We had the distinct pleasure to have ANOTHER, excellent convo with Shalina Ali and Fidel Verdin from True Skool about their 9th Annual Summer Park Jam, taking place August 14th & 15th at The Peck Pavilion at The iconic Marcus Center, in the heart of Downtown Milwaukee.

The event includes the CEO Sessions on Friday, with some excellent speakers and tons of wisdom and experience being shared from individuals, sharing game, knowledge and insight into how they became successful.

Saturday comes with endless dope and fun things to do, including a Breakdance Battle, open turntables for the DJs, Live Graffiti. Topped with LIVE performances from some legendary Women in HIP HOP...YoYo, Rah Digga AND Sweet Tee and some turntable wizardry from DA ODD COUPLE: DJ Rob Swift and Mista Sinista.

Family-friendly AND FREE. Festivities kick off at 12:00PM CST.

I had the absolute honor of sitting down with 414 royalty, my brother Brad Anthony Bernard—aka B.WYZDOM—on the latest edition of Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow right here on listener-supported HYFIN. We chopped it up heavy about the power of Black art, the deep roots of Milwaukee funk, and how he’s keeping that legacy alive and breathing in the city. We're bringing all that energy straight to the neighborhood for the return of the Community Arts & Funk Festival on Sunday, August 16th at Davidson Park (3725 W. Juneau Ave.). Moving right into the Near West Side, this is a full-day, mobile block party built to uplift local visual artists, youth poets, and uncut rhythm.

Brad broke down how this whole movement is rooted in history, pulling inspiration from the legendary Milwaukee Inner-City Arts Council days and using art as true community activism and healing. With a stacked lineup from morning to night—grounds open at 10:00 AM with a teen poetry slam moderated by national champ Onyx Rose, a $1,000 "Best of Show" fine art competition centered around the theme of Revolution, and a special youth bus mural reveal with the Milwaukee Art Museum. Then at 2:30 PM, the stage lights up with live sets from DJ Gid Money, Songbird, D’Aych & the Next Level Band, and heavy power-chord headliners Peace, Love, and Hope.

The sensational DJ Gid Money and HYFIN’s own A-BIZ are gonna be there on the scene and on the wheels of steel, bringing that funk and working some magic and holding it down, for the funkophiles, so clear your schedule and come kick it with us! The festival is 100% FREE and open to everybody from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Slide over to artsandfunk.com for all the official details, give @community_arts_and_funk a follow on social media, and get ready to celebrate our community!

On the latest installment of our podcast series, YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW we chop it up with exemplary Milwaukee MC, NileXNile. From his early days beatboxing in the lunchroom at Atlas Preparatory Academy to becoming a "Crown Jewel" of the Milwaukee music scene, NilexNile’s journey is a masterclass in staying true to your creative pulse. In this episode of Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, the Fat Nerds co-founder reflects on the "aha" moments that defined his path—from witnessing the power of rhythm to captivate a rowdy crowd of students to the pivotal realization that he wanted to be a star after singing along to Usher as a child. His sound is a diverse "gumbo" of influences, rooted in his mother's love for icons like Whitney Houston and Beyoncé and his father's collection of raw hip-hop legends like NWA and Snoop Dogg.

Despite early struggles as a "bad student" in a traditional academic setting, Nile found a lifeline through teachers like Mr. Myers, who recognized his notebook full of raps as a sign of true passion rather than a lack of discipline. This encouragement led to a life-changing pivot to the Milwaukee High School of the Arts, where he successfully auditioned with a rap and began proving his skeptics wrong. Today, Nile remains grounded by an "underdog" mentality, balancing his artistic evolution with the reality of a part-time gig to "feed the beast" of his creative career while staying focused on health and his signature "Pastel Views".

In this edition of Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, Milwaukee’s own 414 Big Frank (@414bigfrank) sits down for a conversation that balances viral superstardom with the grounded humor of the North Side. The interview moves chronologically through Frank's journey, beginning with his upcoming performance alongside Bossman DLow on February 28th, where he admits he still gets "the butterflies" before hitting the stage. He reflects on his early roots on 49th and Locust, describing how childhood sessions cleaning the house to the Gap Band and Isley Brothers instilled a "feel-good" rhythm in his DNA—though he jokingly notes the soul legends didn't use as much profanity as he does today. Frank also credits the young success of Bow Wow as his primary inspiration to start rapping at age nine, leading to a career where he now "crowdsources" his creative process by DMing fans directly to ask what they want to hear next.

The conversation takes a hilarious turn as Frank details the "real-life" facts of his success, from his self-admitted "bad habit" for casino gambling to his refusal to pay $98 for a couple of oxtail orders at local spots. He shares the wild story behind his massive hit "There It Is," revealing that he actually lied to producer Sonny Lou for days about finishing the track before finally recording it entirely at home. Frank gets candid about his "Yesterday" challenges, including a year-long Instagram ban that occurred right after Lil Uzi Vert DMed him for his number, and his drive to provide a "realistic" path for his two children. Closing out with a look at "Tomorrow," Frank teases an upcoming experimental album and emphasizes that his ultimate goal isn't just viral fame, but making sure the world knows the genuine, positive person behind the music.

In this episode of Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, State Senator LaTonya Johnson joins Anthony Foster for a powerful conversation that tracks her journey from a three-room shack in rural Tennessee to the upper chamber of the Wisconsin State Capitol. Senator Johnson shares many jewels and gems of a life lived with authenticity, from her grandmother’s humor about taking half their small town with them when they moved to Milwaukee, to her college days at Tennessee State University where she navigated the culture shock of her first HBCU experience. She offers a raw look at her decade as a 24-hour childcare provider, explaining how her personal mission to support working families eventually led her to trade her daycare center for a seat in Madison.

The discussion also dives into the "ass-backwards" way she entered politics—winning her first election with no money and no professional flyers, but a whole lot of heart and door-knocking. Senator Johnson opens up about the "imposter syndrome" she felt early on and why she believes her lived experiences with poverty and community struggle are her greatest assets as a legislator. Whether she's reminiscing about the first record player in her family home or describing the shock of winning her seat without an official victory party, Senator Johnson proves that she is a leader who truly understands the rhythm and the reality of Milwaukee’s Sixth District.

An immersive, fun, revealing and honest conversation with a true crown jewel of our community, only on HYFIN!

In this episode of Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, Milwaukee’s own Johnny Franchino takes us on a journey through his deep-rooted musical DNA, starting with a childhood household that served as a "melting pot" of legendary sounds. He credits his diverse palette to his parents—his mother, who possessed a "beautiful voice," and his father, a former house DJ who infused house music into Johnny's blood long before he was born. This early exposure to greats like Anita Baker, The DeBarge family, Tevin Campbell, Keith Sweat, and James Brown laid the foundation for his later obsession with lyrical heavyweights. Franchino admits he was so consumed by music that his high school composition books were filled with bars instead of math equations, eventually leading him from battle rapping and poetry into a professional career defined by an relentless DIY work ethic.

Franchino’s evolution as an artist is marked by a series of ambitious projects and high-level collaborations that bridge the gap between street lyricism and experimental "spacey" vibes. He famously recorded his 40-track double album, Moon Rocks—split into "Mars" for the fellas and "Venus" for the ladies—in a single weekend, fueled by the influence of Nas, Big Pun, Tupac, and Outkast. Throughout the interview, he shouts out a constellation of collaborators who helped shape his sound, including his "ace" Infamy, producers KC Beats, Laser Smith, and SD Producers, as well as his rock band, The New Grey. Now focusing on his Aesthetix series with Mystic Music, Franchino is eyeing the global stage and major festivals, proving that his "seasoned with Lawry’s" approach and energy are ready for a worldwide audience.

Lafayette Crump, Milwaukee’s Commissioner of City Development, joined the Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow podcast to share a vision for the city that blends urbanist policy with a deep-rooted cultural heartbeat. Growing up on 27th and Burleigh, Crump’s early memories of Milwaukee are intertwined with the "cassette era" of radio, where he honed his musical ear by recording tracks like "Planet Rock" straight from the airwaves. Today, he translates that same passion into his professional work, advocating for a city of one million people that prioritizes "human infrastructure" and racial equity. By staying connected to Milwaukee’s evolving sound through platforms like HYFIN, Crump maintains an aspirational outlook—discovering new artists like Doechii and Chappell Roan while working to ensure that Milwaukee remains a vibrant, inclusive destination where the city's rich musical history and its future growth harmonize.

Thanks for tuning in to YESTERDAY. TODAY. TOMORROW. for this special edition with Milwaukee County Executive, David Crowley, and let me tell you, this gentlemen and his work ethic are something to marvel! He's out here doing the impossible: juggling running Milwaukee County, running for Governor, and still being a present husband and girl-dad to three daughters! Luckily for us, he kept it a buck, shouting out his "better three quarters," Erica Crowley, for holding down the whole entire fort, proving that you gotta marry up to be successful. But the real foundation, the why behind his grind, started with the youth program URBAN UNDERGROUND back in high school. That place taught him how to love his community and, most importantly, how to love himself. He's firm on his belief in Milwaukee, choosing to stay rooted here instead of leaving for bigger opportunities like so many do. His message to the young kings and queens out there: Embrace that individuality. A man of quotes, he lives by the credo of: "Do or do not, there is no try!"

Before the political life, David Crowley was deep in the MKE music scene with his crew, the legendary "Two Random Entertainment!" Yes, they got that name because they were just too random with the house parties off 53rd and Locust and throughout the city of MIlwaukee. These guys were filling a void while having fun and bringing the community together, throwing events at places like Escape and Club 414, creating the vibe the 21-30 set needed, and connecting with future stars like Ray Nitti, Ray Rizzy, DJ Willie Shakes and others who have grown into incredible talents in their own right. He even considered getting into music production because he had a serious ear for the craft. Where did that come from? Saturday mornings listening to his mom playing the legends—Anita Baker and Al Green—and playing the trumpet in middle and high school under the tutelage of the legendary Sam Belton, which taught him to listen for those subtle samples and sounds. From Gospel (Kirk Franklin was his first CD!) to the Cash Money/No Limit wars, to Hip Hop icons Nas, JAY-Z and Big L (R.I.P.) music was always integral to his life and learning. We cover it all! Take a moment and enjoy the man, the myth and the Milwaukee legend, County executive David Crowley!