“Throwing a party is as political to me as doing prison abolition work.” – Arianna Maya Gil Thanks to the glory of the internet, we can find each other and actually keep in touch to do some real shit together. At some point this past year, I called into Princess Nokia‘s important and much-needed radio … Read More
“Many are calling it the “Latino FYF,” the “Latin Coachella,” and even the U.S. version of “Vive Latino.” Los Angeles hasn’t seen anything like it in at least a decade. ” – LA Weekly Though I couldn’t be at the Supersonico this past weekend in Los Angeles, I was so proud to see the positive … Read More
“This isn’t Latino music for Hispanic Heritage Month alone. Rather, I invite you to unlearn perhaps what you’ve been taught about these cultures and preview the spirit of a glowing and growing next generation of soul music in America.” – yours truly! Read full piece for the Brooklyn Museum’s tumblr HERE! Back in New York … Read More
Greetings from California, folks. Still haven’t gone back East after Burning Man let out in early September. Read my post? “Making Real: Brown At Burning Man“. I know I owe the internet (and mostly myself) some reflections on the experience, but it’s taken some time to get the grand scope of these thoughts out in … Read More
Carioca Bass queen, Zuzuka Poderosa has outdone herself this time. From la reina herself: ..·˙`˙·….·˙`˙·… …·˙`˙·….·˙`˙·… …·˙` GET YOUR LEGS IN CHECK FOR THIS PARTY YA’LL!! When you realize all the OG New York producers & MC’s that brought the Baile Funk movement to NY happen to be in this town at the same time, … Read More
Doing a Brandy cover when you’re Carlos Santana‘s daughter? Not a bad idea. Listen to this ‘I Wanna Be Down (Remix)’ by STELLA. Thanks for hipping me, JBB. This is some sexy stuff. Looking forward to hearing more from Stella Santana, for sure. This song “Friends” is also hot (AND RELATABLE, RIGHT LADIES?):
Really appreciate my sister Nina Parks for keeping me on my toes and sending me sounds. She reminded me about what a friend at Beggars had given me a heads up about a few months ago – the French-Cuban duo (and sisters) – Ibeyi. I was so captivated by their video, “River” today. NPR Music … Read More
Los Rakas just dropped brand new visuals for the next Raka anthem, a bilingual banger covering the Wiz Khalifa hit, but ala Raka: “WE DEM RAKAZ (HOLA)” with Panamerika, while on the “Panamerika Pachanga Tour” with Bomba Estereo last week throughout Texas. Read a review of the tour stop in Houston via the Houston Press … Read More
HANDS UP WORLD! August has been a heavy month…heavy-hearted about Eric Garner (whose death was ruled a homicide at the hands of police here in my hometown of Staten Island), Mike Brown & Ferguson, Sierra Leone, Edward Snowden (read this WIRED feature) and beyond! WHERE IS OUR GLOBAL HEART? As social entrepreneur Mark Gonzales aka … Read More
While Los Rakas prepare to play a FREE show in San Francisco this Thursday at the Converse flagship store, Raka Rich & Raka Dun just released a hot new remix (set to Wiz Khalifa’s “We Dem Boyz”) but with a Raka twist, “WE DEM RAKAZ” – produced by Stylo. Get it HERE. Along with the … Read More