The Punchline Academy Honors Big Mic With Special Live Broadcast at Purple Bee Studios

A Special Night in Volente, Texas

The Punchline Academy’s Texas takeover kicked off with a special live Shade 45 broadcast from Purple Bee Studios in Volente, Texas, bringing together music, community, and Austin’s hip hop scene for a night that carried a much deeper meaning.

Hosted by Da Inphamus Amadeuz, the broadcast was part of The Punchline Academy’s Texas run, but more importantly, the gathering served as a successful memorial celebrating the life and legacy of Michael Pereida, better known as Big Mic, co-founder of the College of Hip Hop Knowledge (CHHK).

Remembering Big Mic

Big Mic’s impact on Austin hip hop went far beyond being an artist. Alongside Jsun The Prophesor, he helped build CHHK around three principles: community, unity, and opportunity. The organization was created to give emerging artists opportunities without the pay-to-play practices that often limited access to Austin stages. CHHK’s roots stretch back to 2015, with its first showcase taking place in 2016.

Bringing The Punchline Academy broadcast together in his memory made the night bigger than another tour stop. It became a celebration of someone who spent years creating opportunities for other artists.

Purple Bee Provided the Perfect Home

Purple Bee Studios provided a fitting backdrop. The Volente facility combines a professional recording studio, concert venue, film soundstage, and livestream production operation under one roof. Recently, Purple Bee has continued pushing creative live experiences through its Purple Bee Live sessions and unique live-to-vinyl recordings, where performances can be captured while limited vinyl is created from the session.

Purple Bee and CHHK also share history within Austin’s music community, including appearances together during previous SXSW programming.

Hip Hop Community Came Together

For The Punchline Academy, the broadcast represented exactly what the platform has been building toward: taking the energy of its weekly Shade 45 show outside the studio and connecting directly with hip hop communities around the country.

With 100 million+ views across all platforms, the platform continues growing through interviews, freestyles, live broadcasts, original music, and the Lyric League Series.

But this night wasn’t about numbers.

It was about Big Mic, Austin hip hop, community, and carrying the mission forward.