New Video: We Dem Rakaz (Hola)

September 15, 2014By Nati

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

Making Real: #BrownAtBurningMan

August 19, 2014By Nati

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

WE DEM RAKAZ: “Hay un millón de nosotros, Tú me entiendes?”

August 12, 2014By Nati

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

VAI: Beyonce to NYC – Passinho!

August 3, 2014By Nati

There’s 12 kids out of the favelas, whose work are being valued around their world. Kids who usually are look down as black & criminal. — Zuzuka Poderosa (@ZuzukaPoderosa) July 25, 2014 So sad to miss Zuzuka Poderosa last week in New York City! I was up and away in California while she served as host for … Read More

Reggae On The Raka River: “Here & Now”

July 31, 2014By Nati

Los Angeles-based DJ Raul Campos, highlighted Los Rakas last week on WBUR (Boston) Here & Now DJ Sessions. Tune-in to the show: I love what Raul (listen to his show on KCRW) said about Raka Rich & Raka Dun’s growth the last few years since he first met them as “Discovery Artist Winners” (and interviewed … Read More

Distinto Sabor: “Getting Your Freak On!”

July 24, 2014By Nati

“All of a sudden I’m like, oh my god, Carlos Castaneda is in my head.  So, then I really did live psychedelic salsa.” – Maria Hinojosa Wow, La Mecanica Popular sounds really strong on their “Live In The Greene Space” performance for the dual program put on by NPR’s Latino USA and WNYC’s Soundcheck. The … Read More

Raka Life Ep. 3: Soy Raka University Europe

July 24, 2014By Nati

Today Los Rakas released the Episode 3 of their #RakaLife webseries sponsored by GoPro: “Our Raka Uncle breaks down the definition of what it means to be Raka. Watch the full translated video on Youtube. Shot entirely on GoPro while in Belgium for the Afro-Latino Festival.” Check it: Their debut shows last month in Amsterdam … Read More

Body Language, Baby: Passinho in NYC!

July 17, 2014By Nati

NYC, you so lucky, baby! It’s a week of Passinho next week: “Passinho is a creation of the kids in Rio’s favelas—a hybrid of pop, break-dancing and traditional samba, pagode, and frevo.” TUESDAY – David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, check the trailer for the documentary A Batalha do Passinho about the exciting dance subculture … Read More

AUTHENTICITY, COURAGE, PASSION, TRANSACTIONS, TAKING THE LASHES OF NON-UNDERSTANDING, SHARED VALUES & CLEANING UP OUR WORLD

July 17, 2014By Nati

“We’re in a very early stage of technology, for consumers…” – Ben Horowitz with Steve Stoute (Translation) and Kanye West for theSTASHED.com. I hear Kanye wanting**** to really touch on the systemic, gender, racial and socioeconomic deficiencies between us because of historic circumstances and how that brings us to the dynamism and creativity of the … Read More

Los Rakas: Straight Outta Panama

July 12, 2014By Nati

Listen in to this most recent Los Rakas interview with Music Times in New York City. Raka Rich and Raka Dun talk about their new album and videos, how the independent grind continues on a major label in the digital era, their collaboration with Blondie (Song “I Screwed Up“), being brave about telling stories ala … Read More