Milwaukee woman turns apartment into hip-hop museum

MILWAUKEE – There’s a hip-hop museum in Milwaukee that’s packed with over 3,500 records, rapper figures, and even “rap snacks”.

The 365 Hip Hop Museum Antonia is located in Antonia Anderson’s apartment near West. Avenue Fond du Lac and 19e Rue N.

It all started with a love for his music.

“Once I start going to record stores, I start to have more and more of them,” said Anderson, the museum’s creator.

You can actually come to her apartment and she will show you around and give you a history lesson. You will get your standard history lesson which covers the basics from early hip-hop to today. But there is so much more to see. Anderson has tons of artifacts because she cares about preserving the culture of the genre. She has MC Hammer figures, a Wu-Tang Clan chess set, rap comics, clothes, flags, DVDs, vhs tapes, dolls and of course tons of records. Since it is the Christmas season, she has put together a lot of Christmas albums. The centerpiece is a Christmas tree decorated with various action figures from hip hop artists and cassettes.

James groh

However, its goal is not only to preserve the culture, music and dance of hip-hop. Anderson, a social worker at a Milwaukee public school, uses her collection and knowledge to connect and build relationships with the teens she works with.

“For people of color, I try to get them to be proud of who they are, (to) be comfortable in their own skin.”

James groh

Anderson said the music and culture that comes with it is so relevant and familiar to his students. It’s easy to relate to them and build those important connections with the help of hip-hop.

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On December 19, Anderson is hosting a community event where she will host various poets and actors from the hip-hop scene to promote the culture. It is also a way of bringing young people in your museum to establish these relationships.

It’s a little taste of what she hopes to build in 2022.

“… offer workshops. Offer tours. Offer whatever is needed in the community. This is what I hope for in 2022, and it will happen, “she said.

To go to her museum, you need to contact her through Anderson’s website. Monday to Friday, by appointment only. It has more open and regular hours on weekends from 1 p.m. 17 hours. You can’t just knock on their door and expect a visit, however. You have to coordinate with her before you can enter. Go to its contact page to do so.

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