Hip-Hop artist, producer, and University of Texas at San Antonio Professor, Marco Cervantes, better known as Mexstep (Mexican StepGrandfather), has released numerous recorded projects, both solo and as a part of groups (most notably the trio Third Root), including albums, EPs, and mixtapes. Hardly a stranger to the hip-hop scene, Cervantes began rapping in middle school and credits early influences like KRS-One, Public Enemy, and Poor Righteous Professors, for illustrating the intentionality of hip-hop. Ultimately, he found his calling linking Chicano activism to rap music. Since 2009, he’s released three solo projects while also performing with the group Third Root. For his Carver debut, Mexstep and special guests will feature songs from his solo albums Resistir and Vivir, both produced by Grammy Award winning Adrian Quesada (Black Pumas, Brownout)