• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover the Best Things to Do in Austin, Food & Drink deals and more!

  • Things To Do This Weekend
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

Austin Mic Exchange Is Training Ground for Local Hip Hop Artists

Posted on May 23, 2017 by Dustin Vegas

Austin Mic Exchange Spider House

Austin Mic Exchange takes place weekly at Spider House Ballroom

Houston has a rap pedigree that goes back for generations. Dallas has also produced great hip hop, and the same goes for San Antonio. Austin’s contribution to music, on the other hand, has gravitated towards guitar picking and live outdoor festivals, a reputation we’ve been happy to embrace.

Pay closer attention to what’s happening with our live music scene, though. Austin Mic Exchange is rewriting what it means to be the Live Music Capital of the World by growing a DIY hip hop culture right here in Austin, Texas.

Everybody’s Invited to Austin Mic Exchange

A post shared by Austin Mic Exchange (AMX) (@austinmicexchange) on May 10, 2017 at 8:51pm PDT


Austin Mic Exchange began in 2012 with weekly open mics at Spider House Ballroom. It has been going strong ever since, every Wednesday at 8 p.m.

The stage is open to anyone brave enough to pick up the mic, so you’ll see artists of all types perform. You’ll see lyricists twist multi-syllabic bars right after a rap group walks off stage. Austin Mic Exchange doesn’t discriminate based on what’s hot right now, or what some critics would call “real rap” (whatever that’s supposed to mean). If you’re an artist, there is a place for you here.

Every time I go, I see the group cheer on at least one novice with close to no live experience. I can only imagine how terrifying it must be to get on stage to perform for the first time. Austin is lucky to have such a supportive hip hop community through Austin Mic Exchange.

Growing Our Own Hip Hop Legacy

A post shared by Austin Mic Exchange (AMX) (@austinmicexchange) on Apr 5, 2017 at 9:09pm PDT


We can’t draw on a long tradition of hip hop like Houston, so we have to build our own. Austin Mic Exchange helps grow the genre be giving artists a safe place to experiment. That’s how culture is established, by locals collaborating and experimenting long enough to find their voices.

The open mics tend to be straightforward. If you have a song, you sign up on the list and bring your backing production. The DJ calls artists on stage for the opportunity to perform. There is no fee. Most of the performers are local acts that use Austin Mic Exchange as an opportunity to hone their craft and network with other musicians.

A post shared by Austin Mic Exchange (AMX) (@austinmicexchange) on Aug 20, 2016 at 4:06pm PDT

This open and welcoming atmosphere extends from the people running the show to the people watching it. Even if you bomb on stage, it’s not a big deal. That’s part of the process. I love checking in with Austin Mic Exchange every now and then to see how the artists are evolving. It’s an awesome thing to see first hand.

There’s something charming about the underdog quality of our budding hip hop scene. Slowly but surely, it is growing in a city that doesn’t have a lot of appreciation for the genre. Every year the scene gets a little bigger, with more Austinites being introduced.

If hip hop is similar to any other genre of music, it would be punk. The ethos of both genres are fundamentally DIY: give young, passionate people a creative outlet to express themselves musically, and see what happens. What you end up with can be political; it can be angry; it can be good music that hits something inside of you. It all starts with giving a community the means to create music and experiment. This is what Austin Mic Exchange brings to Austin.

2908 Fruth St. – Website

 

@DustyVegas wants to know:

Which hip hop artists have you seen performing in Austin?

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Dustin Vegas
Dustin Vegas
Dustin Vegas
Latest posts by Dustin Vegas (see all)
  • The Austin Center for Grief & Loss Marks 10 Years of Counseling and Support - September 28, 2017
  • Celebrate National Cheeseburger Day With 3 Austin Standouts - September 13, 2017
  • The Water Tank: Northwest Austin’s Comfy Neighborhood Bar - August 31, 2017

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events, Music

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Popular Right Now

Thrift Stores in Austin - Collage

Best Thrift Stores in Austin, TX – 20 Resale & Consignment Shops Near You

Best Events in Austin in July 2025

Celebrate Summer Right: Best July Events in Austin 2025

Things to do in Austin this Summer

Keep It Cool: 2025’s Hottest Things to Do in Austin This Summer

Summer Camps in Austin 2025

Summer Camps in Austin 2025 – STEM, Sports, Arts & More Top Programs Your Kids Will Love

Things To Do in Austin With Teens

50 Things to do in Austin with Teens| Fun Teenager Activities

Recent Posts

  • Best Thrift Stores in Austin, TX – 20 Resale & Consignment Shops Near You
  • Free and Cheap Events in Austin: August 1 – 3
  • National Cheesecake Day Austin 2025 – Deals & Free Cheesecake Near You!
  • National Chicken Wing Day Austin 2025 – Deals & Free Wings Near You!
  • 35 Coffee Shops to Visit in Austin (2025) – Best Local Roasters Near You

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Log in