois in their recent newsletter. Click the button below to access the pdf version of the publication which focuses on distributing information fromt the 2014 AIA Repositioning Report from AIA National.
Dr. Craig Wilkins - Photo by: Art X Detroit
(W)rapped Space - The Architecture of Hip Hop
If you want to know what hip hop architecture is all about, I suggest you start with one of the first individuals to do extensive publications on the concept, Dr. Craig Wilkins. His article, "Warped Space: The Architecture of Hip Hop" published in the Journal of Architectural Education was heavily quoted during my graduate design thesis titled "Cultural Innovation: Hip Hop Inspired Architecture" completed almost ten years ago. Click the "download" link below to read the article.
Read MoreVideo - Coca-Cola Beatbox Pavilion
Check out this video of the "Beatbox" which brings together architecture and music through experience and form.
