Originally from Tijuana, Mexico, Anthony Rahí Jaquez Moreno, better known as Tony J, knows what he likes. It’s an eclectic combination of Spanish-language hip-hop, brewing craft beer, skateboarding and yoga that keeps the talented MC energized in his adopted city of Asheville, North Carolina.
In Touring Home, a custom editorial series from Remezcla, we explore a city’s magnificence through the eyes of a local Latine talent or influencer to see what kind of food, music and entertainment they can introduce us to – as they guide us to the coolest places they know.
For Tony J, Asheville, located in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, is a place he has called home for a little more than a year. Although his time has been short, Tony J has found a home and a community that makes him feel fulfilled.
“In the last year, I’ve done about a decade worth of networking,” Tony J, 30, told Remezcla during a recent interview. “The community is small, so you meet everyone quickly. I have a 360-degree view of the mountains. It really brings more peace in reality. It’s the place where I’ve developed the most.”
After Tony J left his home in Tijuana in 2011, he went to college in Reno, Nevada. His plan was to earn a degree and return to Mexico. His introduction into hip-hop had just happened, too, so Tony J was ready for a new adventure. While he earned his master’s degree in mechanical engineering, Tony J’s love for hip-hop, yoga and skateboarding kept calling him away from his profession. When he moved to Maryland with his wife, his fascination in another industry began.
“Everyone I met there was either a brewer or a distiller or a bartender,” Tony J said. “I wasn’t excited about being behind the desk. Everyone told me that the brewing industry would be good for me.”
Today, Tony J is the craft studio manager at Outsider Brewery in Asheville. When he’s not working, he’s practicing yoga, skateboarding, and making Spanish-language hip-hop music with songs like “Estupefacto,” “Meses” and “Cruise Control.” Tony J said he’s been making music since he was 15 years old and was inspired by poetry. Asheville provides him places to do everything he enjoys, and fuel his creativity.
Asheville’s vibrant arts scene provides inspiration for residents and visitors alike. In the River Arts District, visitors can pop into galleries and studios, immersing themselves in painting, pottery and other artistic endeavors. Don’t forget about the greenway that runs along the length of the French Broad River in the area.
For more creative inspiration, visitors can see exhibits at the Black Mountain College Museum and Art Center and the Asheville Art Museum, which are considered part of the growing urban arts scene. The Folk Arts Center with its traditional mountain crafts is also considered a must-see stop in the area.
“I looked at Asheville as a place that could give me an opportunity to develop professionally,” he said. “We feel happier in the mountains and in the greenery. I feel very fortunate to have found a job that I love. Asheville is a beautiful place.”
It’s evident why Tony J loves it so much, especially when he talks about some of his favorite places to visit in the city. If you’ve heard about Asheville, you’ve probably heard about its historical architecture, beautiful landscapes and pioneering music. Asheville’s music scene is born of age-old traditions, nurtured by a spirit of independence and the muse of the mountain landscape.
For example, did you know musician and longtime Asheville resident Dr. Bob Moog invented the Moog Synthesizer, which recreates instrument sounds into other sounds? Analog synthesizers continue to be used by artists to this day and have contributed to discovering new sounds and genres. There is other interesting music history about Asheville that you should know. The legendary Roberta Flack was born in Black Mountain, just outside of town.
In Asheville, Tony J is definitely part of something noteworthy. And he knows exactly where to go when he wants to partake in the things that he enjoys the most. At Craggy Gardens, he is able to surround himself in nature and take in the beauty of the majestic Blue Ridge Parkway, a renowned scenic byway that stretches almost 500 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
“Craggy Gardens is a very special place,” he said. “It’s absolutely gorgeous. It brings me a sense of serenity. Being surrounded by mountains gives me life and gives me peace.”
To stay fit for those hikes among the wildflowers at Craggy Gardens, Tony J likes stopping at Iridescence Yoga. One of the services the studio offers is chroma therapy where participants are bathed in monochromatic lights to create balance and harmony in the physical body. It’s the perfect service for Asheville because of the rich history of wellness in the city and the variety of ways visitors can embrace the healing benefits found in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Tony J got into yoga after a serious accident during a downhill skating competition in 2016 that landed him in the hospital with several injuries, including broken ribs, a separated shoulder and a punctured lung. Whether it’s through yoga or other healing, wellness experiences found in the Blue Ridge Mountains, including halotherapy, outdoor spas and natural hot springs, there’s a variety of options Tony J can delve into to care for his physical and mental wellbeing.
For the last two centuries, Asheville has been famous for providing visitors with natural remedies for their ailments. From its fresh mountain air to its purifying forest, this mecca of holistic health has always been a favorite destination for those looking for the best natural remedies.
“Yoga just helped me bring my body back together,” he said. “I started practicing it to heal. I have a personal relationship with yoga, so whenever I see a genuine studio with people who seem to really care about the body and the mind, I always check them out.”
Tony J still skateboards, of course. It’s one of his passions in life. He’ll head to Asheville’s Foundation Skatepark at RAD to meet up with friends to do a few flip tricks. He’s been skateboarding since he was 19 years old.
“Even though I don’t skateboard competitively anymore, I’m still a fiend for being on a skateboard,” he said. “It gives me a feeling of being free with the combination of adrenaline and just a little bit of fear.”
Another business Tony J frequents is Citizen Vinyl where he goes to purchase vinyl records. It reminds him of Outsider Brewery because customers can see everything that is going on behind the scenes, including watching the records getting pressed in its record pressing facility.
The shop also features a recording studio for local and regional talent to record and a cafe/bar. Citizen Vinyl is located in the historic, original building of Asheville’s newspaper, the Asheville Citizen Times.
“It’s about the craft and the community, and it’s about listening,” he said. “That’s very on-brand with people in Asheville. [Citizen Vinyl] is just a very authentic place where you walk in and you can feel that the people care about music.”
Outsider Brewery, as Tony J describes, is a place that has a unique system where customers can see what is going into their beer during the entire process. The venue fits in well with Asheville’s beer/craft beverage culture, including a host of annual beer festivals, brewery tours, and unique craft breweries across the city. It is well known that Asheville has more breweries per capita than anywhere else in the U.S.
“There’s full transparency with our product,” he said. “People can see the process and engage in these craft conversations inside this craft studio. I feel like I’m part of something that is much bigger than just making beer.”
As an independent brewer, Tony J’s schedule is fairly flexible, so he has time to participate in the other things that make his life feel complete. Aside from his friends and family, he considers brewing beer, music, skateboarding and yoga the “pillars” of who he is.
“All these things bring me the most joy,” he said. “If one of them is missing in my life, I don’t think I would be OK. I definitely feel very blessed.”
For Tony J, Asheville is a place where people can go to follow their dreams. It’s one of the reasons he now calls it home.
“There’s a lot of people here passionate about what they do,” he said. “We live in such a fast-paced world, so sometimes it’s nice to be able to slow down a bit and just breathe. That’s what Asheville gives me.”
Experience Asheville for yourself. Discover more and book a trip at ExploreAsheville.com.
