# Pete Rango

> Compiled by Music Nerd from 38 sources, last updated 2026-10-02.
> Bracketed numbers in the text refer to the numbered sources at the end.

## Overview
Pete Rango, born Peter Arango, is a Colombian-born music producer, audio engineer, creative director, and multidisciplinary builder working in the United States [3][4]. His work spans music, film, AV production, creative education, community building, and emerging technology [3]. 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 [3][6].

## Career Highlights
* Co-founded Dead Set FC, a culture-driven football project that includes documentary, storytelling, and community initiatives [3][5].
* Landed a song placement on Jesse Boykins III's EP *Bartholomew WAVE I* [4].
* Placed his song "Vi$ions" with Cherele on HBO's *Insecure* [4].
* Music has been featured in TV shows and films including HBO's *Rap Sh!t* (Season 2), BET's *Tyler Perry's Sistas*, VH1's *My Celebrity Dream Wedding*, and HBO's *Insecure* (Season 1, Episode 6 and Season 3, Episode 8) [5].
* Has provided live audio engineering for artists such as Dom Kennedy, DJ Mustard, A$AP Ferg, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Denzel Curry, XXXTentacion, and Kodak Black [4][6].

## Story hooks
* Pete Rango's family moved to Fairfax, VA, from Bogota, Colombia, when he was 11 due to persecution by guerrilla forces [4].
* His cousin André introduced him to 112's "Part III" and Dr. Dre's "2001," which shifted his perspective on music creation beyond just guitar, inspiring him to explore samplers and computers [25][26].
* After his first semester of college in 2008, his father kicked him out of the house for smoking marijuana, leading him to move to Fort Myers, FL, where he discovered the hip-hop collective PayUp Game and began developing artists [4].
* He co-owns Subvert, a collectively owned co-op music platform, because he believes artists need platforms where ownership, community, and context are built into the foundation [31][32][34].

## Sound & Influences
Pete Rango's approach to music production is rooted in human psychology and a desire to help people [4]. He became interested in music at nine years old, teaching himself guitar [4]. In college, he discovered electronic music and began mixing different genres [4]. His work is characterized by building connections through sound, storytelling, culture, and systems [3].

## Discography Highlights
* "Vi$ions" — a collaboration with Cherele, placed on HBO's *Insecure* [4].
* "Breakdown" (2023) — a collaboration with Elle Symone, created from freestyled first takes [10][18][38].
* "Dreamvibe" (2023) — a collaboration with Elle Symone, created from freestyled first takes [10].
* "rush" (2026) — released first on Subvert, a collectively owned co-op music platform [5][34].
* "crying on the floor (pete rango mix)" (2026) — a collaboration with Dame Atlas [37].

## Industry Connections
* **Parris Pierce** has been a main production partner since Pete Rango discovered the hip-hop collective PayUp Game [4]. They competed twice in i-Standard's Music Producers competition, winning in Miami [4].
* **The Renegades** are a producer duo Pete Rango met after winning the i-Standard competition in Miami [4].
* **Cazz**, a manager for The Renegades, connected Pete Rango with various artists for sessions [4].
* **Jesse Boykins III** features a song produced by Pete Rango on his EP *Bartholomew WAVE I* [4].
* **Cherele** collaborated with Pete Rango on "Vi$ions," which was placed on HBO's *Insecure* [4]. Pete Rango also develops Cherele as one of his main artists [4].
* **OYABUN** is an artist Pete Rango currently develops [4].
* **Yokohamo** is an artist Pete Rango currently develops [4].
* **Dame Atlas** collaborated with Pete Rango on "crying on the floor (pete rango mix)" [11][37].
* **Elle Symone** collaborated with Pete Rango on "Breakdown" and "Dreamvibe," with Elle freestyling the vocals [10][18][38].
* **Christopher Adkins Stone** contributed guitar to a record [17].
* **Nawtcreative** contributed as a Pixel Mover, for cover art, textures, and as a 3D pixel mover for the KIO project [15].
* **Romesempire** mastered several of Pete Rango's tracks [16].
* **Kevin Carroll** and **Roderick Deerr** co-founded Dead Set FC with Pete Rango [5][12][14].

## Recent Activity
* As of 2024, Pete Rango is involved in research and development at MusicNerd, and in AI and community development at EternalVentures [3].
* As of 2024, he joined Metalabel [2].
* As of 2026, he is committed to releasing every track first on Subvert, a collectively owned co-op music platform he joined as a founding member [33][34].
* As of 2026, he plans to host live sessions and offer free consultations to artists and creatives [35][36].

## Online Presence
* Instagram: @p3t3rango [4]
* X: @p3t3rango [4]
* SoundCloud: peterango
* YouTube: @peterango

## Who They Are
Pete Rango is driven by a desire to help people become their best selves, whether through music or other aspects of life [4]. He aims to promote messages of love, hope, and perseverance through his work [4].

## In Their Own Words
* On the importance of self-awareness and curation: "You cannot have taste if you do not know who you are.” [1]
* On the impact of his cousin André introducing him to music: "My life would have been very different if he hadn’t introduced me to those albums when I was young." [27]
* On the purpose of the 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." [8]
* On the effectiveness of 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." [9]
* On the value of artist ownership and platforms like 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." [31]
* On the importance of 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." [4]

## Sources

1. Pete Rango (@p3t3rango) on Hey (2024-08-29) — https://hey.xyz/posts/f1xrz38rzp2zg756aw
2. Pete Rango's user profile on Metalabel — https://www.metalabel.com/profile/did:mlr:7d74xogmeqbgwnfa3zmt6553
3. About Pete Rango — https://peterango.com/about
4. Meet Pete Rango – Voyage MIA Magazine | Miami City Guide (2019-01-10) — https://voyagemia.com/interview/meet-peter-rango
5. Pete Rango — https://peterango.com
6. 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/
7. 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?"
8. Their own words — "You've launched a website for your mentorship program at Petersburg Elementary Schools; what does a student actually get there?"
9. 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?"
10. Their own words — "You said 'BREAKDOWN' with @ellesymoneofficial came from a wave of emotion when you were both feeling completely broken down; what was the first thing that got written for that track?"
11. Instagram collaboration with @dameatlas — https://www.instagram.com/p/DYh9NPIhuFL/
12. Instagram collaboration with @deadsetfc — https://www.instagram.com/p/DVMPwD_DncI/
13. Instagram collaboration with @kevaux__ — https://www.instagram.com/p/DVMPwD_DncI/
14. Instagram collaboration with @dear_rod — https://www.instagram.com/p/Da8SaTyBH7K/
15. 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/
16. Pete Rango credits @romesempire — Mastered by; Master; Mastered — https://www.instagram.com/p/DCEnVCiRNJl/
17. 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/
18. Pete Rango credits @eazyelle_ — freestyle on 3 different beats; Featured Artist; freestyling; did this whole song — https://www.instagram.com/p/CpQKFFyDfyI/
19. Pete Rango on their own role — mix — https://www.instagram.com/p/DWO1H5UEqSb/
20. Pete Rango on their own role — Mix & Master — https://www.instagram.com/p/DVV8vJnDudX/
21. Pete Rango on their own role — Producer — https://www.instagram.com/p/DCEnVCiRNJl/
22. Pete Rango on their own role — Mixed by — https://www.instagram.com/p/DCEnVCiRNJl/
23. Pete Rango on their own role — coach and entrepreneur — https://www.instagram.com/p/C75IUTyvcCN/
24. Pete Rango on their own role — unreleased music — https://www.instagram.com/p/C6ZxqDiR_6z/
25. 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/
26. 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/
27. 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/
28. 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/
29. 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/
30. 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/
31. 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/
32. 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/
33. 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/
34. 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/
35. 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/
36. Their own words — hosting artist consultations: "If you’re new here, this is a series where I host live consultations to help independent artists and creatives navigate their careers." — https://www.instagram.com/p/DVKLNDdCerT/
37. Track credit — "crying on the floor (pete rango mix)" (Dame Atlas, Pete Rango) — https://www.instagram.com/p/DYh9NPIhuFL/
38. Track credit — "Breakdown" (Pete Rango, Elle Symone) — https://www.instagram.com/p/DJZ1B_CxDu_/