MKE Hip Hop Archive Project
The Milwaukee Hip Hop Archive Project
stands as a nationally recognized case study in community-led preservation and innovation.
"Mr. Do It To Death" (Father) + " Wave Chapelle" (Son) participating MKEHHAP Archive Interview together.
The project was launched with cultural urgency, coinciding with the celebration of
Hip Hop's 50th Anniversary , positioning it immediately within a broader historical context.
The MKEHHAP, a collaboration between the Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum (WBHSM) and TRUE Skool, Milwaukee's Center for Transformative Creative Arts & Hip Hop Culture, has been strategically designed to leverage institutional permanence while maintaining ongoing authentic community led documentation, research and engagement.
Honored with the 2024 Governor’s Archives Award for Archival Innovation, this project redefines how local stories and cultural history are documented, preserved, and shared in Hip Hop Culture & Beyond. Through trust-based partnerships with community organizations, archivists, artists, and educators, the project weaves together Milwaukee's rich Hip Hop legacies and cultural identity into an interactive platform accessible both on and off line. Digital and in-person. MKE Hip Hop Archive Project is looking for contributors!
To fulfill our mission, the MKE Hip Hop Archive Project has implemented an intensive material acquisition strategy, actively soliciting archival contributions and oral histories from a diverse range of Hip Hop practitioners, including DJs, photographers, filmmakers, dancers, Emcees, artists, journalists, producers, and entrepreneurs.
WE ARE ACTIVELY COLLECTING:
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Oral Hip Hop history and personal stories.
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Physical artifacts, including ( but not limited to ) music, photos, flyers, t shirts and artist merch, concert & event promos, tapes, dvds, cds and albums.
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Basically any sound and video recordings, media publications, and advertising!
MKEHHAP’s strategic significance leans on its successful inter-organizational and intergenerational structure. By merging the archival rigor and historical stability of the WBHSM, a thirty-plus-year-old museum dedicated to African American heritage in Wisconsin , with the contemporary cultural relevance and youth training pipeline offered by TRUE Skool , the MKEHHAP has established a cooperative blueprint for sustainability.
Organizers Available for:
Keynotes & Panel Discussions: Speaking engagements for universities, museums, schools, festivals, and community organizations.
Media Inquiries & Interviews: Expert commentary on untapped community sourced research, cultural preservation through collaboration and the intersection of institution, art and community.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE ARCHIVE?
CONTACT US!
WISCONSIN BLACK HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM
+
TRUE SKOOL
Want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has
contributed, participated, and shared their journey with us.
We are just getting started!
To those who have sat down to record interviews, donated flyers, shared photos,
& entrusted us with their personal memories: Thank you.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Why do we need a Milwaukee Hip Hop Archive?
Because our Milwaukee Hip Hop Culture and History is unique. By archiving these materials, we ensure future researchers, students, creatives and fans know where to find these valuable treasures.
2. What kind of "artifacts" are we actually looking for?
We are looking for anything that tells the story of Hip Hop in Milwaukee: Past & Present!
Audio/Video: Most formats accepted ; Reel, HI8, DV, VHS, DAT, DVDs, tapes, rare CDs, vinyl, rehearsal recordings, or footage of battles and live shows, pubic access, mixtapes, etc.
Physical: Event/Concert flyers, posters, ticket stubs, and street team swag, stickers. Promo, Artist/Label Merch, photos, lanyards, etc.
Visual Art: Graffiti sketches (blackbooks), photos of murals, drawings, and streetwear/fashion.
Documentation: Photos, memorabilia from the shows, studio, personal letters, or old contracts and press kits, etc.
3. Do I have to give away my original items?
Not necessarily! While we love physical donations for permanent preservation in the Milwaukee Hip Hop Archive Project at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum, we also offer digitization services. We can scan your photos and flyers or digitize your items and return the originals to you. We keep the digital copy, and the culture gets a record.
4. Who owns the rights to what I submit?
You retain the copyright to your original work. By contributing to the archive, you are granting us permission to preserve and display the material for educational and research purposes. We are not here to "sell" your art or contributions; we are here to protect your legacy.
5. I wasn't a "famous" artist or "old school" —does my stuff still matter?
Yes. The archive isn't just for the pioneers of Milwaukee Hop Hop; it’s for the past and the present. The artists, producers, promoters, the fans, the photographers, and the people who are still making it happen! A photo of a crowd at a local club in 1982 with a whole Hip Hop back story is just as important as the studio recording you did last night.
6. How do you contribute your materials to the MKE Hip Hop Archive Project?
Glad you asked. You can start by filling out our Online Submission Form. For bulk collections or physical items, our team can arrange a pickup or a meeting at TRUE Skool or the Wisconsin Black Historical Society to handle your items with care. We love to set up meaniningful interviews to capture stories!
7. Who do we need to interview???