Milwaukee hip hop is a regional subgenre of hip hop that specific to the state of Wisconsin, and its largest urban center, Milwaukee in particular. The genre is said to have came to prevalence in the hip hop community in the early 1990s, with the alternative-rap group Arrested Development's (although mostly Atlanta-based, their lead, Speech, is a Wisconsin native) success at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards, including the Best New Artist Award.^[1][2] Another notable event would be the release of Milwaukee native Coo Coo Cal's #1 Billboard Hot Single "My Projects" in 2001.^[3] Milwaukee hip hop made a resurgence in the 2010's and can be considered to belong to the larger Midwest hip hop and drill scenes.^[4]

In contrast with the larger Midwest hip hop genre and the neighboring Michigan and Detroit rap scene, Milwaukee hip hop is much smaller and reclusive. Sonically, it is evocative and of the drill and trap genres.^[4] In its recent innovations, including its presence on TikTok, and standout artist Certified Trapper, Milwaukee hip hop has adopted a more brash and humorous style.^[5][6]

The state of Wisconsin isn't often associated with the hip-hop genre of music. However, the Midwestern state has quietly cultivated its own unique hip-hop scene. While not as prominent as cities like New York or even neighboring scenes such as Chicago or Detroit, Wisconsin has produced talented artists who contribute to the genre's diversity and creativity.

Milwaukee

The current scene is focused around the city of Milwaukee. One of the most prominent characteristics of Milwaukee's current scene is the use of "low-end type" beats that feature heavy kicks, deep basslines, and 808s. Producers in the scene tend to incorporate chopped samples or original synth chords to complete their beats. Some examples of this style are Certified Trapper's "Each Smack"^[7] track or J.P.s "Party Mix" track. Another major characteristic of the current scene is the use of rather eccentric music videos that are paired with the tracks.

The 1980s saw the start of the Wisconsin rap scene. The region saw itself jumping onto the emerging rap scene in 1982 when R&B group The Majestics released the rap song "Class A". This song found itself drawing from the classic popular rap scene in the late 70s to 80s using jazz bass lines and a fun club chanting sound.^[8]

After that in 1985 "A-Tak On The Wax" by A-Tak was released. Similar to Class A, this song made use of the modern rap trends of strong strong vocals overtop of drum breaks. This song differentiated itself by its borrowing of rock guitars in between its rap verses.^[9] While Milwaukee was not the most popular location and did not house the big hip hop names in the 1980s, they found themselves showing that they had something to contribute and helped develop a local hip hop scene that would lead to future representation for the area.^[10]

For nearly two decades, the Wisconsin rap scene was often associated with Coo Coo Cal's "My Projects" record that was the first and only Number One rap single to come from the region. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, the region struggled to find a sound or identity and even more importantly an audience. In recent years, the scene has begun to thrive a bit more. The newfound success of the region can be heavily attributed to receiving more attention from media outlets such as Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and Wired.^[11] Another key factor that can be attributed to the rise of the Wisconsin rap scene, is the use of the social media platforms TikTok and Instagram by the artist to further advertise their tracks.

Hip Hop Week MKE, established in 2018 is an annual celebration held in Milwaukee distinguished as the first city in the United States to dedicate an entire week to celebrating Hip Hop culture.^[12] The event features a series of cultural celebrations, educational and community-wide activities intended to enrich and empower the city's residents.

The week-long celebration features a diverse array of events including live performances, seminars, and public forums. Notable artists such as Lakeyah, Megan Thee Stallion, Moneybagg Yo and Babyface Ray have performed at the event since its inception, drawing significant attention and participation from the community and outsiders.^[13] Seminars and workshops during the week focus on practical topics such as financial management, health, wellness, and voter registration, providing valuable resources and knowledge to attendees. In 2023, author Boyce Watkins spearheaded a discussion on financial literacy, and entrepreneur Damon Dash sat on a panel to discuss building generational wealth in black homes.^[14]

The establishment of Hip Hop Week MKE marks a significant recognition of Hip Hop's role in shaping societal and cultural narratives of the city. The event has garnered support from major sponsors including iHeartRadio, Milwaukee Bucks NBA franchise, and McDonald's, demonstrating a wide-reaching impact and showing a commitment to community development.^[15] It reflects the city's commitment to embracing and promoting cultural diversity through music and art while addressing key social challenges faced by its residents.

The 'Outta Dee Box Podcast' hosted by Demancea "Dee" Star, serves as a transformative platform for community engagement and mentorship, particularly targeting former and currently incarcerated residents in Wisconsin. This podcast not only provides an educational resource but also teaches young, troubled individuals how to set up podcast equipment and conduct interviews, equipping them with practical skills and a creative outlet.

Highlighted through episodes featuring Wisconsin hip-hop figures like Baby Drew and Steven Love, the podcast emphasizes positive community contributions. These artists share their journeys and experiences, focusing on guiding troubled youth in urban areas of Madison and Milwaukee. Their involvement illustrates the power of leveraging personal backgrounds to foster positive changes.

Furthermore, the podcast's collaboration with the Madison Juvenile Detention Center, as part of the Public Library Bubbler Program, underscores its commitment to imparting critical life skills through creative and engaging methods. This partnership helps bridge the gap between creative expression and practical educational outcomes, making a significant impact on how the young participants spend their time. The Outta De Box Podcast was inducted into the Milwaukee Hip Hop Museum in January 2024, and in 2023 it waas awarded "Best Podcast" at the 365 Leadership Summit Awards further cementing its stronghold in Milwaukee's hip-hop history.^[16]

Another significant initiative in Milwaukee is The Hip-Hop Chess Club of Wisconsin, originally mentored by MC Krook Rock. The club has evolved into, Your Move MKE, a non-profit organization committed to using chess, hip-hop music, skilled trades, and writing as tools for teaching critical life skills. These programs are specifically designed to offer alternatives to street life, promoting self-awareness, discipline, and leadership among Milwaukee's young people. Your Move MKE hosts various activities under four cornerstone themes: The Hip-Hop Chess Club, Makin' Moves Breakdancing, Urban Trade Skills, and Open Forum. Each program not only teaches practical skills but also helps participants understand the broader implications of their actions and choices in life.^[17]

Josiah Le'quince Gillie (born April 4, 2004), otherwise known as J.P., is an American rapper, producer, audio engineer, and a student-athlete at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Growing up J.P. had always had an interest in music, being a member of the Choir at his church. J.P. dabbled in many different genres such as rock, R&B, hip-hop, and country. It was suggested by a peer that he experiments with an emerging sound that consisted of what was known as "lowend beats".

In 2020, J.P. would begin to release music on his YouTube page and he would release his debut EP, Lion's Den, in February 2020.^[18] In December 2022, J.P. released "Juicey ahhh"^[19] which went viral on the social media platform known as TikTok. The song amassed over 1.2 million combined streams on major streaming services such as YouTube and Spotify. This song earned him co-signs from industry superstars such as Lil Uzi Vert and would later earn a feature from Detroit rapper, Sada Baby. As of 2024, JP has followed up his success with the viral hit "Bad Bitty".^[20][21]

J.P.'s style incorporates the typical Milwaukee-style beats with comedic lyrics and samples derived from cartoon theme songs.^[22]

Daishun Graham (born 2001), known professionally as Certified Trapper, is an American rapper from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Certified Trapper is most well known for his 2023 track "Oi (Beat Da Koto Nai)," and his affiliation with Michigan rapper BabyTron.^[23]

Graham grew up on Milwaukee's east side and first started experimenting with music at the age of 9.^[24] He originally began rapping under the name Lotta Guwopp and released his very first track titled "Free da guys intro" in 2016. He enrolled as a student at Milwaukee Area Technical College in 2019 where he studied audio production. His enrollment at the institution was short-lived but the move would prove to be a pivotal moment in his career as he began seriously publishing music shortly after in 2020. Since 2020, Graham has released over 30 albums comprising over 300 songs.^[25] As of April 2024, Graham is signed to Jeff Vaughn's Signal Records, an imprint of Columbia Records.

In regards to his style, Graham takes a rather unserious approach towards music. He incorporates rather goofy and sometimes even made-up lyrics over typical Milwaukee-style productions.

Calvin Bellamy (born July 4, 1970), otherwise known as Coo Coo Cal, is an American rapper from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Active from 1996 to 2022, Bellamy is most well known for his billboard chart-topping hit "My Projects" which was released in 2001.^[26]

Daijon Cotty Davis (born August 3, 1999) , better known as DC the Don, is an American rapper who originates from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but grew up in Los Angeles, California as well.

At the age of 16, he moved to LA to pursue a career in basketball. He was on the AAU team called Amateur Athletic Nation and the coach for that team was Lavar Ball. Davis became very close with the ball family during his whole high school career in basketball. In 2018, he graduated from Chino Hills High School being listed as a 3-star recruit and 34th player in his state.^[27]

In 2017, he decided that he wanted to pursue a music career. One of his very first tracks that became popular featuring Trippie Red and YBN Almighty Jay was called "Everything 1k".

Lakeyah Danaee Robinson, known as Lakeyah, is an American rapper, singer, and television personality who was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.^[28] She first began rapping at the age of 15 but her career didn't take off until she turned 18. At the age of 18, she moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta, Georgia, and got signed to a well-known record label called "Quality Control Music".

In 2020, she released her first album called "Time's Up" featuring City Girls.

Amaiya Spain,^[29] known as Mya P (born 2006), is an upcoming American rapper born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She represents Milwaukee's east side and she often collaborates with other artists from the area such as Certified Trapper. Her popularity came from her most viral TikTok songs. Those four hits are "Getting To It" "Wham", "Outside" and "Party Crackin".^[30] Most of her fan base resides from her hometown Milwaukee. Her fame grew from this article called "Pitch Fork". The record labels she is working with are "Rock Nation" and "Equity Distribution".

Stevedastoner is an American rapper from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He first started rapping in 2015 and made a couple of unreleased mixtapes. Then in 2016 he was involved in a high speed chase which ended with him and his brother going to jail. In 2018, he went viral for his first EP called "2 Busy". This is mainly due to the bizarre dance moves displayed in the music video for his track titled "Too Busy". He has since followed up that success with the track titled "Barkin"^[31]

Durrell Artaze Babbs (born January 1, 1976), better known by his stage name Tank, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He began his career as a backing vocalist for R&B singer Aaliyah, and signed a recording contract with her label, Blackground Records as a solo act in 1998. His 2001 single, "Maybe I Deserve" peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and led his debut studio album, Force of Nature (2001).

Jacob O'Neal Latimore (born August 10, 1996), known professionally as Jacob Latimore, is an American actor, singer and dancer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 2016, Latimore released his debut album Connection. As an actor, he is best known for his roles in Black Nativity, The Maze Runner, Collateral Beauty, Detroit, and The Chi.