Big Ced of FLOMOB: Three Decades Deep in the 512

FLOMOB, early days — (from left) Mr. Critical, Tiptoe, and Cornbread. Archive photo.

Some artists are part of a scene. A few of them built it. Big Ced — Cedrick Mason — is the second kind. In 1993 he co-founded FLOMOB in Austin alongside his brother Carnell “Cornbread” Mason and emcee Mr. Critical, and the group went on to become one of the cornerstones of the city's rap history.

The sound is classic Southern hip-hop with a distinct Austin flavor — hard-hitting beats and a genuine street sensibility. Big Ced is known for a direct, unfiltered approach, delivering narratives rooted in the realities of street life rather than dressing them up.

What You Know About That Wood?!

FLOMOB put a real run on the board. Across Cornbread, Dank, & Me (1997), What You Know About That Wood?! (1999), In Bomb We Trust (2001), and FLo MoB, The Album (2002), they built a catalog that locals still quote. The 1999 single “What You Know About That Wood?!” topped KAZI 88.7's year-end Top 100 and became a regional hit — the track that put FLOMOB firmly on the map.

That footprint opened doors most independent Austin acts never reach: the group has shared stages with Snoop Dogg, Bun B, and Slim Thug.

Still Running the Mob

Three decades in, Big Ced hasn't slowed down. Recent singles like “WELCOME TO THE MOBHOUSE,” “S.T.O.P.” (featuring Deuce Capone), and “DROP” (featuring Wndy Brz) keep the catalog growing, and his “For My City (ATX Anthem)” is exactly what the title promises — a dedication to the 512. Off the mic, he keeps the culture moving as host of the Texas Toast Hip Hop Radio Show, Saturday nights on ATX Soul Radio.

The Late Block Is a Family Affair

At Rhythm & Rise Live, Big Ced doesn't roll through alone. He closes out the night with his crew on the mic beside him — a full-camp set that turns the final hour into a FLOMOB takeover.

Why Rhythm & Rise Live

Rhythm & Rise Live is a 12-hour live event putting Austin's R&B and Hip-Hop artists on one unified stage and streaming it free to the world — no ticket, no paywall. Putting a founder of the city's scene in the headlining late slot is the point: the night runs from brand-new up-and-comers in the afternoon to a bona fide Austin institution closing it out. Honor the craft, elevate the community, build something that lasts.

Listen

The Quick Read

The full lineup is being announced over the coming weeks. Subscribe to the newsletter to be the first to know when the rest of the artists drop.