The Madison Hip-Hop Awards (MHHA) was founded in May of 2010 based on an idea by Mark “ShaH” Evans and Dexter “Tefman” Patterson as a response to the need to bring positive attention to Madison’s talented and dedicated Hip-Hop scene.

The Madison Hip-Hop Awards ceremony is a not-for-profit event. Throughout the planning process for the first MHHA, organizers recognized multiple areas where the Hip-Hop community can use their art to enhance the general community and founded the local non-profit agency Urban Community Arts Network, Ltd (UCAN).

UCAN has since expanded to include programming within Madison area public schools, a free Summer concert series for the community, professional development seminars, and more.