Suave – Episode: "33 Years Later, Suave’s Long-Lost Mixtape"
Podcast: Suave (Futuro Media)
Date Released: September 24, 2025
Overview
This bonus episode centers on the rediscovery and release of Suave's long-lost mixtape, recorded over 30 years ago while he was incarcerated. Through the conversation, Suave and the host delve into the power of music for those inside prison, how it shaped Suave’s identity, and the unique story behind the creation (and survival) of the mixtape. The episode also highlights intergenerational artistic connections, the evolution of prison music, and the significance of legacy for those locked away from society.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Significance of April 7th
- [00:14] April 7 is a transformative day for Suave: the date of his sentencing (1988), book release (2025), and podcast drop.
- Quote: “April 7, 1988, was the date that I got sentenced to life in prison. … April 7, 2025 is the day that my book come out all over the place, from prison to the Pulitzer. And it’s also the day that this podcast dropped. How amazing is that?” — Suave [00:32]
The Mystery and Discovery of the Mixtape
- [01:23] The mixtape, long believed lost, surfaced in his brother’s basement after decades.
- Quote: “I go to my brother's house, and in the basement, he got a whole shrine. And I see my tape, brand new packets... I need that.” — Suave [01:23]
Crafting an Album in Prison
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[01:45] The mixtape was recorded with an illegal eight-track left by a reporter, making use of homemade instruments and DIY ingenuity.
- Quote: “A reporter left [the recorder] by mistake. And I was like, hey, I think I could record an album out of this… It was straight up, you know how to play the instrument or you don't. So a lot of the instruments you hear are homemade instruments…” — Suave [01:45]
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[07:58] “To make music, you had to finesse the system a little bit… So when I recorded my music, we recorded one song at a time, piece by piece... Once we had all 13 songs together, we so called master… by running it, recorded it completely into another tape.” — Suave [07:58]
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[09:41] The creative process: Only an hour per day, all in a tiny cell, with guards avoided by lookouts, using jerry-rigged headphones as microphones.
The Role of Hip Hop in Suave’s Life
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[03:20] Hip hop came before literacy; Suave learned to rap before he could read or write.
- Quote: “I could memorize a lot of things. Even when I was illiterate… I used to rap about normal things that I saw in the neighborhood.” — Suave [03:57]
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Culturally, Suave grew up blocks away from hip hop luminaries (Fat Joe, KRS-One), and rap was rooted in everyday experience.
The Soundscape of Solitary Confinement
- [05:34] Seven years in solitary deeply influenced Suave’s approach to sound and music.
- Quote: “I would listen, like for the roaches, the mouths, the water leaks, the toilet... To the normal person, it's just water drops… to me, it was like melodies. And I would try... to rap to it.” — Suave [05:34]
Music as Both Identity and Livelihood
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[10:15] Suave’s music was in Spanish because his command of English was limited, and there was a demand for Spanish verses among Latino inmates.
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Music was a way not only to assert identity but also to build community and earn a living inside—he sold tapes both inside and outside, before later supporting himself with self-published books.
- Quote: "Before the books, it was the music. I used to sell mixtapes." — Suave [22:06]
Thematic Content of the Mixtape
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[12:34] Songs drew from personal and social realities: addiction in the family, experiences with the justice system, commentary on AIDS, corruption, and urban life.
- Quote: "My range was crazy... I drew inspiration from KRS-One… If you listen to that tape, there's a song… called ‘Criminal Minded.’ ...‘Crack Baby’ was about my sister being on crack… That was my story and music before the Suave podcast came out.” — Suave [12:34]
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[14:20] Political consciousness: “Soy Latino” is cited as a favorite, tackling issues like AIDS, political neglect, and systemic inequality.
Prison Instrument Innovation
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[18:29] Makeshift music: Suave and others fashioned percussion from mop buckets, plastic garbage cans, cardboard, and leather jackets.
- Quote: “So I learned how to make congas out of plastic trash cans and leather jackets. ...All we really had to do was take a mop bucket, flip it upside down, tight the leather around it real tight...” — Suave [18:57]
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[19:33] Visual: The “recording studio” was an 8x12 cell crammed with 10+ men, recording live with minimal takes, no chance for mistakes due to limited tape.
Artistic Legacy and Intergenerational Impact
- [22:57] Music provided a sense of purpose, legacy, and survival mechanism. Suave wanted something to outlive him—“That’s my legacy.”
- Quote: “I always believe that if you write, sing, record, somewhere down the line, somebody gonna stumble up on that literature, and they probably gonna rediscover.” — Suave [22:57]
- Quote: “You couldn’t tell I wasn’t Daddy Yankee back then.” — Suave [22:57]
Collaboration and the Song “Mr. Pulitzer”
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Suave mentors Joey Deville, whose song "Mr. Pulitzer" encapsulates Suave's journey, as retold through younger eyes.
- Quote: “It’s my story from Joey Deville perspective. Everything he got was from hearing the podcast and hearing me speak… when you buy the book... QR Code is the song. Mr. Pulitzer.” — Suave [24:33]
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The debut of "Mr. Pulitzer" marks a cycle of redemption and hope for another generation.
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Special Moment: Listening to “Mr. Pulitzer” for the first time in Puerto Rico—a collective moment of reflection and pride.
- Quote: “I was a little nervous because it was like the first time I ever let somebody hear that song.” — Suave [27:59]
- “The 30 years... that we tell in the podcast, condensed to... two verses and a hook.” — Interviewer [28:45]
Art as Social Intervention
- [29:08] “If we could save one person from ending up in prison, we’d done our job... Every time I walk down the street and I see some of these young people that tell me, bro, your podcast saved my life. We done our job.” — Suave
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “I recorded the podcast because I wanted to save other young people from ending up in prison.” — Suave [29:08]
- “A bunch of cops rob with hypocrisy / Locking me inside a box, constantly mocking me…” — Maria/Joey Deville, lyric from “Mr. Pulitzer” [31:05]
- “I always believe that if you write, sing, record, somewhere down the line, somebody gonna stumble up on that literature, and they probably gonna rediscover.” — Suave [22:57]
Timeline of Important Segments
- 00:14: Significance of April 7th in Suave’s life.
- 01:23: Discovery of the lost mixtape in Suave’s brother’s basement.
- 05:34: Influence of solitary confinement on Suave’s perception of music and sound.
- 09:41: Description of DIY recording process and smuggling music production in prison.
- 12:34: Deep dive into the themes and songs on the mixtape.
- 18:29: Making instruments in prison—creative ingenuity in resource-limited settings.
- 22:57: Discussion of music and writing as legacy; Suave’s mother’s pride.
- 24:33: The making and significance of Joey Deville’s “Mr. Pulitzer.”
- 27:40: Playing and collective response to “Mr. Pulitzer.”
- 29:08: Art, mentorship, and the aspirational impact of Suave’s story.
Tone
The episode balances gritty, unflinching realism with irrepressible hope and creativity. Suave’s voice is candid, wise, and reflective; humor and humility lighten heavy themes of incarceration and loss. The overall tone is optimistic—focused on the power of art to create community, heal, and ensure one’s mark on the world.
Final Thoughts
For listeners new to Suave’s story, this episode paints a vivid picture of resilience, artistic survival, and the long arc of personal and social redemption. It’s a testament to the ingenuity of the incarcerated, the foundational role of hip hop and community, and the living legacy of voices that refused to be silenced. The debut of “Mr. Pulitzer” marks a closing of one chapter and the opening of another—for Suave, his mentees, and anyone who seeks liberation and expression through art, no matter the walls that surround them.