Our Story
Born from Crisis, Built for Creatives
Raps & Apps was created by artists, for artists.
It was born out of a deep urgency and purpose during one of the most destabilizing times in recent memory the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of the crisis, when creative livelihoods were vanishing overnight, a group of artists and entrepreneurs from the Corpus Christi venue The Exchange saw firsthand how the music and arts community was suffering. Gigs were gone, venues were closed, and income for artists had dried up.
But from that hardship came clarity: the myth of the starving artist had to end.
So we formed a nonprofit that would not only offer emergency support but a long-term solution. A creative business incubator. A safe haven. A launchpad. A full-scale digital and physical platform designed to give artists the tools, resources, and support to make their dreams sustainable not just in spirit, but in dollars and cents.
Why Corpus Christi?
If you know Corpus Christi, you know the story of Selena Quintanilla, whose music shook the world. But what many don’t know is that she represents the deep well of raw, world-class talent that lives and breathes in this Gulf Coast city.
Yet far too often, this talent stays trapped here. Corpus is a destination city, many don’t know the talent that lives here. Raps & Apps aims to change that. Our mission is to build the infrastructure that bridges creativity with commerce. To help our artists tell their stories to Texas, the U.S., and the world.
We do it through two tracks:
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Raps – focused on creation, giving artists access to studios, recording equipment, and scholarships for producing high-quality music and media.
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Apps – focused on commercialization, teaching the tools of the trade: web design, publishing, distribution, videography, marketing, and more.
We are building a platform for visibility and viability, not just talent.
Meet the Founder: Jeristotle
At the helm of Raps & Apps is Executive Director Jeremy Wells,
known musically as Jeristotle. A seasoned hip hop artist and producer.
Jeristotle began his career in Virginia, where his group Beer N Black opened for legends like Pusha T and Wu-Tang Clan. Just as success was within reach, life made a hard left and his musical partner became a father, and like so many artists, had to choose between a dream and a “real job”.
That decision stayed with Jeristotle because although not a traditional path making art is the realest job possible.
Years later, he relocated to Corpus Christi to help his fraternity brothers Hank Harrison and Xavier Ramos launch The Exchange, which quickly became a cultural hub for creativity in the city. But the pain of watching so many talented creatives struggle to survive sparked something more: a desire to build a system that helped artists choose their dreams and thrive while doing it.
Thus, Raps & Apps was born.
The Golden Mic
Founded officially in December 2023, Raps & Apps
has already begun to make waves.
We secured grants from Google Ad Grants, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and most recently, received our largest award yet from the Coastal Bend Community Foundation to power our signature program: The Golden Mic.
The Golden Mic is our flagship initiative a complete package for underrepresented musicians:
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Studio time to record high-quality music.
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Documentary-style interviews to tell their stories.
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Professional music videos to showcase them as performers.
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Live showcases to connect with fans and industry leaders.
This is not just exposure it’s empowerment.
The Future: Where We're Headed
The next step for Raps & Apps is big.
Our goal is to build a community center where artists can collaborate, work, and thrive.
The community center will house:
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Studio spaces for music, podcasting, and content creation.
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A co-working hub for creatives.
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Business consulting and tech education programs.
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Assistance curating paid opportunities for artists.
Our dream is to franchise this model, transforming it into a national blueprint for sustainable artistic careers. Corpus Christi is our pilot, but the vision is national. Think a business incubator, but for creative empowerment. Lead with the cause, backed by community and real estate, and empowered with purpose.
Raps & Apps is not just a nonprofit. It is a movement.
If you’re an artist, we’re here for you.
If you’re a supporter of the arts, we need you.
If you’re a believer that art shouldn’t equal poverty, join us.
If you feel moved then please donate to the cause and help us destroy the myth of the starving artist once and for all.
Support Local Corpus Christi Artists
We provide a unique platform for Corpus Christi Artists to showcase their talents and create sustainable careers. Our community partners help us destroy the myth of the starving artist.
