In an effort to support the local Memphis, Tenn., community and introduce the field of architecture and design to underrepresented youth, Material Bank, a marketplace for architectural, design and construction materials, and The Downtown Memphis Commission, which focuses on the economic, cultural, and governmental core of downtown Memphis, co-sponsored the first Hip Hop Architecture Camp held in the city, enabling 40 campers in the Memphis area to attend the camp free of charge.
Created in 2016 by licensed architect Michael Ford, The Hip Hop Architecture Camp positions hip hop culture as a catalyst to introduce underrepresented youth to architecture, urban planning, and design. The organization offers free week-long camps for 7th to 12th graders in regional locations across the country, where students are paired with creative mentors to re-imagine a new design for their community. These designs are displayed at the end of the week in Camp Music Videos.
In support of the non-profit, Material Bank provided its Memphis-based distribution facility as a filming location for the beloved music video while also encouraging staff to volunteer at the camp. The Memphis camp featured several black architects and designers alongside the hip hop artists, who helped challenge the participants to create design concepts for businesses in their community.
With appearances from local design professionals and top hip hop artists including NLE Choppa, Al Kapone, Tonya Dyson, Big30, and Chefry Kitchen, the camp introduced Memphis youth to the fields of architecture, urban planning, and design. Campers were prompted to re-imagine a new design for their community, which were then displayed at the end of the week in Camp Music Videos.
Only 28.7 percent of architects in the U.S. are minorities, and though 2022 reports from the NCARB indicate that racial and ethnic diversity in the architecture field has shown to improve in many aspects, minority groups continue to be underrepresented in the pool of individuals completing the Architecture Registration Programs. By partnering with the Hip Hop Architecture Camp, Material Bank and the Downtown Memphis Commission express their advocacy for the future generation of design professionals, understanding that education is a cornerstone of representation.