Inside the Venice Music x No Name Studios Event: Legacy, Lessons and Live Mixes

Walking into No Name Studios for the Venice Music collab event felt less like entering a studio and more like stepping into hip-hop history. As self-proclaimed fans of MixedByAli, we were already humbled to be invited into his space. Seeing a row of Grammy certificates and wall after wall of plaques made it instantly clear we were somewhere special. Someone on staff told us Ali has earned over 300 plaques in total. One hallway was lined with nothing but Nipsey Hussle accolades, while another featured Section.80 by Kendrick Lamar and a few SZA placements tucked into corners. You could feel the legacy in the air.

The event itself was organized and welcoming. Donovan from Venice Music held it down as host, keeping the pace smooth and the energy high. Lunch came courtesy of Marathon Burger, which hit even harder because it was free and had been on our LA food bucket list. That kind of detail showed how Ali and the team genuinely looked out for the folks who showed up. It wasn’t just local talent in the building either. Artists, producers, engineers, and managers came in from across the country—New York, Houston, the Carolinas—just to be there.

The panel was a standout moment. Ali sat alongside DJ Hed and Andrew, another LA-based engineer, with Donovan leading the conversation. Each brought a different lens to the industry and their own come-up stories. Ali spoke about learning from mistakes, living out of studios, and getting early mentorship from Dr. Dre. He’s mixed countless iconic projects, but emphasized he had to learn the business the hard way—through burnout, IRS bills, and late nights pushing himself to the edge. DJ Hed, a longtime radio personality and producer, kept it unfiltered about how radio really works and how artists need to build grassroots before aiming for major exposure. Andrew shared how his foundation came from his time as a runner at Enterprise Studios, where he worked with legends and learned studio etiquette that eventually earned him long-term trust and repeat calls. Their backgrounds added weight to every lesson they shared.

There was also a live panel where DJ Hed joined Donovan for a unfiltered round of music reviews. Artists had submitted their records for feedback, and DJ Hed didn’t hold back. He told one person he couldn’t remember anything about their song, while another got props for having a certified hit. Everything you could imagine in between showed up, and Hed delivered it all with his signature no-filter style. He also shared that he’s launching a new show on FYI where he’ll be doing regular record reviews and encouraged artists to send their music in.

One of the biggest takeaways was about humility and consistency. DJ Hed made it plain that radio isn’t where new artists get discovered anymore—it’s a business, not a charity. Build your own movement, he said. Create your own table. That message came up again and again: this game rewards those who show up, stay consistent, and treat themselves like a brand. If your Instagram doesn’t match your artist name, or if your studio etiquette is sloppy, you’re not getting invited back. Simple as that.

They also talked openly about burnout, balance, and building a business. Ali recalled doing too much at once, mixing for everyone from Mac Miller to Danny Brown in a single month, and how he had to learn the power of saying no. Andrew reflected on moments when other engineers pushed him to level up and shared how staying open to all genres—not just rap or R&B—has kept his career diverse and creatively rich. They spoke about finding your "Big Mac"—that one thing you're known for—and sticking to it before trying to do everything. And they reminded us to be grateful, always. This game can be heavy, but it runs on passion and persistence.

When we left No Name Studios that night, we weren’t just inspired—we were recalibrated. The event gave us more than just behind-the-scenes stories. It gave us a real-time reminder of why we do this: not just to be heard, but to build something that lasts. This wasn't just a celebration of sound. It was a gathering of legacy in the making.