latin rap

Since I interviewed Niña Dioz a couple of weeks back I kept on thinking: does she have a shot to go big? Even though music magazines are more moribund than, well, music magazines I still believe in true indie artists. Niña is one of Spanish language rap’s rising stars who doesn’t need press just tweet of mouth. I asked her on the comparisons to La Mala Rodriguez and M.I.A. Two of the world’s finest female MCs—pretty bad ass comparisons if you ask me.

Uno,

Jesus
 

Two of my favorite MCs dropped some new heat recently. First up is Termanology; the Puerto Rock with the silky flow has a Statik Selektah-produced track on the soundtrack to GTA IV: The Lost and Damned. It’s called “Here in Liberty City” and it’s straight manteca. Also, he released the video for the J Dilla-produced “Circulate (100 Bars)”. Check it here.

Tru-Life is a rapper? Yea, a pretty decent one too. But if you thought he just a street cat who liked to pick on studio gangsta rappers than you wouldn’t be wrong either. Just a few years ago he was Jay-Z’s secret Latino weapon, released a dope mixtape and was throwing NY rap on his back. Now XXL Mag is asking where duke is. Well, my homies at xxlmag.com found him.

Possibly the only reggaetonero who still interests me is Don Omar. Duke continues to release good music and is married to a dime and a half of a mujer in Jackie Guerrido. Word is he’s presently in the studio working on his next album, iDon, which is to be release April 21st. Not only is DO a down-to-Earth type of person but he also a savvy businessman. He recently introduced Marcy’s Place, a bachata trio to rival Aventura, and they don’t sound half bad. Stay tuned for an exclusive Q&A with them.

Even the coolest of the cool need to blow off steam at times. Take for example, Wisin, one-half of the reggaeton duo Wisin y Yandel. The flashy reggaetonero is rumored to have thrown blows at his father. The scuffle started over fighting cocks (roosters for non-Latinos) and needless to say is tarnishing his good-guy image. At press time, Wisin denied the allegations but Spanish-language media outlets continue to throw him under the bus.