Bertha Espinoza, Cassius Palacio, and Razella Freeman are the three finalists for Michael Ford’s 2025 Hip Hop Architecture Scholarship.
“After a highly competitive application cycle, these finalists rose to the top for their academic excellence, leadership, and their experience with The Hip Hop Architecture Camp,” said Michael Ford — also known as The Hip Hop Architect —in a statement announcing the finalists. “We’re proud to spotlight their journeys — and can’t wait to announce the scholarship recipient soon.”
Ford is the founder of BrandNu Design Studio, a full-service architecture and design firm that has offices in Madison, Dallas, and New York. Michael Ford’s 2025 Hip Hop Architecture Scholarship is sponsored by Michigan Central. The winner will be announced on Monday, June 9.
Back in late December of 2024, Kamryon Johnson, a sophomore at the University of Detroit Mercy’s School of Architecture and Community Development, was presented with a $10,000 Hip Hop Architecture Scholarship.
The bios of the three finalists, per the Hip Hop Architecture Camp, are below:
Razella Freeman, a fourth-year Bachelor of Architecture student at Rice University and former Hip Hop Architecture Camp participant, stands out for her academic excellence, creative insight, and leadership as president of her school’s NOMAS chapter. With a minor in art history and a passion sparked by both Hip Hop and early mentorship, Razella is deeply committed to using architecture as a tool to study and address gentrification in Black communities. As her favorite rapper Doechii boldly says, “I’m the one, not the two,”—and Razella is every bit of that energy as she paves her path toward a PhD in architectural licensure.
Bertha Espinoza is a passionate architecture student and proud alum of the Hip Hop Architecture Camp, where her journey into design first began. Growing up in a home where giving back was second nature, Bertha has always approached life with heart, hustle, and a deep sense of purpose. Her early love for music and commitment to community have shaped her vision of architecture as a tool for mentorship and meaningful impact. She’s volunteered with the Chicago Architecture Center and remains driven to uplift the next generation through her voice and work. Bertha credits the Chicago Hip Hop Architecture Camp for opening the door to architecture, saying that without it, she may never have discovered the field.
Cassius Palacio, a fourth-year architecture student at the University of Southern California, brings a powerful mix of creativity, resilience, and purpose to the world of design. Influenced by Kendrick Lamar’s “Hood Politics” and shaped by his parents’ artistic roots, Cassius views architecture as both personal expression and community service. From volunteering with the Hip Hop Architecture Camp to founding a nonprofit, Architecture Advocacy, he continues to lead with clarity — even in the face of challenges like the Pacific Palisades fire. As Kendrick says, “We gon’ be alright,” and Cassius proves that through adversity, greatness rises.
