Musician Nate Robinson—known professionally as The Beatbreaker—had a long and successful career before earning his master’s degree at Southern Utah University in 2023.
Prior to enrolling in the online Master of Music in Music Technology – Studio Technology Emphasis program, Robinson toured the world as a drummer and percussionist and worked with top recording artists. He also released two albums of his own music, plus a documentary on his life.
Robinson is best known for his work with Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae, playing on records that have won a Billboard Music Award, a Dove Award and two Grammys. Robinson recently earned a third Grammy for producing Lecrae’s mixtape epic Church Clothes 4, which was honored as the Contemporary Christian Music Album of the Year in 2024.
“This latest one in February is a lot more special to me because I won as a producer,” he said. “That really felt amazing.”
Balancing grad school with the demands of a high-profile career in the music industry was challenging, Robinson acknowledges, but he found the SUU online program exceeded his expectations.
“Just the ease, the accessibility, the affordability and the solid education—I don’t think you can really ask for a whole lot more than that,” he said.
Despite his extensive professional experience in audio production and studio practice, Robinson believes it’s important to keep learning. He’s excited about the knowledge he gained through the degree.
“I’m hoping to use it for the next 20 or 30 years,” he shared.
Earning a master’s helped Robinson pursue a long-time goal as well: teaching at the college level. He hopes to help others improve their creative and technical skills through education.
“In church as I was coming up, [and in] high school and college, I had people who were influential and really poured into me and took interest in my talent,” he said, noting the importance of that early support. “I definitely want to do the same thing for someone else.”
Houston Proud, Atlanta Bound
Robinson is a native of Houston, Texas, and proud to be part of the city’s rich musical legacy. He started playing the drums at age three, adding piano and bass guitar as he grew up. Whether he was holding down the beat in the praise band at Greater St. Matthew Church or swinging with the jazz and marching bands at Ross Sterling High School, Robinson’s talent and technique stood out.
He scored his first professional gig at 15, and soon immersed himself in the local live music scene, playing clubs and producing bands.
By 17, he was hanging out at the legendary Sugar Hill Studios, where he first learned recording from veteran engineer Steve Christensen. Paying his dues in the place where Lightnin’ Hopkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Willie Nelson and the Rolling Stones once recorded—and where homegrown superstars Beyoncé and Travis Scott started their careers—was a unique opportunity. He made the most of it.
Robinson assisted on projects and got a feel for studio production, first working with analog mixing consoles and reel-to-reel tape decks. “I just fell in love with it and just kept getting more and more involved in creating music, engineering music and the whole nine,” he remembered.
When digital recording and Pro Tools software became the industry standard in the mid-1990s, Robinson quickly adapted to the new technologies. He also adopted the DIY approach sometimes required to make them work early on.
“At that time, you couldn’t just go out and buy a MacBook,” he explained. “I had to build a [computer] system that would allow me to run Pro Tools. I definitely learned the good old fashioned long ride.”
He considered taking college courses in studio production, but by his early twenties he was studying business administration and management at Prairie View A&M University, where he was part of the drumline in the school’s Marching Storm band. By that point he was married and a father too, focused on supporting his family.
After a few years of commuting from Prairie View to Houston and Austin for gigs, then driving back in the wee hours for classes the next day, he was exhausted. So when Kelis recruited him to play on her 2004-2005 world tour, he said yes. “[It was] during the ‘Milkshake’ craze,” he recalled, referencing her hit single. The experience was life changing.
Robinson began spending more time in Atlanta, Georgia, where she was based, and soon left school to join the city’s vibrant music and production scene. He went on to work with artists such as Jermaine Dupri, Angie Stone, Tank and Wayman Tisdale, as well as media giant Tyler Perry.
Robinson’s family eventually relocated to Atlanta, and he and his wife founded a production company to develop new talent and provide other creative services. He began working with fellow Houston native Lecrae there in 2010, forming a significant collaborative partnership that endures.
Robinson continues to serve as the artist’s drummer and musical director.
Finding the Right Tempo
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought most live events and gatherings to a sudden halt in 2020, Robinson knew the time was right to complete his college education.
He finished his bachelor’s in business online at the University of Phoenix in 2022 and started an online master’s program at Berklee College of Music the same year. Although he appreciated Berklee’s prestige, some of his courses weren’t flexible on attendance for lectures and meetings, which didn’t work given that he was constantly on the road.
Robinson left after a semester, seeking a different experience. A friend urged him to look at SUU.
“Once I started to do the research, I realized that the Southern Utah program was way more geared toward a person like myself, an adult learner, someone who is actually a professional and working,” he recalled.
Robinson needed a program where he could build on his expertise without disrupting his schedule or pausing his career. And he wanted to upskill quickly, without breaking the bank. “The two things that were the most attractive to me were the cost and the speed,” he noted.
Once he enrolled at SUU, Robinson was comfortable right away. “Everything felt more personal,” he said. He liked studying with seasoned professionals from diverse industries—including television, film, music and video gaming—who were approachable and invested in his success.
“I was continually impressed as I found out more and more about the professors’ backgrounds. I found [that most] valuable when I had questions,” he said. “The answers weren’t just textbook answers. They were rooted in experience.”
Robinson was able to study on the road anywhere it was convenient, including planes or tour buses, in hotels or even at the arena before a show. “The entire program worked really well for my life,” he confirmed. “It was perfect for me, because I was able to plan my work around my schedule.”
Audio Recording II was his favorite course because it was full of eureka moments. Having the chance to focus on studio fundamentals from a technical standpoint, study live sound mixing in depth and learn more about digital audio workstations (DAWs) was exciting.
“The light bulb that did go off for [me was] the proper use of compression and understanding the technical aspects behind it,” he said. “I’d always used it based on my ears, but learning how it is actually designed to work … it’s changed how I use it.”
As he discovered new methods and tools to use in his creative life, Robinson also gained insight from his classmates, exchanging knowledge and solving problems together. He enjoyed studying with peers who were just as dedicated to music, regardless of their background. “Everybody is there with a purpose and that made a big difference,” he said. Robinson appreciated his SUU professors as well, and the fact they were always available when he needed assistance or a consult. “That was comforting,” he said.
The Professor is In
Studying in the online master’s program in music technology helped Robinson gain confidence and clarify his goals. He likes passing on his new knowledge to colleagues and seeing the respect they have for his degree.
“On tour, I’m now considered more of an expert,” he said. “I find myself being a lot more willing to just talk and share information.”
Robinson recently moved back to Houston with his family and started a new venture: his own record label. “I plan to release music under my imprint this year,” he said. “My music, as well as a few artists I have signed to production deals.”
Additionally, he’s now a faculty member at Houston Community College, where he teaches recording and music business courses. He enjoys working with his undergraduate students and credits his classmates at Southern Utah University who were teachers with helping him prepare for the role.
“I feel like the teacher in me is starting to come alive,” he laughed.
Working closely with SUU professors also influenced his development as an instructor. “It confirmed that this is something I want to do,” he said, praising their generosity and ongoing support. “My favorite thing is that every professor I had, they’re still accessible today.”
Robinson hopes more musicians discover the program and he’s doing his part to spread the word. “It’s kind of a hidden gem,” he noted.
“I would do it again and I’d recommend anybody else do it,” he shared. “This is the way to go.”
Robinson encourages adult students—regardless of their musical background or experience—to follow his lead. He says it’s never too late to earn a master’s degree, or to level up your skills.
“Don’t wait forever to make it happen,” he advised. “Just start and do it now. Come into it all ears and mind open, and get the best out of it that you can get. But do it now.”
