Bavu Blakes

Originally from Dallas, Bavu Blakes moved to Austin for studies at the University of Texas and decided to remain in the city known as "The Live Music Capital of the World" so he could build a career in music. As an MC who favors conversational delivery, he blends sharp social observations with playful wordplay, crafting lyrics that feel thoughtful yet never dull while keeping the productions compelling. His efforts helped solidify Austin’s emerging hip-hop community through the launch of Hip Hop Humpday, an informal network of DJs, MCs, musicians, and artists organized around Blakes, Tee Double, and Tray God. Every Wednesday the crew hosted events at Club Mercury on Austin’s 6th Street that mixed freestyle battles, live performances, and international tracks, creating an unpredictable but vital hub for the city’s growing scene. Word4Word put out Create & Hustle in 2002 as Blakes’ first full-length project, a release that followed the routine of a struggling artist confronting everyday hardships. The album wove critiques of hip-hop culture together with private reflections over downtempo beats and live jazz arrangements, resulting in a strong debut. In February 2003 Blakes contributed guest vocals to Hydroponic Sound System’s Synthesis EP.