Eric Orr’s Rappin’ Max Robot

Overview
collab reimagined Eric Orr’s Rappin’ Max Robot as an 18-foot-tall, 8,000-pound steel sculpture—creating a powerful launch moment for Welder Underground’s project-based learning program. The installation served as both a cultural symbol and a hands-on teaching platform, designed to capture attention and invite curiosity about welding and fabrication.

Purpose
The work became a bridge between culture and craft, inspiring the next generation of welders to learn a trade and gain valuable skills by connecting them to a culturally iconic story. Through the reawakening of a legendary hip-hop character, the project demonstrated how creative expression can drive workforce development and make skilled trades relevant to new audiences.

collab’s role
collab led concept development, structural engineering, fabrication, and production logistics and content creation. Our team also planned and hosted the unveiling and community activations at our Brooklyn space, turning the final build and reveal into an opportunity for learning, storytelling, and connection. The result was a large-scale piece that embodied Welder Underground’s mission—showing how imagination and industry can build futures together.