An art and music collective founded in Baltimore, MD, Gourmetbeats.com was formed in July of 2003 by DJ’s Tyler Schmith (Tai/TimDown) and Joe Nice. Garnering members from around the US, it quickly gained notoriety as a haven for eclectic music and art. In September of 2003, Gourmetbeats Radio premiered, a weekly internet radio show hosted by Joe Nice, and a large following of loyal listeners grew over the next few years. During this time, Gourmetbeats was very active in the underground art and music scene, with mentions in magazines such as XLR8R and URB. Joe Nice represented in the Dubstep scene, playing regularly in the UK and throughout the US. Tyler kept the name going in Baltimore, hosting and sponsoring events all over the city, including the weekly “Rare Grooves” party at the historic Belvedere Hotel, and working closely with Sonic Soul Productions on events such as Strut, an annual fashion show, and various other weekly events. On the art side, Gourmetbeats hosted a showing of it’s member’s works at the Sky Lounge in downtown Baltimore, and original member Sharif started his first clothing line in 2005, David Sharif.

Tyler recently settled back in the Washington, DC area after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of New Mexico, and continues to promote Gourmetbeats.com as a national entity.