Milwaukee musician Rap J’s work carries inspirational message

Published

1 year ago

August 17, 2023

Milwaukee musician Rap J’s work carries inspirational message

Milwaukee musician Rap J a rising star

Milwaukee musician Jaquawn Gaston, known as Rap J, has cerebral palsy. He uses his music and lyrics to inspire others and recently played Shank Hall.

MILWAUKEE – It’s often said music is the language of the soul. Jaquawn Gaston knows that best.

The performer known as “Rap J” spits rhymes from the Rhythm X Records studio with his lyrics coming from the heart.

“Music is so powerful in a way because you can become anything that you want to be,” Gaston said.

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The 25-year-old Milwaukee man uses his voice to create connections despite physical hurdles. He has cerebral palsy and has been getting around on four wheels for as long as he can remember.

“Of course, it gets in the way sometimes, being a wheelchair, but it absolutely does not stop my drive,” he said. “It makes every goal in my life a little harder to reach.”

Since the age of 6, Gaston’s big goal has been music. Growing up with the sounds of Michael Jackson and Biggie Smalls in the background, his family encouraged him to chase his dreams.

“My mom, she was my biggest supporter,” he said. “She always would tell me as a kid, like, you can do anything that you want to do.”

Rap J has released videos and recorded songs, but performing under the bright lights on the big stage has always been a little out of reach.

“I can’t wait to show the world what I can do,” Gaston said.

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Earlier this year, armed with confidence, he reached out to one of Milwaukee’s best-known concert promoters.

“Oh my gosh, what an inspiring young man, and what a positive attitude, and in the email, he said, ‘My dream is to play Shank Hall,’” Peter Jest said.

Jest owns the famed concert venue on Milwaukee’s lower east side. He’s responsible for bringing big talent to the city, but even this was a first for him.

“It’s so neat to see someone who has a passion like this to do what he wants,” Jest said. “To do with his limitations, but it doesn’t bother him.”

A low-key Saturday night in June quickly turned into one of the biggest of Gaston’s life. He poured his heart out on the stage at Shank Hall to an audience of people who love him the most.

“From Jaquawn, we can learn that if you have a dream, do everything that you can, and you’re going to achieve it,” Alice Piovesan said.

She flew in from California to watch her old college friend.

“The world just needs to hear him, and they’re going to go crazy for him,” said Piovesan.

Gaston’s former teacher and mentor, Ralph Williams, wouldn’t miss it for the world. He was the opening act.

“No matter who you are, you got to persevere, and Jaquawn has definitely taken that lesson to heart,” Williams said.

It was a night to say “thank you” to supporters in the room and those like Gaston’s mother, who passed away.

“I know that she’s smiling down on me,” Gaston said.

Rap J wants his words to inspire and for his audience to grow. He’s showing the world anything is possible and said it himself in his music: Your true destiny belongs to you.

“This is for all the people out there who have a dream to just keep on fighting and to keep on believing in themselves,” he said. “This is just the beginning, and I’m not going to stop.”

Rap J has dreams for even bigger things in the future. He said he would love to be able to perform on a stage at Summerfest someday.

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What are the road conditions in and around Milwaukee Thursday morning?

Published

5 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

What are the road conditions in and around Milwaukee Thursday morning?

As Milwaukee sees its first snowfall of the season Thursday morning, you should brace for some tricky road conditions on your morning commute.

Two to four inches of wet, heavy snow is possible in the Milwaukee area, making for a “messy morning commute,” the National Weather Service Milwaukee wrote on X. Motorists should drive slowly and with caution throughout the morning, NWS said.

Here’s what to plan ahead for if you’re commuting in Milwaukee on Thursday.

What are the road conditions in and around Milwaukee this morning?

As of 8:15 a.m. Thursday, all of Milwaukee and its surrounding areas — including Interstates 41, 43 and 94 — were seeing “slippery stretches,” according to 511 Wisconsin. Several highways are also seeing one or more lanes blocked due to crashes or stalled vehicles.

If you’re traveling on I-94 this morning, NWS wrote on X that conditions south of the I-94 corridor, especially between Milwaukee and Madison, would “quickly deteriorate” as snow continues.

In affected areas, drivers should plan for slushy snow accumulation and low visibility on the roads, NWS said.

Accidents reported in Milwaukee on Thursday morning

As of 8:15 a.m. Thursday, several crashes or incidents have been reported in Milwaukee that could affect traffic, 511 Wisconsin reported:

7:49 a.m. – I-794 West 1.3 miles beyond the ramp from Carferry Road. The center lane is blocked due to a crash.
7:44 a.m. – I-43 South at ramp from Wisconsin Avenue. The left shoulder is blocked due to a crash.
7:50 a.m. – Ramp from I-94 East to I-43/94 South. Shoulders are closed due to a disabled vehicle.
7:51 a.m. – I-794 West at Michigan Street. The right shoulder is blocked due to a disabled vehicle.
7:52 a.m. – I-43 South at I-794 East. The center lane is blocked due to a crash.
7:57 a.m. – I-43/94 North at Ramp from 6th and Mineral Street. The center lane is blocked due to a disabled vehicle.

Accidents reported in Milwaukee suburbs on Thursday morning

7:15 a.m. – Disabled vehicle on ramp from Burleigh Street to I-41/US 45 North.
7:22 a.m. – I-94 West 1.3 miles beyond the ramp from Highway 100. The right shoulder is blocked due to a crash.
7:23 a.m. – I-43 North at Hampton Avenue East. The left shoulder is blocked due to a crash.
7:37 a.m. – I-94 West at ramp from Moreland Boulevard East. The right shoulder is blocked due to a crash.
7:42 a.m. – Highway 38 South at Air Cargo Way (by the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport). The right lane is closed due to a crash.
7:52 a.m. – I-41/894 South 0.3 miles beyond the ramp from National Avenue. The right shoulder is blocked due to a disabled vehicle.
7:54 a.m. – Ramp from I-94 West to I-41/US 45 North. The right shoulder is blocked due to a disabled vehicle.
8:05 a.m. – I-41/US 45 North at North Avenue. The 3 right lanes are blocked due to a disabled vehicle.

To look up road conditions on your morning commute, check out 511 Wisconsin’s live map.

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Milwaukee, WI

Family: Missing Milwaukee girl found safe, gas station taped off

Published

13 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Family: Missing Milwaukee girl found safe, gas station taped off

Winter Weather Advisory

from THU 6:00 AM CST until THU 12:00 PM CST, Racine County, Sheboygan County, Dodge County, Ozaukee County, Washington County, Milwaukee County, Fond Du Lac County, Jefferson County, Waukesha County, Kenosha County, Walworth County

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Milwaukee, WI

Mother of Riverwest hit-and-run victim looking for accountability

Published

21 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Mother of Riverwest hit-and-run victim looking for accountability

MILWAUKEE — Monday night was terrifying for Ashley Kirkwood. She received a call from her daughter that no parent ever wants to hear.

Kennedy Kirkwood, 16, was crossing Locust on Holton in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood when she was hit by a black SUV turning onto Locust.

The car slowed down but then drove off without checking on Kennedy. The teenager was left alone, injured, and in the rain.

“It’s just heartbreaking that we’ve become a culture of, ‘Okay, we’re just going to leave a person like that,’” Kirkwood said.

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Ashley spoke with TMJ4 about the incident, saying watching the video was difficult for her.

“As parents, that’s something you always worry about,” Kirkwood told TMJ4.

Watch: Mother of Riverwest hit-and-run victim looking for accountability

Family speaks out after 16-year-old injured in hit-and-run near Holton and Locust

She works on the other side of the city and couldn’t be there immediately, so she turned to social media.

Kirkwood posted about the incident on the Riverwest Facebook page.

“Thankfully, within minutes, Riverwest responded,” Kirkwood said. “Over 100 comments, and they were right out here.”

Helpful neighbors stayed with Kennedy until authorities arrived to take her to Children’s Hospital. Kirkwood said she’s grateful to the Riverwest community for their support.

Kennedy is safe at home, but now Kirkwood is looking for answers.

She told TMJ4 she spoke to authorities the night of the incident and called them back after obtaining video of the accident. As of Wednesday afternoon, she had not heard back from police about any updates on the incident.

“I understand that she wasn’t injured to the point where it’s something we’re seeing every day, but we need to take this seriously, and people need to be held accountable,” Kirkwood said.

Kirkwood plans to reach out to Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs and Mayor Cavalier Johnson about the situation.

Milwaukee police say they are looking for the driver of a black SUV. Anyone with information is urged to call authorities at (414) 935-7252.

Kirkwood told TMJ4 she understands things happen, but choosing to leave the scene is unacceptable.

“This was a human being, and we left her out in the rain after running her over,” Kirkwood said.

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