even two or three if i'm into it. [ hip-hop music playing ] >> his name is ishmael, but call him ism beatze's making for himself in the music industry. he started producing hip-hop tracks at 15. with his parents' encouragement, he took his homemade beats to a competition in atlanta. >> it was basically like a beat showcase, and it was me and, i think, 25 other producers. and, you know, we were just all up there playing our beats, and mine got some of the big people's attention. >> he begins an idea and then starts building it into a signature sound. >> whatever's in my head at that time is what i put in the computer. if it comes out as a sound i like, i go with it. >> this is ism. >> the music we dance to next year just might be built on one of ism's tracks. and despite all the hours he spends at his audio board, ish doesn't let his school work slide. in fact, he's on the honor roll. >> you can do whatever you want. as long as you put hard work into it, put time into it, you can do it. >> and that's certainly a message you just can't "beat." >> that's our show for this week. thanks for wat