Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso unveiled the Rappin’ Max Robot, an 18-foot-tall, 7,000-pound metal sculpture at Brooklyn Borough Hall Plaza on Thursday.
The towering sculpture was created over the summer by the apprentices at Welder Underground, a Brooklyn-based apprenticeship program, according to a press release.
The design of Rappin’ Max Robot is based on Eric Orr’s 1986 comic book, which is recognized as the first comic book for and about the Hip Hop community. This character has since become a symbol of Hip Hop culture and its aesthetic influence.
After a six-month stay at Brooklyn Borough Hall Plaza, the sculpture will be permanently installed at Place de la Bataille-de-Stalingrad in Paris, the press release said.
Artists including the Brooklyn United Evolution Drumline, musician Aaron Ruperto, and DJ Teeburr were featured during the unveiling ceremony. Workforce development groups, including St. Nicks Alliance and the RETI Center, provided resources for Brooklynites interested in launching careers in the skilled trades,
“Hip Hop is so much more than music; it's culture,” Reynoso said. “When Hip Hop was first created over 50 years ago, New Yorkers created a system of expression that transcends national boundaries and holds the power to bring us closer together. Rappin' Max Robot epitomizes the many ways Hip Hop can take shape—whether it's through breaking, as a comic book, or in a massive metal sculpture created by Brooklyn welders.”
Welder Underground, the organization behind the sculpture, is a Bushwick-based nonprofit offering six-month paid apprenticeships for aspiring welders and fabricators. Participants in the program gain experience and certification to start careers in welding and metal fabrication.
“Welder Underground combines technical expertise with a sense of community, creativity, and purpose,” said Adina Levin, co-executive director of Welder Underground. “We’re fostering a movement that revitalizes interest in welding and metal fabrication as a means to positively impact the world.”
According to the American Welding Society, approximately 330,000 new welding professionals will be needed by 2028. The founders of Welder Underground plan to continue creating large-scale public art installations in collaboration with established artists.
