# Pete Rango

> Compiled by Music Nerd from 36 sources, last updated 2026-09-03.
> Bracketed numbers in the text refer to the numbered sources at the end.

# PETE RANGO - Artist Knowledge Document

## Overview
Pete Rango is a Colombian-born music producer, audio engineer, creative director, and multidisciplinary builder working in the United States [2][3]. His work spans music production, film and AV production, creative education, and community building [2]. He is the founder of XUE Records, an independent label and creative platform, and Life Is Valuable Corp, a nonprofit focused on creative empowerment and education [2][5].

## Career Highlights
- Co-founded the metal/hardcore band In Alcatraz 1962 in high school [3]
- Won the i-Standard’s Music Producers competition in Miami with production partner Parris Pierce [3]
- Landed a song on Jesse Boykins III’s EP *Bartholomew WAVE I* with Hudson Mowhake and Abjo [3]
- Placed his song "Vi$ions" with Cherele on HBO’s *Insecure* [3]
- Founded XUE Records and the nonprofit Life Is Valuable Corp [2][5]
- Joined Metalabel on February 21, 2024 [1]

## Story hooks
- Taught himself guitar at age nine after not getting along with his teacher [3].
- Was kicked out of his dad's house after his first college semester, leading him to discover the hip-hop collective PayUp Game in Fort Myers, FL [3].
- His cousin André introduced him to 112's "Part III" and Dr. Dre's "2001," which shifted his perspective on music creation beyond just the guitar, leading him to explore samplers and computers [23][24].
- Named his nonprofit "Life Is Valuable" (L.I.V.) [2][4].

## Sound & Influences
Pete Rango's production work covers a range of genres, influenced by his early exposure to metal/hardcore, electronic music, and hip-hop [3]. He started exploring drum machines and computer-based music production after his cousin introduced him to R&B and hip-hop albums [6][24]. His work is characterized by "innovative soundscapes that enhance storytelling and create emotional connections" [4].

## Discography Highlights
- "Vi$ions" — a song with Cherele, placed on HBO’s *Insecure* [3].
- "Breakdown" (2023) — a collaboration with Elle Symone, featuring her freestyling [36][16].
- "rush" (2024) — released first on Subvert, a collectively owned co-op music platform [4][33].
- "crying on the floor (pete rango mix)" (2026) — a collaboration with Dame Atlas [35].

## Industry Connections
Pete Rango has worked with a range of artists and producers:
- Parris Pierce: a main production partner, with whom he won the i-Standard’s Music Producers competition in Miami [3].
- Cherele: co-wrote "Vi$ions," which was placed on HBO's *Insecure* [3]. He also develops her as an artist [3].
- OYABUN: an artist he develops [3][5].
- Yokohamo: an artist he develops [3].
- Elle Symone (@eazyelle_): collaborated on "Breakdown" (2023), where she freestyled on three beats [36][16].
- Dame Atlas (@dameatlas): collaborated on "crying on the floor (pete rango mix)" (2026) [35][9].
- Christopher Adkins Stone (@christopher_adkins_stone_): collaborated on a record, contributing guitar and ideas [15].
- Rome's Empire (@romesempire): credited for mastering on multiple projects [14].
- Nawt Creative (@nawtcreative): collaborated on the KIO project, contributing cover art, textures, and 3D pixel moving [13].
- Kevin Carroll (@kevaux__) and Roderick Deerr (@dear_rod): co-founded Dead Set FC, a documentary collective [4][10][11][12].
- Soothebyhendrix (@soothebyhendrix): collaborated on the creation of "rush" (2024) [31].
- Marilyn Pham (@marilyn.pham): inspired his commitment to consistent releases [32].

He has also had songs and demos with Anderson Paak, Kilo Kish, Father and KeithCharles from Awful Records, Mr. Vegas, Aaron Doh, Kendyle Paige, and Foushee [3]. He has live engineered and produced for artists including Nia Sultana, Abjo, Jesse Boykins III, XXXTentacion, Kodak Black, MadeinTYO, DJ Jazzy Jeff, A$AP Ferg, Suicide Boys, Pouya, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, DJ Mustard, Sango, Dom Kennedy, Abra, Cyhi The Prince, and Bodega Bamz [5].

## Recent Activity
As of 2026, Pete Rango is committed to releasing every track first on Subvert, a collectively owned co-op music platform, as a founding member [33]. He also plans to offer free consultations to artists and creatives more often [34]. He joined Metalabel on February 21, 2024, and contributed to "Network Archives 001: A Directory of Inspiration" [1].

## Online Presence
Spotify artist page is linked and verified. His Instagram handle is @p3t3rango, X is @p3t3rango, SoundCloud is peterango, and YouTube is @peterango. His website is peterango.com [3][4].

## Who They Are
Pete Rango's work is driven by a desire to help people connect, whether through music, film, education, or software [2]. He views music as a vehicle for something bigger, aiming to promote messages of love, hope, and perseverance [3].

## In Their Own Words
- On early music exploration: "I don't remember one specific thing I made after but I did start exploring using drum machines and making music on my computer. It pushed me to explore more underground music that I hadn't been exposed to prior to moving to the U.S." [6]
- On the purpose of his L.I.V. mentorship program: "A student gets exposure to careers they may not have known existed, adults they can see themselves in, and a space where their curiosity is taken seriously. We wanted them to leave having actually made something and, more importantly, with a slightly bigger idea of what they could become." [7]
- On capturing Elle Symone's freestyles: "Her first takes were so good that we didn't have a need to go back and write any more or re record anything. The energy and emotion of those freestyles were perfect for the tracks and we didn't want her to have to re-create that." [8]
- On his cousin André's influence: "My life would have been very different if he hadn’t introduced me to those albums when I was young." [25]
- On his belief in Subvert: "I believe Subvert because artists need more than another place to upload music. We need platforms where ownership, community, and context are built into the foundation." [29]
- On co-owning Subvert: "Being a co-owner of Subvert matters to me because it feels like we’re helping build the kind of music ecosystem we keep saying should exist." [30]
- On work-life balance for creatives: "There should be more work/life balance in creatives lives not only to create better content but to create better lives for themselves by enjoying the now and not be so focused on the ideological future you’re looking for." [3]

## Sources

1. Pete Rango's user profile on Metalabel — https://www.metalabel.com/profile/did:mlr:7d74xogmeqbgwnfa3zmt6553
2. About Pete Rango — https://peterango.com/about
3. Meet Pete Rango – Voyage MIA Magazine | Miami City Guide (2019-01-10) — https://voyagemia.com/interview/meet-peter-rango
4. Pete Rango — https://peterango.com
5. Music Producer, Pete Rango on The LIFE CHANGES Show – Ep774 - LIFE CHANGES NETWORK — https://lifechangesnetwork.com/music-producer-pete-rango-on-the-life-changes-show-ep774/
6. Their own words — "Your cousin André handed you 112's 'Part III' and Dr. Dre's '2001' — what's the first thing you made after?"
7. Their own words — "You've launched a website for your mentorship program at Petersburg Elementary Schools; what does a student actually get there?"
8. Their own words — "@eazyelle_ freestyled on three beats one night, and you kept the first take of each; what made those first takes work so well?"
9. Instagram collaboration with @dameatlas — https://www.instagram.com/p/DYh9NPIhuFL/
10. Instagram collaboration with @deadsetfc — https://www.instagram.com/p/DVMPwD_DncI/
11. Instagram collaboration with @kevaux__ — https://www.instagram.com/p/DVMPwD_DncI/
12. Instagram collaboration with @dear_rod — https://www.instagram.com/p/Da8SaTyBH7K/
13. Pete Rango credits @nawtcreative — Pixel Mover; Cover art; Textures; KIO project founder; 3D pixel mover; describing Kio; Collab with — https://www.instagram.com/p/Cip1rtSAMOI/
14. Pete Rango credits @romesempire — Mastered by; Master; Mastered — https://www.instagram.com/p/DCEnVCiRNJl/
15. Pete Rango credits @christopher_adkins_stone_ — working on this record; Guitar; artist; coming up with idea; coming up with an idea; design music — https://www.instagram.com/p/CgAD1rar0FE/
16. Pete Rango credits @eazyelle_ — freestyle on 3 different beats; Featured Artist; freestyling; did this whole song — https://www.instagram.com/p/CpQKFFyDfyI/
17. Pete Rango on their own role — mix — https://www.instagram.com/p/DWO1H5UEqSb/
18. Pete Rango on their own role — Mix & Master — https://www.instagram.com/p/DVV8vJnDudX/
19. Pete Rango on their own role — Producer — https://www.instagram.com/p/DCEnVCiRNJl/
20. Pete Rango on their own role — Mixed by — https://www.instagram.com/p/DCEnVCiRNJl/
21. Pete Rango on their own role — coach and entrepreneur — https://www.instagram.com/p/C75IUTyvcCN/
22. Pete Rango on their own role — unreleased music — https://www.instagram.com/p/C6ZxqDiR_6z/
23. Their own words — his cousin André introducing him to music: "When I moved to the states, he handed me 112’s “Part III” and Dr. Dre’s “2001”. This was the first time I had ever heard “modern” R&B and hip hop. That completely changed the traje" — https://www.instagram.com/p/DYKorIdloLG/
24. Their own words — how André changed his music perspective: "I already loved music and knew I wanted to make music, but those albums shifted my perspective of how to create music. The guitar now wasn’t the only instrument. Samplers and compu" — https://www.instagram.com/p/DYKorIdloLG/
25. Their own words — impact of André on his life: "My life would have been very different if he hadn’t introduced me to those albums when I was young." — https://www.instagram.com/p/DYKorIdloLG/
26. Their own words — his cousin André's struggles: "André was a very troubled soul. He had lost himself and his mind by the end of high school and was never the same again. Some days I wish I could have been there for him more, or t" — https://www.instagram.com/p/DYKorIdloLG/
27. Their own words — remembering André's positive impact: "However, today we choose to remember him for the beautiful things he did bring to this world. His perspective, the music he shared with me, and those he touched when he was around." — https://www.instagram.com/p/DYKorIdloLG/
28. Their own words — his love and hope for André: "I love and miss you forever André. All I can hope for is that you finally found peace." — https://www.instagram.com/p/DYKorIdloLG/
29. Their own words — why he believes in Subvert: "I believe Subvert because artists need more than another place to upload music. We need platforms where ownership, community, and context are built into the foundation." — https://www.instagram.com/p/DYPcIMJSQPW/
30. Their own words — why co-owning Subvert matters to him: "Being a co-owner of Subvert matters to me because it feels like we’re helping build the kind of music ecosystem we keep saying should exist." — https://www.instagram.com/p/DYPcIMJSQPW/
31. Their own words — how 'rush' was made: "After a conversation with @soothebyhendrix about music, healing, and building new systems for artists, we went back to my spot and started creating. We found a vocal asking, “why y" — https://www.instagram.com/p/DVO9hPjkZE1/
32. Their own words — choosing consistency in releases: "Not long after, I spoke with @marilyn.pham about her commitment to releasing every month. It made me question my own hesitation. This is me choosing consistency." — https://www.instagram.com/p/DVO9hPjkZE1/
33. Their own words — belief in artist ownership and alternatives: "This year, every track will release first on @subvertworld. It’s a collectively owned co-op music platform (bandcamp alternative) I joined as a founding member because I believe ar" — https://www.instagram.com/p/DVO9hPjkZE1/
34. Their own words — commitment to artist consultations: "Im going to commit to hoping on live more often and giving free consultations to artists/creatives." — https://www.instagram.com/p/DUTYlDnDkYy/
35. Track credit — "crying on the floor (pete rango mix)" (Dame Atlas, Pete Rango) — https://www.instagram.com/p/DYh9NPIhuFL/
36. Track credit — "Breakdown" (Pete Rango, Elle Symone) — https://www.instagram.com/p/DJZ1B_CxDu_/