Beats Within

How do I describe my friend? I wish I could just beam the feeling of Yadira into your mind—because Yadira is something you feel. Like a cat stretching into a sunbeam. In this episode, we walk through her music journey—from an early mic handoff by Bavu Blakes at Hip Hop Hump Day at the Hole in the Wall, to opening for Kendrick Lamar, and recently releasing her first collection of songs on an album...

Hailing from the Midwest, Bubs Rubino has planted deep roots in Texas, where he intentionally built the foundation for a hip-hop community he once envisioned as a kid. No gimmicks, no flashy content—Rather Unique Curative goes beyond curation; it’s a remedy. Like his Italian Nonna handpicking the best tomatoes for her Sunday gravy, Bubs selects artists with care, creating a flavorful blend of tale...

Omar Lozano aka Kid Monks has several talents. I call it "Dream Boy" aesthetic. Photography, skateboarding, DJing, and now the founder of Austin's only Latino vinyl record label, Trucha Soul. He also owns the only Sonido Soundsystem that he built with his own manitos with help and guidance from Sonidero Pato, a Sonidero legend. I've known him for years, but I still get nervous around him. I'm like...

Nick Nack is Texas Hip Hop history, and the evidence is in this episode. Starting in the 90s in Dallas, TX, before his journey brought him into Austin, we discuss 30 years of his legacy and how it put Austin's Hip Hop scene on the map with the help of some friends like Bavu Blakes, TeeDouble, DJ Tatsu, and more. Misa came to Austin to live in the Hip Hop culture that Nack helped build and its an h...

Picture it, Austin's Apple campus 2007. Interior shot: Misa and a tall, pleasant dude named Eddie discuss their hip-hop dreams. Eddie says he wants to keep growing his music collection and Dj. After 15 years and multiple awards, Chorizo Funk has lived several lifetimes and evolved into a phenomenal party rocker. If we weren't amid a SAG and AFTRA strike, I would call anyone but Netflix to make a m...

Mez is a legend in his own right. Whenever I see a Mez Data mural or painting, I know that I am still home in a city that changes so quickly, it can be hard to recognize. Before there were 4Chan, Discord, and Russian troll farming facebook ads, there was 1am on the corner of 7th and Red River where Mez and Misa would smoke ciggys and HARMLESSLY pontificate. This episode has a bit of the old days b...

BoomBaptist is a prodigiously gifted, multi-instrumentalist artist who also makes excellent cocktails that he mixed with a mezcal that Misa brought back specifically for this conversation. They discuss his extensive musical career featuring connections and collaborations with notable artists, his newfound friendship with NBA Jam's Tim Kitzrow, a timeless beef with Mr. Worldwide, and multiple layer...

Yescka is a painter and printmaker from Oaxaca, Mexico. He is an iconic artist whose works can be found from the streets to galleries in Mexico, the United States, and Germany. We discuss how the 2006 resistance, Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO), was the catalyst for his transition from his studies in traditional folkloric art to socio-politico imagery. Yescka is the voice of the p...

HomeSick travels way south from Alberta to Austin with a message of self love but Misa derails him to open up about ghosts and therapize her inner demons. There is also some discussion about Limp Bizkit. It's a well rounded golden hour discussion.

The interview went well, so I won't follow through on my threat of spreading a vicious rumor - that he prefers American over Lafayette. Find out what that means on this episode. I'm baiting you. But it's a cute interview. As you know, I love Detroit so we talk a little smidge about Sinistarr's upbringing, GhettoTech, dancing and more.

The expression, "It's like riding a bike" didn't mean shit to Anna until she was on acid in the desert. In this episode we go from birth to the theory of infinity with pit stops in between to shout out ox tails, dj-ing through the lens of empathy, and motor boating. Grab a silky robe, a nice bevvie, and get into bed with us. Also, free feet for the viewers.

Misa's fresh manicure gives her the confidence to interrogate Addison Groove. We discuss timelines, spaghetti, the Amen Break causing blindness, and carnival food. Oh yeah and something about music production and this history of the Bristol music scene or whatever- because we know ya'll like that stuff.

We delve into Cazal's unique exposure to music and how he distills this knowledge into his creative process. We cover many genres and of course, Misa's complicated emotions and how they correspond to her BIG 3.The Beats Within crew learned some life lessons and felt more connected to Cazal after this thoughtful interview. So much so, we still reflect on it today. Come along with us as we "ride the...

Nikki Nair, not the spelunker, the other one. Nikki 2Ks. Yeah that one. We connect about our love of a 4/4 paired with the sound of a grinding broken dishwasher in the pits of hell- techno and the Soprano's. There's also some chit chat around strange dreams and Misa's neglectful upbringing.

You say you love Austin, but would you drive 409 miles every weekend to build your passion that will ultimately lay the foundation of one of the longest running drum & bass nights at an iconic club in the Red River District? Would you use a wide mouth mickey's to keep weight on your records to play a set on your parents old turn tables? Episode also includes a Gibby Haynes story, the secret to...