I’ve been wanting to check out some Latino Rap artists, preferably ones that rap in Spanish and hence would be better known among Spanish speakers.
Problem is, I don’t know where to start and what’s good and what ain’t.
So does anyone have any suggestions? What artists/groups should I be checking out?
Nobody? Nothing?
Rap, reggaetón, or hip hop? What is your style? Are you looking for booty music or more social/political content? Old school (early 90’s and beyond) or newer sounds? Underground or mainstream?
Booty music, most likely; the Latino version of Gangsta Rap (for lack of a better description).
New or old doesn’t really matter, but I’d assume most of that type to not be that old.
Until the more knowledgeable folks come along, check out Chilanga banda, performed by the excellent Café Tacvba. Lyrics here–but the standard Spanish/English Diccionario/Dictionary won’t be much help! Café Tacvba uses lots of styles–other modern genres besides rap, plus a bit of folkloric. But they’re one of my favorite bands.
John Nova Lomax explains Hip Hop Tejas. This middle aged white chick ain’t exactly on the cutting edge–but I do like local artist Chingo Bling.
Obviously, there’s lots more out there; I’ll be checking back to this thread as the more hip wake up & contribute. Let’s not forget reggaeton–in which rap is one element of the very rich mixture.
I love DLG (Dark Latin Groove) and I still play their music from the 90s.
Actually, reggaetón started being slightly more mainstream during the late 80’s/early 90’s. Underground style (in Puerto Rico), which is very… raw, very explicit, very slang… started around the early-mid 90’s and after and is still somewhat around.
Some of those acts cleaned themselves a bit and went mainstream (to different degrees). And all the artists I’m going to name are from Puerto Rico, since those are the ones I know (except for El General, who is from Panama and you can check it out). They all have booty music along with slightly social/political content.
Vico C- Old school… I love that some of his songs are stories. Not too much slang, not very explicit.
Tego Calderón- Newer stuff, I love how he can sometimes combine salsa and other rhythms from my country with reggaetón. Some of his lyrics are explicit, but not as crude as underground. My favorite artist of this genre.
Daddy Yankee and Don Omar- The more commercialized and popular right now, it seems. I like some of their songs, but they’re definitely mainstream. Booty music light, compared to other stuff. Although both of them started more underground, so if you find earlier recordings you may want to check them.
If you want more explicit stuff (this is digging from memory, I hate them) try anything that says “Playero”… Like “Playero 35”, “Playero 36”, “Playero 37”, etc. I remember that was underground when I was in elementary school, and those were the names of the compilations.
For females, Ivy Queen’s stuff is good. Again, she started underground, so the earlier the song the more raw and explicit it is likely to be. She now has changed her image and is more mainstream, but I like her in between stuff (not too raw, not too glam).
DLG is a good salsa/hip hop combo, and I love their music… but I classify them more as salsa, which happens to have a more rap interlude, than the other way around.
Tego is more standard rap that happens to have salsa (and other Caribbean) rhythms mixed in.
Thanks for the tips so far! But at least Chilanga Banga seems to be a bit too “melodious”
I’ll try to explain it a bit better: I’m looking for that “angry” Latino rap-sound. In the direction of Busta Rhymes and Ice Cube.
ETA: Didn’t see KarlGrenze’s posts, need to check your stuff out.
And I’m ashamed that I know so much of a music genre that I hated during my whole high school career and most of undergrad.
Ok, some of the ones I’ve given you has more of the angry stuff… Again, some of their newer stuff is more cleaned up, so check the dates…
Other artists (off the top of my head): Hector y Tito, Alberto Stylee, Winsin y Yandel (those may be from the Dominican Republic, not too sure)… Big Boy (or Boi)… Chezina (Don Chezina, Chezi Don)…
Check Playero compilations for crude, raw, explicit… and also, the more crude it is, the more chock full of slang it will be. If you’re not too sure what it means, if you can make it into a double meaning, you’re on the right track…
Daddy Yankee seems to be the best fit of what I can find without access to YouTube.
I’ll definitely give your list a better look when I get home tonight!
Thank you very much!
I don’t think he fully fits your criteria, but Joell Ortiz is just an incredible MC. The best young rapper out of NY right now, imho.
You’re welcome, just be aware those I know are all I know (or care to remember)… There may be more, better for what you look at, but I haven’t heard of them (nor do I care).
Daddy Yankee, as I said, the earlier the angrier and edgier. And it applies for most of the mainstream artists.
And since this just came up on my Pandora play list…
Check out “Orishas”, they’re Cuban. Not reggaetón, though…
Deezer’s giving me Speedy’s Nueva Generacion, which (along with Daddy Yankee) are the best hits so far!
Thanks again for the help ya’ll!
I don’t know if you’re fluent, but for sheer complexity and hilarity of lyrics, nothing and no one beats Calle 13.
My Spanish is limited to: Una Cerveza/Tequila por favor (it’s on my list though)
But I like the sound and the beats.
I may be way off here but what about **Control Machete **(Mexico). I don’t know they whole catalogue but the few songs I’ve heard seem to fit the bill. Can’t access youtube from here, but I’ll find a couple of their videos there!
Control Machete can be good (also occasionally on my playlist)… hip hop/rock mix, though… Not reggaetón.
Calle 13 is mainstream but FULL of slang, double entendres, explicit, etc. Also has catchy tunes, and is not as raw or crude as others. I intensely dislike him, though. I hate his double meanings (but won’t deny he has a gift for them).
Seriously, even if you know Spanish, you have to know PR slang to fully get all of Calle 13’s lyrics. He uses a lot of local expressions, idioms, slang, phrases… He says things that unless you have some background, you won’t get the meaning.
It’ll still be a catchy tune, though.