221. Brenton Gomez on Rap, Skating and DIY in Omaha

Brenton Gomez is a fixture of Omaha’s rap and skateboarding
scenes. You may know him as Conny Franko, the name under which
he’s been releasing music for the better part of two
decades. He’s half of the hip-hop duo M34N STR33T with
producer Adam Haug.


Skateboarding was Gomez’s first love. His experiences street
skating as a kid inspired him to spend much of his adult life
advocating for skate park construction. In 2018, Gomez and his
friends built ramps and rails on the unused tennis courts of
Lynch Park on South 20th Street. In 2023, he helped convince the
city to use ARPA funds to build an even better skating facility
on the site.


When Gomez isn’t skating or rapping, he’s a program coordinator
at the Kiewit Luminarium. He’s also an avid reader who cites
Gabriel García Márquez as one of his favorite authors.


In this episode, Gomez is in conversation with Michael Griffin
about how he forged his own path as a skater, artist and musician
in Omaha’s DIY scenes.