Earlier this week, the Milwaukee adopted a resolution designating Aug. 21-27 as Hip-Hop Week MKE in the City of Milwaukee, reviving an event that was launched in 2018 with an eye toward becoming an annual celebration.
That first year featured no less than DJ Kool Herc and a second event was set up for August 2019. But then COVID stepped in and halting the progress for a few years.
The 2023 festival will celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, which reflects a idea that the music was born in the Bronx on Aug. 11, 1973, when the Jamaican-born Herc DJ'd at a party his sister threw, displaying the turntable skills that would become the foundation of the style.
“For decades hip-hop has served as a form of artistic expression, community building, and social change," said Rainey in a statement released Friday. "The genre has the unique ability to bring communities together and stimulate conversations about relevant issues in our society, which is exactly why I sought to launch Hip-Hop Week in 2018, and why I am equally excited for its return this year.
“Hip-Hop Week MKE will focus on financial literacy, civic engagement, voter registration and healthy living, among other issues within our community.
"We will be looking for partners to make this year’s event the biggest and best yet, so if you’re interested please contact my office and we will work together so Milwaukee can experience the true power and influence of hip-hop.”
Mark you calendars, Milwaukee.
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 has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
