HYFINated Conversations

About HYFINated Conversations

Exclusive interviews with artists, musicians, entrepreneurs and more only on HYFIN, an urban alternative channel from Radio Milwaukee

Publisher

Radio Milwaukee

Category

arts · music · news

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

11 Jul 2022

Latest episode

24 Nov 2025

Latest episodes

91 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   24 Nov 2025

   Mic Drop Moments: Buddy Red

   I sat down with artist Buddy Red, though he’ll tell you himself that the title “artist” only scratches the surface. We dug into his new single “Soul His Soul”, a track sparked by a powerful conversation with his brother that lit a fire in him to speak boldly about the music industry, authenticity, and his own creative identity. While many first met him as Messiah Harris, son of hip-hop legend T.I. and stepson of Tiny Harris, on their reality show “T.I and Tiny:The Family Hustle”, Buddy Red makes it clear that he isn’t building his brand on anyone’s name but his own. In our conversation, he opens up about what it means to be a rocker raised in a home rooted in R&B and hip-hop, how he carved out space for a sound that didn’t match his surroundings, and how picking up a guitar, and stepping fully into blues, rock, and psychedelic funk helped him find his voice, his purpose, and his freedom of expression. We discussed how he came up with his unique name and why he chose to keep it rooted in family. You can catch Buddy Red as a feature performer at the Folk Alliance in New Orleans and at SXSW in 2026.

2. 

   6 Nov 2025

   Boney James: The Sound of Soulful Legacy

   When you sit down with a legend like Boney James, you can feel the music before a single note is played. The four-time GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist has been blending R&B, soul, and contemporary jazz for over three decades and on November 13, he’ll bring that unmistakable sound to the Marcus Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee. We talked about the journey behind the smooth, how a young kid with a saxophone turned passion into purpose.Inspired by the greats, from Grover Washington Jr. to Earth, Wind & Fire and Morris Day and the Time, Boney carved out a lane that’s all his own. His music doesn’t just fill a room; it creates a space where melody meets memory.Our conversation also turned to his latest chart-climbing single, “All I Want Is You,” featuring October London. The track has quickly become a fan favorite, landing in the Top 10 on the R&B charts.

3. 

   6 Nov 2025

   HYFINATED CONVERSATION: Tim Johnson Jr (Singer, Musician and star of "Everybody Still Hates Chris")

   On this HYFINATED CONVERSATION we chop it up with the incredibly talented actor, singer, and songwriter, Tim Johnson Jr.,@cityboyjr to discuss his diverse career and his sensational genre-bending and soulful new album, My Desire. Tim, who got his start playing young Simba in The Lion King in Las Vegas at just 10 years old, reflects on his journey from Philadelphia to becoming a multi-hyphenated (!!!) artist. He recounts the nerve-wracking yet exciting process of rolling out this special album, which is a vulnerable and honest way for people to get to know his heart. His music is deeply influenced by his musical family, including his Pops who was in a gospel group and helped him produce his records, sharing the timeless influences and sounds of Motown, Stevie Wonder, and MJ. Getting thumbs up and stamps of approval from Eddie Murphy, Stevie Wonder and Mike Tyson. This classic soulful foundation is evident in his music, including a wonderful Al Green cover, as the young brother aims to create a "future nostalgia" sound. Tim also discusses his role as the voice of Chris in the animated Paramount Plus series, Everybody Still Hates Chris. He shares the surreal experience of getting the part, which was affirmed by Chris Rock himself, who called him "funny" and "the guy". Working alongside legendary talent like Tichina Arnold and Terry Crews. Tim's preparation involved listening to Chris Rock's comedy specials to capture the heart and timing of the character, ensuring his portrayal honors the original series while still being his own. Cannot front he is pretty spot on with his rendition of Chris’ iconic voice. Comparing his work to theater, he explains that voice acting can often be "larger than life". His new album, My Desire, is a collection of deeply personal songs—some dating back to 2022—that form an "evolution of life". With his new project released on all streaming platforms, Tim's goal is to continue performing, eventually touring the WORLD, and building a family "empire" alongside his creative siblings and ever supportive family!!!

Who has been a guest on HYFINated Conversations

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Renée Elise Goldsberry
• Bilal
• Jimmy Jam
• Big Freedia
• Yola Quartey

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

67

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

60