Each month, we will speak to an athlete, celebrity, designer, or non-Hip Hop entertainer about what Hip Hop means to them. This feature is intended to showcase how far-reaching the influence of Hip Hop culture has grown in the past 50 years and how much the culture means to so many.
This month, we spoke with Neffi Walker.
Neffi Walker has built a creative universe rooted in intention, identity, and unapologetic Black expression. As an interior designer, visual storyteller, and founder of The Black Home, she’s redefined what luxury looks and feels like by centering culture, history, and emotional resonance in every space she touches. Walker’s work moves beyond aesthetics — it’s a reclamation, a declaration, and a blueprint for how design can speak to lineage as much as lifestyle.
So Neffi Walker, what does Hip-Hop mean to you?
“I have a real emotional attachment to Hip Hop. I actually grew up right next to Doug E Fresh on the same block, and I was around when “La Di Da Di” first dropped on the radio. Being in that environment at such a young age, seeing all the real Hip Hop heads come through my block, and being part of all the block parties made it an integral part of my childhood and teenage years. Hip Hop is woven into who I am.”
Why do you think it’s important that Hip Hop has its own Museum?
“Anything that becomes truly great deserves a place where people can learn about it, and Hip Hop is no exception. For people who may not be informed about the culture, having a physical museum space helps them understand its roots and its impact. Hip Hop has evolved in so many ways since the seventies, and having a place that shows where it started and how far it has come is essential to carrying the culture forward.”
