Michael Ford

Michael Ford—widely known as The Hip Hop Architect—is an award-winning designer, educator, and cultural innovator using hip hop as a blueprint for building more inclusive cities. As the founder of the Hip Hop Architecture Camp, he introduces underrepresented youth to design through music, rhythm, and storytelling. Ford is the lead architect of the Bronx Hip Hop Museum and the founding principal of BrandNu Design Studio, with collaborations spanning Herman Miller, Shaw Contract, and Lupe Fiasco. His work has been featured by Rolling Stone, ESPN, and The Today Show, and his TED Talk has challenged a generation to view architecture as culture, not just construction.

Michael was recently a guest on Unglossy, joining hosts Bun B, Tom Frank, and Jeffrey Sledge to discuss how hip hop shapes design, community, and the future of the built environment.