Photo credit: The Hip Hop Museum

Rocky Bucano is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Hip Hop Museum, a visionary project more than a decade in the making. As the Museum’s long-anticipated debut draws near, Rocky remains at the helm, guiding the institution through its final phase of development.

From securing a home in the Bronx, the birthplace of Hip Hop, to creating a space that honors both pioneers and rising voices, Rocky has been instrumental in turning the dream of The Hip Hop Museum into a reality. With doors set to open in 2026, excitement is building, not just in New York, but across the global Hip Hop community.

We sat down with Rocky to get an exclusive update on the Museum’s construction progress, what to expect when it opens to the public, and how fans, artists, and supporters of the culture can still get involved and contribute to the Museum’s fundraising goals.

Adam Aziz: How are things going with the Museum construction?

Rocky Bucano: The Museum is in the most exciting part of its development journey, with the construction of the interior fit-out starting now. Walking through the building recently and listening to our construction management team talk about setting up the construction office on the inside, setting up the security parameters and fencing on the outside, and closing off the windows so people can’t see what’s happening inside, it’s exciting as an important milestone in the Museum’s journey and a long time in the making. Many people thought the Museum was never going to happen. There was a lot of skepticism out there.

Now that interior construction is actually starting, people can see that the project is actually happening and moving forward.

AA: I have to follow that up with the million-dollar question. When will the Museum open to the public?

RB: We are working diligently on the design and planning, and the construction timeline is set. The second part involves the exhibition design, working with Ralph Appelbaum Associates and our design team to coordinate and finalize the exhibition areas. Once that is finalized, we will have an exact timeline for opening, but we anticipate it will be anytime between July and October 2026.

AA: There have been two breaking grounds in a sense at The Hip Hop Museum. There was the breaking ground on the building itself and now another breaking ground on the interior construction. Can you talk about how those two moments differ for you?

RB: The first big moment for us was working with the developer of Bronx Point, who developed the entire land the Museum is sitting on. It was amazing to see that land transform from a vacant plot of dirt to a beautiful community with affordable housing, a waterfront esplanade, new park spaces for the community, and, of course, The Hip Hop Museum.

That first groundbreaking, back in May 2021, confirmed that the project had started. LL Cool J was there. Nas was there. Chuck D, Grandmaster Flash, and so many others. It was a huge moment of joy for me because we finally had a location. 

This one, where we are starting the interior fit-out, is really another level of joy because having the building is one thing, but to see that construction for the exhibition areas and all the interior items that are going to be there inside the Museum including the black box theatre, is like the culmination of all the hard work that we have all put into this project. It’s seeing all the hours of planning, meetings, fundraising, and all these things come together to make the final project come to life. This is the most important part of the Museum’s journey and the final mile.

AA: How significant was the funding from Ponce Bank to get this project started?

RB: We received all these capital grants from New York City, New York State, and all these grants are great. However, what most people don’t realize is that they are reimbursable. You can’t draw down the money until you’ve spent it. People often don’t understand that part of the process, so it’s essential to work closely with a bank like Ponce Bank, as they’re big supporters of the project. They provided the bridge financing that will essentially underwrite all of our grants. It’s a loan that is based on the capital grants that we’ve received from the City and the state, and as portions of the project are being developed, we submit those invoices once the bank is there to make sure that those invoices get paid.

Bridge financing is critical for this part of the journey because, without it, we would not be able to pay and underwrite all the grants that we’ve received, and therefore, there would be no project.

AA: What can the average Hip Hop fan do with respect to contributing to the funding of The Hip Hop Museum?

RB: I’m glad you asked that question because we are now in the final mile, and a big part of that is private funding. We must ensure that all private sources of funding are in place. From the icons of culture to the Hip Hop community, we need their support, whether they are willing to give a dollar or more. 

Everyone needs to come together to support the final development of this project so that when we do open our doors, it’s a true celebration of over 50 years of Hip Hop history. Artists like LL Cool J, Nas, and so many others have been very supportive. However, we now need to reach the broader Hip Hop community.

This is not just a Bronx or New York museum. The Museum is the official record of Hip Hop, and we will represent the culture globally. Everyone is included in this Museum.

AA: Any closing messages for the readers as we enter this next phase of The Hip Hop Museum’s construction?

RB: We are truly thankful for all the supporters who have been with us throughout the entire journey and for those who are just learning about the Museum and getting very excited about the grand opening. It’s a celebration of all Hip Hop from the very beginning to where we are today, and everyone will feel included in this journey when they see what we are producing for the grand opening. We can’t wait for everyone to see it.