willie colon

Yep, my dad loves Latin music. Arnoldo Triviño, aka my dad, never played an instrument or even sang in a perfect falsetto. Pero, he called some of Latin music’s greatest artists his friends. He was in New York City during salsa’s heyday and more than likely was bending elbows with Willie Colon or at least Willie’s roadies. My dad was a man about town, the mayor of Sunset Park, Brooklyn, where I grew up.

As I was opening the press CD for Cam’ron’s latest, Crime Pays, I couldn’t help but think about Willie Colon’s Crime Pays. Yes, that’s right Willie and Hector Lavoe released Crime Pays in 1973, before Killa Cam was created in Harlem. I couldn’t resist so I had to do a comparison. Check it out!

Album Cover

The Father of Latin Boogaloo, Gilberto Miguel Calderon aka Joe Cuba, 78, passed away this past Sunday (2/15). He died from complications of a persistent bacterial infection at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Yesterday, the great band leader’s body was laid to rest at a funeral parlor in New York City’s 116th Street in El Barrio. Legend after legend (Joe Bataan, Larry Harlow) paid their respects to Joe. It was a somber day for a joyous life.

Let’s be honest, it’s a really slow time for sports, and a really big week for movies. With the 81st Academy Awards right around the corner, everyone’s talking about Best Picture, snubs, and red carpets. So, for the second day in a row, we’re going to take a slightly “cinematic” view of deportes. Hey, Hollywood loves a sequel, right?

OK, am I a bit of a Christina Milian Stan? Yes, but I had to post this blazing cover she just did for (one of my favorite mags) KING. She graces the lad magazine’s 50th issue and looks hella fine doing so. In actual music news, Willie Colon, one of my favorite musicians of all time, released his first album in a decade. El Malo, Vol. 2: Prisioneros del Mambo is a mix of salsa, plena, bomba, and son tinged with his sociopolitical lyrics. 

Big Pun’s nine-year anniversary of his passing is this coming Saturday (Feb. 7) and there has not been a Latino MC to take his place yet. I’m not saying there isn’t talent out there because there are a few (Omar Cruz, Joell Ortiz, and Term). Plus, take into account the recession and not even talented MCs are moving units. Yet, Pun always has a special place in my heart, pause. Peep my reasons below.

Uno,

Jesús

Notorious, the Biggie biopic, is doing well enough in the theaters that its writer has just inked a deal to do a movie about Run DMC. Which immediately made me think of all the Latin music legends whose lives have yet to be told on film. Here are my picks. Let me know who you think should be added to the list.