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Tarik Moody, local blogger and radio personality for 88.9 Radio Milwaukee, has raised the question: “Is Milwaukee afraid of hip-hop?”

Actually, it seems that Milwaukee isn’t afraid of hip-hop at all. Numerous hip-hop acts have performed in venues like the Bradley Center, U.S. Cellular Arena, and the Milwaukee Theatre in recent years, and Milwaukee’s own hip-hop scene is thriving with artists like Prophetic and Ray Nitti. For the past year, local artists have been performing every Monday night at the eastside bar Live on North, as well as on Wednesday nights at El Babulous on the south side.

Maybe a more important question is “What is hip-hop?” It seems as though Tarik is limiting hip-hop to rappers like Common, Talib Kweli and Mos Def; the art of hip-hop involves much more, and Milwaukee should give itself more credit for supporting its own artists in recent years.

But the issue runs much deeper. The problem is the lack of funding for the Milwaukee’s hip-hop market and promotions. For example, over the course of 17 years, WKKV’s V100.7 — the number-one hip-hop and R&B radio station in Milwaukee — has hosted Jam 4 Peace every summer featuring acts like T.I., Soulja Boy, Ying Yang Twins, Fabolous, Nelly, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Snoop Dogg, Lil Jon and Eve. The purpose of the event was to maintain peace on Milwaukee’s streets while showcasing local and national hip-hop artists. But Jam 4 Peace was eventually cancelled because the funds were no longer attainable.

That being said, it should be noted that national acts still play Milwaukee. In 2007, Talib Kweli performed at Marquette’s Varsity Theater and at UWM’s Pantherfest. In 2008, Lil Wayne brought the “I Am Music Tour” to Milwaukee, featuring Drake, Young Jeezy, Young Money and Soulja Boy. Last year, Gucci Mane had a concert in the U.S. Cellular Arena, and on March 10, the Black Eyed Peas will perform at the Bradley Center. So is it really fair to say Milwaukee is afraid of hip-hop?

Admittedly, Milwaukee’s hip-hop market is particularly small. Most artists’ album sales aren’t as high in Milwaukee as they are in the Chicago or Minneapolis markets. Arenas aren’t selling out when big stars like Lil Wayne come to town.

“I don’t think the city is scared, it’s just that promoters don’t have enough money to bring in big acts, and when they do, people rarely show up. Milwaukee was one of the only cities that didn’t sell out the Lil Wayne Concert [2009],” says local hip-hop artist Sharrod “Pizzle” Sloans.

The bulk of an artist’s paycheck comes from money made at concerts, and not much is being made in Milwaukee. When an artist chooses to perform in Milwaukee, radio stations should do a better job promoting. The hip-hop community could try to raise funds or get endorsement deals from local businesses to keep hip-hop outlets like Jam 4 Peace alive.

But in order to increase the Milwaukee hip-hop market, the city must put more time and support behind our local rap artists before supporting national ones.