Rap from Cuba!
Hip Hop culture and rap arrived in Cuba back in the 80s, but in the 90s is when it gain more following since the youth was starting to be attracted by it. It wasn't easy for rap to get following since the government first saw it as a threat of the revolution.
The government felt like the message brought from the US was one of violence, crime and they thought that it might end up being counter-revolutionary.
It was only later that the government realized that it was an erroneous idea and they decided to form the Cuban Rap Agency that provides state-run record label, a Hip Hop magazine and they began to support the annual Cuban Hip Hop Festival.
A lot of rappers from Cuba decide to turn to regueton, since they felt like they wanted more recognition and it was what was trending. Although most underground rap from Cuba criticizes regueton heavily, because of its lyrics that are empty, that lack of spirit and only talk about trivialities.
I will focus more on the underground rap, since is the one I know the most and is the one I listen to.
The first rap group that gained a lot of recognition in Cuba and around the globe was Orishas. It was founded in 1999 and consists of Ruzzo Medina, Yotuel Romero, Roldán González. They're known for their combination of the Hip Hop beat and the sound of salsa. They've won a Latin Grammy for best Rap/Hip Hop Album and one with Puerto Rican group Calle 13 with the song Pa'l Norte. Their music has been played in movies like The Fast and the Furious and Bad Boys.
Songs from them that are popular:
Represent Cuba: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50kxtUSGMgg
Atrevido: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI_8Aod3Vow
537 Cuba: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2eV20UhkQk
The next duo is to me, one of the biggest and most influential rap groups in all LatinAmerica. They are huge exponents of the genre and they are a great inspiration for me and I have nothing but a huge respect for them and love and appreciation for their music.
Los Aldeanos, at some point, were known by many as the first rap group from Cuba, but they had to explain to people outside of Cuba that, they were not the first to rap there, but they definitely are one of the pioneer groups that started rapping underground music. They've been active since 2003 or at least that's the year when they inaugurated the group to the public.
They consist of Aldo Roberto Rodríguez Baquero (Al2) and Bian Oscar Rodríguez Galá (El B) Together they have more than 20 albums, counting also their solo albums and collaborative albums with different artists. They've toured in Spain, Colombia and they've also played in Serbia, United States, Mexico and other places.
Their songs are full of great, positive and inspiring messages in their songs and I wish they had the recognition they deserve.
Songs I recommend and love from them are:
A veces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN9RSnu_xDc
Por Si Mañana no Estoy Ft Escuadrón Patriota: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGRitWmeYFA
Lagrimas de una Sonrisa Ft Jhamy DejaVu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kqBLhmSLD4
Deja que Hable el Corazón: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9dNtfvLNh4
Sin tu Sonrisa Ft Bebe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXeugfEPjLg&list=PLXMkr1rAsaEwLG1pq3eXHCQH2QRcsuILD
Viva Cuba Libre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz3w0DNmtPs&list=PLXMkr1rAsaEwLG1pq3eXHCQH2QRcsuILD&index=8
El Casete de tu Vida Ft Jhamy DejaVu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QhtBNlz6yY
The next rapper is another great representative of Cuban rap, with great lyrics and great instrumentals, his songs gained him a lot of following. Silvito El Libre has been active since 2003 and is still making music. He's collaborated with Los Aldeanos multiple times and he's the son of the great songwriter, composer and singer Silvio Rodriguez. He has written 9 albums and hopefully he will have more under his belt.
Songs to listen to from him:
Yo Se que me Miras: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNZdgncdz7I
Pase lo que Pase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=iNTp4kdnN_U
Una Sonrisa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF1uKEBnonA
Escuadrón Patriota are one group known for having lyrics that invite their cuban brothers and sisters to stand up to the government and to do better for themselves, but they also asked the government to change, so that their community would change for the best. The group was founded back in 2003 and consisted of Nairan, Alberto and Jorge Hernandez, but now the only integrants are Jorge and Raudel Collazo Pedroso who joined the group after its foundation. They've won different awards in Cuba, they've been to different festivals and the have collaborated a few times with other cuban rappers like Los Aldeanos and Silvito. Right now the only member of the group is Raudel.
Songs I recommend:
Resurección: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VInXvuPfGsM
Decadencia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9TkwTdiK5o
Amigos Ft Aldo and Silvito: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6QXrPF9K0A
The last rapper I will mention in this list is one of the rappers that are one of the most conscious and one of the wiser rappers I've ever heard. Every time I listen to his music I feel like I want to do better, like I want to make a change for my family but also for this world.
Rxnde Akozta has been making music since 1997 when he first started in a group called Los Chamacos. Later on in 1999, he had a second group called Los Paisanos and lasted 9 years with them. After that they split and he moved to Finland, later to Venezuela.
He's pretty much been all over the globe, he's lived in Spain as well and you could say he is a nomad exploring the world and sharing his experiences and learnings and thoughts through music that is simply magical and strong.
Songs that I love deeply and strongly recommend to listen to:
Reflexiones Rotas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_PTAkLi4i0
Puntos Suspensivos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-KQMb7nq8M
Reflexiones Madre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6YlwVH1djE
Sobre un Beat de Asier Ft Pielroja: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHvmdztbheE
Dos Mil Quince: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS8w9KI2DjM
Sonrisas Cualquiera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmUY6IA6TyE
I know there must be a lot more cuban rappers worth mentioning but it is hard to find information about more rappers and those are the ones I've known for years and this is mostly a personal recommendation (I know I'm being redundant but I feel it is necessary to do so).
The government felt like the message brought from the US was one of violence, crime and they thought that it might end up being counter-revolutionary.
It was only later that the government realized that it was an erroneous idea and they decided to form the Cuban Rap Agency that provides state-run record label, a Hip Hop magazine and they began to support the annual Cuban Hip Hop Festival.
A lot of rappers from Cuba decide to turn to regueton, since they felt like they wanted more recognition and it was what was trending. Although most underground rap from Cuba criticizes regueton heavily, because of its lyrics that are empty, that lack of spirit and only talk about trivialities.
I will focus more on the underground rap, since is the one I know the most and is the one I listen to.
The first rap group that gained a lot of recognition in Cuba and around the globe was Orishas. It was founded in 1999 and consists of Ruzzo Medina, Yotuel Romero, Roldán González. They're known for their combination of the Hip Hop beat and the sound of salsa. They've won a Latin Grammy for best Rap/Hip Hop Album and one with Puerto Rican group Calle 13 with the song Pa'l Norte. Their music has been played in movies like The Fast and the Furious and Bad Boys.
Songs from them that are popular:
Represent Cuba: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50kxtUSGMgg
Atrevido: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI_8Aod3Vow
537 Cuba: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2eV20UhkQk
The next duo is to me, one of the biggest and most influential rap groups in all LatinAmerica. They are huge exponents of the genre and they are a great inspiration for me and I have nothing but a huge respect for them and love and appreciation for their music.
Los Aldeanos, at some point, were known by many as the first rap group from Cuba, but they had to explain to people outside of Cuba that, they were not the first to rap there, but they definitely are one of the pioneer groups that started rapping underground music. They've been active since 2003 or at least that's the year when they inaugurated the group to the public.
They consist of Aldo Roberto Rodríguez Baquero (Al2) and Bian Oscar Rodríguez Galá (El B) Together they have more than 20 albums, counting also their solo albums and collaborative albums with different artists. They've toured in Spain, Colombia and they've also played in Serbia, United States, Mexico and other places.
Their songs are full of great, positive and inspiring messages in their songs and I wish they had the recognition they deserve.
Songs I recommend and love from them are:
A veces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN9RSnu_xDc
Por Si Mañana no Estoy Ft Escuadrón Patriota: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGRitWmeYFA
Lagrimas de una Sonrisa Ft Jhamy DejaVu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kqBLhmSLD4
Deja que Hable el Corazón: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9dNtfvLNh4
Sin tu Sonrisa Ft Bebe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXeugfEPjLg&list=PLXMkr1rAsaEwLG1pq3eXHCQH2QRcsuILD
Viva Cuba Libre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz3w0DNmtPs&list=PLXMkr1rAsaEwLG1pq3eXHCQH2QRcsuILD&index=8
El Casete de tu Vida Ft Jhamy DejaVu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QhtBNlz6yY
The next rapper is another great representative of Cuban rap, with great lyrics and great instrumentals, his songs gained him a lot of following. Silvito El Libre has been active since 2003 and is still making music. He's collaborated with Los Aldeanos multiple times and he's the son of the great songwriter, composer and singer Silvio Rodriguez. He has written 9 albums and hopefully he will have more under his belt.
Songs to listen to from him:
Yo Se que me Miras: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNZdgncdz7I
Pase lo que Pase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=iNTp4kdnN_U
Una Sonrisa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF1uKEBnonA
Escuadrón Patriota are one group known for having lyrics that invite their cuban brothers and sisters to stand up to the government and to do better for themselves, but they also asked the government to change, so that their community would change for the best. The group was founded back in 2003 and consisted of Nairan, Alberto and Jorge Hernandez, but now the only integrants are Jorge and Raudel Collazo Pedroso who joined the group after its foundation. They've won different awards in Cuba, they've been to different festivals and the have collaborated a few times with other cuban rappers like Los Aldeanos and Silvito. Right now the only member of the group is Raudel.
Songs I recommend:
Resurección: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VInXvuPfGsM
Decadencia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9TkwTdiK5o
Amigos Ft Aldo and Silvito: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6QXrPF9K0A
The last rapper I will mention in this list is one of the rappers that are one of the most conscious and one of the wiser rappers I've ever heard. Every time I listen to his music I feel like I want to do better, like I want to make a change for my family but also for this world.
Rxnde Akozta has been making music since 1997 when he first started in a group called Los Chamacos. Later on in 1999, he had a second group called Los Paisanos and lasted 9 years with them. After that they split and he moved to Finland, later to Venezuela.
He's pretty much been all over the globe, he's lived in Spain as well and you could say he is a nomad exploring the world and sharing his experiences and learnings and thoughts through music that is simply magical and strong.
Songs that I love deeply and strongly recommend to listen to:
Reflexiones Rotas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_PTAkLi4i0
Puntos Suspensivos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-KQMb7nq8M
Reflexiones Madre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6YlwVH1djE
Sobre un Beat de Asier Ft Pielroja: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHvmdztbheE
Dos Mil Quince: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS8w9KI2DjM
Sonrisas Cualquiera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmUY6IA6TyE
I know there must be a lot more cuban rappers worth mentioning but it is hard to find information about more rappers and those are the ones I've known for years and this is mostly a personal recommendation (I know I'm being redundant but I feel it is necessary to do so).
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