This post, which first appeared on July 5, has been updated with new information.
Back in February, the Milwaukee Common Council announced the long-awaited return of Hip-Hop Week MKE in 2023.
This year's events, at venues around the city, are slated for Aug. 21-27, and one of the first fruits announced was a show by Jadakiss at The Rave on Aug. 23.
Rappers Boldy James and Stove God Cooks will open the concert, which is sponsored by local radio station V100.7.
Hip-Hop Week launched in 2018 and returned the following year with Megan Thee Stallion, but was soon stymied by the pandemic. It returns now after a three-year hiatus.
The 2023 festival will celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, which reflects the idea that the music was born in the Bronx on Aug. 11, 1973, when the Jamaican-born Kool Herc DJ'd at a party his sister threw, displaying the turntable skills that would become the foundation of the style.
The first Hip-Hop Fest, in 2018, featured no less than the pioneer himself, DJ Kool Herc.
“We celebrate Hip-Hop because it is more than just music: It is artistic expression, community connection, and a force for social progress all in one,” Ald. Khalif Rainey said.
“That’s why this year’s celebrations will include not only live music from talented artists, but also a variety of other events to help inform our community members about such vital topics as civil engagement, personal wellness and financial success."
This year's event is being curated with the assistance of rapper Sauce Money (aka Todd Gaither), Rainey added.
Tickets for the Jadakiss performance can be purchased here.
"I am incredibly excited to host the return of Hip-Hop Week MKE, especially on the occasion of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary," said Rainey.
"I am equally excited that we will have such a talented performer as Jadakiss performing during this year’s festivities, and I am confident that this year’s Hip-Hop Week will be the best one yet.”
The week will also include a free entrepreneurship/financial literacy talkback event called, “A Conversation with Dame Dash: Betting on Yourself, Building Generational Wealth,” on Friday, Aug. 25 at the Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Music executive Damon Dash and V100.7-FM's Reggie “Smooth Az Butta” Brown will take part in the event, moderated by Kevin Newell, founder and CEO of Royal Capital Group.
The event starts at 6 p.m. and free tickets – which can be acquired here – are required.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He can be heard weekly on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories.
