Promise "P-Rock" Bruce '10

2021 Recipient of the Graduate Of the Last Decade Award

Promise Bruce’s passion for people and his Carroll education, rooted in communication with an emphasis on public relations, has positioned him for success as a local talent on the radio airwaves, always aiming to inspire, entertain and give insight whenever on the mic.

A Milwaukee native, he is known professionally as “Promise” or “Promise Got Personality” and continues to seek ways to weave community service and engagement into his daily work. He was exposed to and gained interest in music and radio at a very young age and grew his interest in the field during his student days at Carroll. His formal introduction into radio came during his freshman year at Carroll, when he began hosting his own program for the campus radio station WCCX 104.5FM. After a few semesters of experience, he improved his craft and skill and shortly after, received honors for, “Show of the Year.”

During the summer of 2006, Promise received the opportunity to intern for Jammin 98.3, an urban adult contemporary radio station serving the greater Milwaukee area. The internship evolved into several years of working part-time as a promo assistant. Following graduation, Promise became an on-air personality for 98.3, as well as their sister station, Energy 106.9. In the spring of 2016, Promise moved to take on a lead position with his own time slot, becoming a staple on WKKV V100.7 (iHeartRadio) and host of the evening show, “The Bizness Hourz.”

Besides hosting his weekly radio show, Promise began a new webshow/ podcast called, “The Bizness Hourz After Hourz,” where he has interviewed celebrities and artists such as Chris Rock, Wiz Khalifa, Ice Cube, and Normani, among others. In addition to the interviews, he discussed various trending topics in-depth to engage more of the community in conversation and activism. He also established the segment, “Heat from the Street,” showcasing independent and established artists from the Milwaukee and surrounding areas.

Promise was an assistant production director and on-air personality for V100 in early 2020 when he was suddenly laid off amid the 1,100 jobs cut by his employer in a round of layoffs. Although it was his first experience without a job, having worked since he was 16, he didn’t let it deter him, instead pouring himself into non-profit volunteer work and building his brand through his “Promise Got Personality” entertainment business. He said during an article interview with the Office of Alumni Engagement on the layoff experience: “Think about your layoff or unemployment and ask do you want to continue what you have been doing or is this an opportunity to create something else for yourself? I would try to find something positive in this darkness.”

Shortly after this experience, he partnered with his alma mater to help Carroll as it launched a new online series – Friday Night Live – featuring virtual performances by alumni via Facebook. Promise and a friend—DJ Heathen— pulled in a lively audience that encouraged the duo to push a one-hour DJ set to two hours online. The success of his virtual experience with Carroll helped Promise expand his entertainment business by building a client base interested in his unique style of virtual performance. He also hosted an online DJ set during 2020 Homecoming & Reunion activities at Carroll.

In addition to his radio work, he was a rap artist and is co-founder of Position Players Inc., an entertainment and promotions company. Promise is an accomplished emcee with a wide range of hosting experience such as university Homecomings, festivals, mixers, concerts, school dances, and corporate events. He also founded the lifestyle/clothing brand, The Fly Intellect, in 2014.
Giving back and staying connected to the community is a significant part of Promise’s identity. Promise is a community advocate and does youth outreach by speaking at schools and functions. He is a board member for The New State, a historical redevelopment project seeking to transform the old State Theater in Milwaukee into a community music hub for all ages. The New State team purchased the historic building on Milwaukee’s Near West Side. They are working to uplift the city block, create public space, cultural infrastructure, and economic opportunity, while empowering Milwaukee’s youth through self-governance and self-expression. Their vision for The New State is to become a hotbed for youth arts and will house a combination of non-and for-profit businesses, sharing and collaborating in the space.

Promise has also partnered with local organizations such as the Milwaukee Rescue Mission and Uni-Fi Records, in conjunction with his company, Position Players Inc., to gather new or gently used winter gear for the less fortunate. This effort not only provided a community service but fostered a budding music, performance and multimedia scene in the greater Milwaukee region.
In December 2020, Promise was hired as the morning show host of the newly launched Hot 105.7 FM in Milwaukee, an Entercom station.

As a Carroll student, Promise was part of the Black Student Union (BSU) and Latin American Student Organization (LASO). He was also a resident assistant. He continues to be an active alumnus attending various alumni gatherings and has participated in diversity conversations to identify ways to continue to increase students of color at Carroll.