Michael Ford: Blueprints, Beats, And Belonging Unglossy With Bun B, Tom Frank And Jeffrey Sledge podcast

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Michael Ford: Blueprints, Beats, and Belonging

5d ago 58:28

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This week on Unglossy, Bun B, Tom Frank, and Jeffrey Sledge sit down with Michael Ford, The Hip Hop Architect—a designer using rhythm and rhyme to reshape skylines. From leading tThe Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx to launching the Hip Hop Architecture Camp, Ford proves design can be culture, not just construction.
He shares how rap lyrics inspire real-world spaces, why representation matters in architecture, and how collaborations with Kurtis Blow, Lupe Fiasco and Herman Miller, and turn creativity into community impact.
The crew dives into Virgil Abloh’s legacy, Lenny Kravitz’s world-building, and Ford’s next blueprint: a Hip Hop Museum of the South in Memphis.
🎙️ Tap in as they connect bars to blueprints, showing how hip hop doesn’t just shape culture—it designs the future. This is Unglossy.
"Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Bun B, Tom Frank and Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/

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Chapters

1. Cold Open: Gratitude & Alignment (00:00:00)

2. Hosts Return & Show’s Cultural Focus (00:00:32)

3. Introducing Michael Ford, The Hip Hop Architect (00:02:37)

4. Detroit Roots, Texas Move, Identity (00:05:00)

5. Origin Story: Merging Hip-Hop and Architecture (00:06:45)

6. From Thesis Pivot to Purpose (00:10:20)

7. Beyond Music: Hip-Hop’s Elements in Design (00:13:05)

8. The Camp: Turning Lyrics into Cities (00:17:20)

9. Representation, Gatekeeping, And Owning the Narrative (00:21:00)

10. Professional Pushback and Breakthrough Moments (00:24:30)

11. The Hip Hop Museum: How The Design Cipher Began (00:28:20)

12. Building With Community: From Bronx to Nairobi (00:33:00)

13. Midroll & Network Spots (00:36:20)

14. STEM Pathways: Kids as Cultural Innovators (00:37:50)

15. Everyday Design: Seeing The Invisible Hand (00:41:30)

16. From Virgil to IKEA: Designing Daily Life (00:45:10)

17. Collabs With Purpose: Rugs, Chairs, Scholarships (00:48:40)

18. What Architects Really Do (Beyond Buildings) (00:53:20)

19. Critiquing Cities: Hip-Hop as Post-Occupancy Review (00:57:10)

101 episodes

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