With less than a month before we hit what’s widely recognized as the birthdate of hip-hop, celebratory plans have started to ramp up. Last week, we found out Jadakiss will headline Hip-Hop Week MKE, and today we got another big announcement — this time from True Skool, which has lined up Arrested Development for its 2023 Summer Park Jam.
The event is a two-day affair at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, with the performance happening Aug. 12 and a more career-focused series of discussions set for the day before. You can find more information on those talks below, but let’s start with the Arrested Development show, which is part of a free, all-ages festival held at the MPAC’s Peck Pavilion.
Between noon and 8 p.m. that Saturday, you’ll find a little bit of everything on the corner of Water Street and Kilbourn Avenue. Plans include food trucks, family-friendly activities, local vendors and a skateboarding area, as well as live “Battle of the LMNTS” graffiti art, DJ and breakin’ competitions.
Then, of course, there’s the live music from Arrested Development with special guest Wordsworth. I didn’t spot an exact time for the performance, but a reasonable guess would put the headliners on stage toward the end of the day.
It’s a wildly logical booking considering the group’s Milwaukee ties, courtesy of co-founder Speech, who posted a quick announcement video for True Skool (gotta love his t-shirt repping the family business).
Winding back to the previous day, True Skool has lined up what it’s calling CEO Sessions, “a collection of industry-level conversations and networking opportunities for local creative entrepreneurs and educators who are eager to elevate their craft.” The schedule for Aug. 11 includes:
- 11 a.m. — On-site registration
- Noon — Opening remarks and keynote with author, musician and educator Vinson “Wordsworth” Johnson
- 1 p.m. — Session 1 with creator, organizer and educator Makayla Binter
- 2 p.m. — Lunch
- 3 p.m. — Session 2 with illustrator, 3D sculptor, B-boy and Oddworx founder Alex Solis
- 4 p.m. — Wrap-up
True Skool also noted that it’s working to line up other presenters and that the day will include a hip-hop educator meet-up at 2 p.m., as well as a MKE Hip-Hop Archive Project pop-up studio and resource vendors. For more information on the two-day Summer Park Jam, including sponsorship opportunities, visit the True Skool website.
