Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Antonia Anderson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Antonia, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I came up with the ideal for the Hip Hop Museum during covid in 2019. I was working from home at the time. Previously I was at afterschool programs, community events and libraries doing pop-ups. I wanted to make sure that there would always be a place representing the 70’s -80’s Hip Hop Era. So I began unboxing my memorabilia and placing then on one wall at a time. 2021 I had a Grand opening which was recorded by King Kamonzi. My first interview was with Milwaukee Courier Newspaper December 4, 2023 by Dylan Deprey. I wanted to create and implement a different learning style for children and youth thru hip hop. Critical thinking, writing and poetry, art whatever it takes to get them involved. At the time there was no Hip Hop Museum in Milwaukee and yes Milwaukee Hop Hop is the first Museum that started preserving artifacts, 8-tracks, cassettes, vinyl, posters, record players etch in Milwaukee. I got extremely excited whine the community got involved by requesting tours and inviting me to visit. Also there have been quite a few Hip Hop Pioneers reached out to me and donated memorabilia. (names can be given at a later date).

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I began collecting vinyl albums, cassettes, 8-track tapes, pasters etc. most of my Adult life. The Milwaukee Hip Hop Museum of Milwaukee, Wi mission is to preservation Milwaukee Hip Hop Memorabilia, history, hands on and education. This consists of all facets of Hip-Hop services geared towards exhibitions, pop-ups, performances, panels, speaking engagements, seminars, artifact accrual, film/radio/tv consulting and many more services to honor and expose Milwaukee’s Hip Hop History. I do not solve any problems for clients however where there is love, Peace and Unity I am involved in promoting. What sets me aside is that I have started my business on my own and hope in the near future to collaborate with other am not a large community organization with the same goals. I want the community to know that I am always available to volunteer and work with the youth, to educate the importance of learning and knowing your History.

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We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As a Mother of six children born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Growing up in 53206, 53212, and a few other areas of Milwaukee definingly contributed to my resilience to share Black History with the youth and community. I have been extremely fortunate to have a Mother and Aunts that instilled in me to learn your History and pass it on to the next Generation. I remember the late 60’s and early 70’s Civil Rights Movement as a child. My experience with Hip Hop started in the late 80’s however prior to that I grew up with the Motown Sound. Milwaukee Hip Hop Museum Museum was not planned or visualized until 2019 during covid. I was working at home and wanted to insure that History would always be shared with the youth. And so it began and I continue in 2025 to network and collaborate with Museums, Schools, Colleges and all communities that share preserving Americas History.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

That all Artist, Music and expression is relevant weather I agree with it or oppose it. I have to continue to be a lifetime learned and keep an open mind and heart to accept the things that I cannot change.

Contact Info:

• Website: https;//milwaukeehiphoppopup.com
• Instagram: antoniaanderson44
• Facebook: [email protected]
• Linkedin: [email protected]
• Twitter: [email protected]
• Youtube: [email protected]
• Yelp: [email protected]
• Soundcloud: [email protected]

Image Credits

Shari Wszalek WTMJ4 Me