CopyWrite Magazine, a Milwaukee-based creative collaboration platform, has a mission to support urban culture and entrepreneurship through facilitating creative collaboration. Their event, “SS23”, on April 7, is the second iteration of their “Streetwear Street Smartz” fashion experience.

“SS23” will feature six local designers, including “Marcellus Brand”, “Platinum Boy Gang Clothing”, “Views Clothing” and “The Set Apart Ones” (Yahad Kadash), who will collaborate to showcase streetwear at an elevated level. The event is choreographed, and designed to provide an experience for attendees that goes beyond a regular runway show.

HYFIN's Tarik Moody and Element Everest-Blanks interviewed CopyWrite’s Vato Vergara and Lexi Brunson, as well as designer Marcellus, about the city’s streetwear culture, fashion as a means of mental health and self-expression and the legacy of Virgil Abloh. They also reflect on how streetwear has evolved over time and the challenges of going commercial.

Thousands of women dedicated to leadership and community service will take over Milwaukee this week. The Cream City will welcome Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA) for its 89th Central Regional Conference, April 6-9, at the Wisconsin Center. In addition to exploring the city, the event is a time for members to reconvene, learn more about the current trajectory of the organization, participate in local philanthropy and celebrate sisterhood. AKA governance call the conference “a training ground for leadership, business and continued service”.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was founded in 1908 at Howard University. It is the first and oldest Greek-letter sorority established by African American, college-educated women. Its membership, of more than 355,000 worldwide, begins at the undergraduate level and extends throughout adulthood (graduate). The Central Region is home to nearly 10,000 active members across nine states, including Wisconsin. Notable Milwaukee-area members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. include Ald. Milele Coggs of District 6; former alderwoman Nikiya Harris-Dodd of District 5; Sen. Lena Taylor of the 4th District; Assembly Representative LaKeshia Myers of District 12; and Milwaukee County’s Chief Judge, the Honorable Judge Maxine White. HYFIN’s Kim Shine* talked with Central Regional Director Kiahna W. Davis. Listen below to their conversation about the upcoming conference and its planned impact on Milwaukee, the sorority’s influence on Davis and why membership means a lifelong sisterhood to her.

Toronto-based singer and emcee, DEBBY FRIDAY, has released the stellar track ‘So Hard to Tell’ from her debut full length album, ‘Good Luck’ out everywhere on March 24. What isn’t hard to tell, is that she is a fresh and innovative voice, uncommon yet commanding. While her initial offerings, ‘Bitchpunk’ and ‘Death Drive’ were, punk-funk-industrial in scope, ‘So Hard to Tell’ smooths it out to more of a bop by way of DEBBY and Graham Walsh’s crispy production. Follow up singles ‘HOT LOVE’, and dance-flavored ‘I GOT IT (feat UÑAS)’ are wide-ranging audio morsels, preceding the LP. We delve into her youth, growing up in Montreal, the ups and downs of the club scene, faith, family and individuality.

Nyla Hayes is not an average artist. She has been featured in Diversity in Action, Ebony, Black Enterprise, and Time magazine. All of these accomplishments paired with CNN interviews and speaking at Billionaire luncheons would lead you to believe that she can’t be any more impressive. Now what if I told you she was 14 years old. She dropped her first collection of art at 12 years old and sold out immediately. Nyla sat down with HYFIN to discuss her journey and all the people who helped her on the road to success.

What is there not to say about India Shawn? Her vibe is peaceful and focused. Her music is personal, relatable and inspired by experiences that anyone of us could be having right now.The LA-born creative is an undeniably gifted singer and songwriter. Working with artists as Monica and singing background for Harry Styles are just parts of her expansive music career. She’s been in the music industry for more than a decade, and dropped a masterful project “Before We Go (Deeper)” last year. It’s launched classics as “Cali Love“, “Too Sweet ft. Unknown Mortal Orchestra” and the Billboard charting single, “Exchange”.India recently visited Radio Milwaukee to mentor students involved in Grace Weber’s Music Lab and to perform a Radio Milwaukee studio session. She also sat down with HYFIN’s Kim Shine and B~Free, the Lab’s Music Coordinator. The trio had a fun and comfortable conversation about navigating the music business, life and what India is working on next.

“The album is sounding good. I feel like I’m in a really good space. I feel like I want to share it with the world, literally.”It would be a huge understatement to say NilexNile has just been… ‘busy’. He’s about to embark on his “Nostalgia Tour”, dedicated to the Midwest but with a beginning stop in Austin, TX for SXSW. Yea, he’s done shows and tours before but this time is different.

“I’ve really given it my all,” Nile says. “This is like the first actual, and this is no disrespect to anything I’ve done in the past, this is the first real tour. Seven dates? This is a real tour.”Nile also credits the pandemic with forcing him to evolve and reassess his passion for music. He says he experienced an ‘ego death’ that centered his life and helped create the team he has now.The “Nostalgia Tour” kicks off on March 15, and it’s the same day fans will get the single, “Breakfast”, with Chicago’s Mick Jenkins. Two days later, on March 17, Nile is proudly dropping his album “Nostalgia Everclear”.Nile stopped by the Radio Milwaukee studios to chat with HYFIN about the tour, the album, his deep love for Chicago and opening up for Pusha T.

The origins of hoop earrings date back thousands of years. They’ve been tied to the Nubia civilization in Africa and the Sumerian women in the historic region of Mesopotamia. In current times, these earrings have continued to be tenets of culture for Black, Brown and Indigenous individuals – proud of their heritage and unafraid to take up space.The question “What do hoop earrings mean to you?” was one of inspiration to Milwaukee artist Nicole Acosta. She created The HOOPS Project – which examines the intersections of culture, fashion, history, relationship and liberation. It started as a portrait campaign that evolved into a play of storytelling and personal anecdotes.Acosta hosted photoshoots in cities as Milwaukee, Chicago and New York finding more than 60 people with deep connections to their hoop earrings. Her exhibit is currently on display at MARN Art & Culture Hub through April 3.This weekend, ‘HOOPS’, the stage play will debut at the Milwaukee Chamber Theater. It’s adapted by playwright Eliana Pipes, directed by Maria Patrice Amon and features original music by Britney “B~Free” Freeman-Farr.‘HOOPS’ runs March 11-Apr. 2.

“What’s beyond the tagline of Black Girl Magic. What’s driving it? What are the stories?”These are some of the questions Dominique Samari asked herself while embarking on this project for Women’s History Month. She’s honoring impactful Black women – some within her network and others she would be meeting for the first time.“I think that we are now in a time where Black women, at least at some level, are being celebrated and recognized. But, the depth of our stories is not being told in a way that’s been resonate with me.”Over the last few years, Samari has profiled dozens of women, from various backgrounds, for Women’s History Month. This year, she decided to focus only on Black women. And overall, her decision took her from a public endeavor to a journey that became more personal.“God made me to be introspective and reflective. And so, I spend a lot of time journaling and thinking,” Samari said. “I feel I am more intentional about the time and space that I give now as I get older. I think with each step, with each layer pulled back, with each little spec of curiosity that I turn inward. It just continues to ground me more and more in myself.” Samari is currently partner at P3 Development Group and founder of KIN Universe, a tool that facilitates meaningful discussions between people. She is also a former attorney.She says this project allows her to process pieces of her life and her own Black womanhood. It also allows her to listen to and share what Black womanhood means to the women on this year’s list.Self-discovery is a never ending process, and Samari discussed this with HYFIN’s Kim Shine. Their conversation continues below, along with each woman featured in Samari’s project.

‘Real estate investing’ and ‘entrepreneurship’ are more than just buzzwords or trending topics. They’re essential, impactful ways to create financial freedom and generational wealth.For Milwaukee native and credit repair guru, Will Roundtree, life shifted for him when he knew he “wanted something completely different than anybody else.” Changing his mindset is what, he says, got him into entrepreneurship.Roundtree has solidified himself as a consistent and reliable resource in the business sphere. He’ll be the first guest for the new season of Amplifier, a free, artist development program, hosted by Chad Roper and powered by Radio Milwaukee.Ahead of his appearance on March 25, he stopped by HYFIN to talk about developing his business mindset, how hitting rock bottom can change your life, and family.

According to an AXIOS article, Black Americans are nearly twice as likely as white Americans to go to hospital emergency departments for mental health care. Black teenagers are more likely to attempt suicide, and suicide attempts among Black youth rose by almost 80% (1991-2019), according to the report.There are many factors contributing to these statistics from racism to poverty, to stigma in the Black community, and many others. Black Space, a Milwaukee-based therapy group, is working to address these issues. Founded in 2021 by mental wellness expert Dr. Lia Knox, DEI expert Corey Fells and event organizer Darius Smith, Black Space’s mission is to destigmatize and demystify mental health within communities of color. They recently partnered with Dr. Kantara Souffrant, the Curator of Community Dialogue at the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM), to offer free group sessions this month at the museum beginning on March 1. There will be sessions targeted at women, men and LGBTQIA+ communities.This week, HYFIN's Tarik Moody sat down with Dr. Knox and Dr. Souffrant to talk about Black Space and the MAM partnership. We even dove deeper and discussed my own challenges, like how to deal with imposter syndrome.