I have included artists that have earned my respect, due to their hustle and talent. If there is anyone that I have not included please feel free to email about them at hiphop@cristopolis.com.
With no further ado, in no particular order, let's talk about DC's finest:
Very few times does an artist with trascendent talent have the opportunity to capture the hearts and minds of audiences yearning for more, Jose Burgos aka Nino has just that chance. Born into an impoverished community in The Dominican Republic on January 7, 1990 Nino was immediately immersed in an environment that would later manifest itself in his musical reflections. In the Dominican Republic, Burgos became a fervent fan of artist amongst which are Juan Luis Guerra, Los Toros Band, Enrique Iglesias and bachatero Anthony Santos.
At the youthful age of eight Nino moved to the United States, where he was further influenced by a litany of American Hip Hop artist that still act as influences today, the likes of which include Eminem, Tupac, Jay Z, Big Pun, Bone Thugs n Harmony and DMX. While here in the United States Nino had his first opportunity to venture into the world that is hip hop when he released his first mixtape at the age of twelve. Within the next year Nino had already left an imprint on the local music scene, consequently booking regional performances.
With the assistance of NME Records Nino was able to expand the foundation which he had built through performances, subsequently producing La Nueva Era Mixtape (The New Era), at the age of 17. Now still at a young age Nino has officially matured and began the process of invoking a musical journey that will transform the landscape of rap. Amalgamating a blend of rap, merenegue, bachata, soca and pop Nino is embarking on a road to stardom, that will ultimately ensure a hallowed spot with those who have revolutionized Hip Hop.
View Nino Interview by LatinoHiphop.Org
FenomeDon is an emcee from El Salvador who brings to the table potent lyrics and flawless delivery. He has been hard on the grind releasing singles and videos such as the video for "La Mirada" and a mixtape entitled "Bombasos" which solidified his rise as a prominent DC emcee.
Cero from Cali, Colombia is an independent DC Latino Hip-Hop Artist and CEO of CERO Mundo LLC, who has been on the grind for many years now. Since his beginnings with the group Traficantez to his debut solo album "Sacrificio" he has relentlessly been putting in work and dropping gems.
Adding to his resume of releases Cero has been featured on multiple DJ Cabezon mixtapes including his own official mixtape entitled "For Spanglish Marka Cero".
He has also collaborated alongside many of DC's most renowned Latino Hip-Hop artists including 848, Nino, Mr. Pelon503, OlSkoolRu, El Imperio, and Fuego. He has also worked with recording artists outside of the DMV such as; Juan Zarate, Los Nandez, Calle Cardona, LMW, DSHON, KY4, 4Esquinas. And he will be featured on Mellow Man Ace's new album "La Familia" being distributed by Latin Thug/Koch Records.
He has worked extensively with top notch producers such as; Max Methods, Sabio Mero, DJ Boom, Tony Vinyl from Chicago, and Crooks Brothers from Queens, NY. And he is currently hard at work on his sophomore solo album, which is in production at Listen Vision recording studio.
CERO is affiliated with LA CLICKA UNDERGROUND from Medellin, Colombia.
Sabio Mero is a prolific lyricist and producer of Guatemalan descent, that is behind the sound of many of DC's Latino Hip-Hop artist's. He has recently released his first solo album entitled "Letras Perdidas", and has been promoting it through performances and music videos."Letras Perdidas" was written, produced, and engineered entirely by Sabio Mero himself. On this album he displays great musical depth by combining his urban edge with Cumbia, Dancehall, Ballads, Reggaeton, and Underground Hip-Hop.
He has performed extensively and has had music featured on Univision.
Adding film making to his many talents he has also produced, filmed, and edited 7 music videos, reiterating to the world that he is a modern day renaissance man.
View Sabio Mero Interview by LatinoHiphop.Org
Como diría el mero Mr. Pelón "llegó la hora de saber quién es Mr. Pelon 503 desde la ciudad de los Toros, la caldera del diablo con líricas enkbronadas putting down this shit!". El nombre es nuevo, pero su trayectoria no. Al escudriñar su nombre de civil, Luis Arnaldo Coreas López, salta un nuevo elemento a la pista: ¡No solo es músico!, también es futbolista. Mr. Pelón 503 también fue jugador del Luis Ángel Firpo cuando vivió en El Salvador, de la legionaria dinastía de los "Coreas". Pero esa ya es harina de otro costal.
Su "aka" (seudónimo) es, como lo habíamos mencionado ántes: MR.PELÓN(503). Usulután lo vio nacer el 22 de abril de 1979. Hijo del ex futbolista, ya fallecido, Abraham "el Muñeco" Coreas Privado; y Margarita López Vda. De Coreas. Se nota, a simple inspección electrónica, que es una persona con un sentimiento familiar muy profundo y arraigado. Preocupado y dedicado por los suyos. Su música No tiene mucho de haberse ido y ya está sonando junto a otros nombres que llevan más trayectoria.
Ya firmó para grabar un disco. Se mueve dentro de la gama de calidad de raperos como Los reyes del bajo mundo y El Imperio, y próximamente comenzará a grabar con Dyablo, uno de los raperos más promimentes en los Estados Unidos, que ha conseguido formar parte de la firma del grupo Univisión, una de las disqueras más prestigiosas en ese país.
Hearing the sounds of his father's instrumental harmonies and melodic tunes before his birth would only make it natural for Fuego born Miguel Duran to bear the innate ability to follow in his father's footsteps as a musician.
On September 24th, 1981 in Washington, DC, Miguel Duran was born. His father would make it a point to teach Miguel everything he knew about music.
He knew it wouldn't be an easy task to raise a kid in a cruel harsh world, but he had faith that music would show him the right path.
Gordo Bregaborn Eric Irrazary in the Bronx, New York. As a Dominican American with a grasp of Spanish far surpassing his knowledge of English in his formative years, Brega initially had a barrier impeding his assimilation into rap culture. This changed when Gordo first came across the lyrical stylings of another Bronx native, Big Pun. In Pun, Brega had a positive example of a Hispanic rapper who fused the best cultural aspects of being Latino and American. Emboldened by this, Gordo came to the conclusion that he too had the potential to put his imprint on rap, which in turn would be facilitated by his cultural uniqueness. Brega honed his technique under the alias Alah Durden when he released his first mixtape “Street Code” in 2001, after he relocated to Washington D.C. In 2003 Brega started his label DTO Records (Determined To Takeover Records) along with Kwabena Nkrumah as a means by which his musical vision could be propagandized within the larger community.
In the proceeding years Brega produced a litany of well received mixtapes which include Step Your Game Up Vol. 1 and 2, A Lo Fuke Vols. 1 and 2, Spanglish 101, The Sneak Preview, The King Of Spanglish Hip-Hop and Can’t Knock La Brega. Through this perpetual proliferation of solid music, Gordo Brega has laid the foundation for a career on a trajectory to reshape the landscape of rap. This combined with raps inner yearning to propagate “fresh” music ensures Brega a future place along with rap’s greatest.
Camilo Cienfuegos arrived in the nation's capital via Chorrera, Panama. His powerful vocal presence has made him a popular 'go to guy' for standout choruses, but it is his solo material that takes you deep into the mind of one of the District's most versatile artists. In a split second Cienfuegos takes you from powerful revolutionary lyrics to dancehall flavored choruses, versatility which demonstrate that he carries his native Panama close to his heart.
VMasta brings to us his raw and rapid spitfire flow straight from the Andean region of Santiago, Chile. Having spent many years on the underground circuit performing and releasing independent material VMasta now prepares to unleash his latest onslaught of hits .
DJ Cabezon born in Queens, NY and raised in northern VA has been a DJ since 1992.
He has showcased his DJing skills all over DC, Maryland and Virginia at venues such as Fur Nightclub, Bravo Bravo, Lima Lounge, Breakers Club, Mezza Luna Lounge, Paradiso, Ocean Drive Nite Club, Jaxx, Club Envy, Classic Cafe, Mexico Lindo, and Cerro Grande.
As a true independent artist he is also the source behind all of his own recording, mixing, cd duplication, cd cover designs, flyer designs, and promotions. He runs 3 companies; GRINDIN ENTERTAINMENT, HARDHEADED DESIGNS, and HARDHEADED CLOTHING.
DJ Cabezon holds a Bachelors degree from George Mason Universtity in Arts and works full time as a graphic artist at HARDHEADED DESIGNS. He has done graphic design work for many music industry artist's such as reggaeton sensation Don Chezina, Big Mato, Hip-hop group "Brooklyn Academy", Sadat X, KRS-ONE, and many other artists in DC, Maryland and Virginia.
He can be heard everyday on www.radiourbano.net playing the hottest reggaeton and latin hip hop.
El Imperio is a super group consisting of four members which include Fantazm hailing to us from Colombia, and Skorpio, Iron Man and N-Ferno from El Salvador. There first release "Atake Imperial" gained them regional noteriety, all the while growing their fan base with there many performances and television appearences. They now prepare to satisfy there fans restlessness for more "El Imperio" with their second album "La Conquista", which is currently in production. Be on the look out for this new offering by some of DC's finest creative minds.
Mr. Forge brings West Coast Chicano flavor to the nation's capital. Having grown up in Los Angeles he has lived in the DC Metropolitan area for over ten years. His deep resounding voice and positive message has helped to distinguish him from other emcees on his various mixtape appearances. Be on the look out as he now prepares to release his new album "Thee A.B.Y.S.S."
Honorable mention:
DJ Wanako, DJ Pelon and DJ Maestra have played a vital role in bringing the music of DC's Latino Hip-Hop to the city and it's outlying suburbs by continously supporting, spinning and interviewing local artists during their radio shows on Community Powered Radio; CPR 97.5 FM. They have also been leaders and organizers of the DC Latino Hip-Hop Festival, an annual show which is now gearing up for its 4th installment.
Wishing you continued success!
Cristopolis Dieguez
latinohiphop.org
cristopolis.com
