Los Rakas

as seen on myspace

wed 5/28/2008

 

(image by Tragik)

In the last year, artists like Flex, Eddy Lover and La Factoría have exported Panamanian music to the top of the charts in the U.S. and Mexico. Now Los Rakas are hoping to plant the roots of reggaetón in a stronghold of West Coast rap: Oakland, California.

Born and raised in Panamá, cousins Abdull Dominguez (DunDun) and Ricardo Guillam Bethancourt (Rico AKA Filthy Rich) settled in Oakland, California as teens. Taking their name from "raka," Panamanian slang for "ghetto," Los Rakas debuted in 2006 with the Panabay Twist mix-tape.

The album's first single, Mi Barrio, is a pounding bilingual track that's a bit more reggae than hip hop; imagine El General gliding between English and Spanish over a modern dancehall beat. The song has become an anthem in their native Panamá.

Oakland, home to political hip hop like The Coup and Zion I, is a fitting backdrop for a straight-up polemic track like "Invasion of Panamá '89" in which Los Rakas explore the recent history of their motherland: "Killing with no purpose at all, I can't believe [George H.] Bush would do this to y'all, attacking unexpectedly, bombing in the presence of Jesus."

See: myspace.com/losrakas1

 
 
 

109 responses to “as seen on MySpace: Los Rakas”

I've seen them perform & they get down on stage =D.

Anonymous's picture

IRMA

(Los Angeles,Ca)

5/31/2008

omg las liricas de ellos estan on point se nota q le ponen muchas atencion a los q escriben i like the beats the flow and the looks;p
buena suete con todo guys
-vero

Anonymous's picture

sexy nicoya

(bronx)

6/13/2008

big up pa los rakas finalmente donde tiene q estar
respeto
1luv

Anonymous's picture

demente507

(miami)

6/13/2008

they go

Anonymous's picture

j.malo

(bay area/panama)

6/2/2008

thius guys are great, los vi en el house of blues que show, la musica es muy original and fressshh

Anonymous's picture

Nach

(los angeles)

6/13/2008

LOS RAKAS, CHECK THEM OUT ON MUN2 CON EL VIDEO MI BARRIO, Y MUY PRONTO CON FUEGO EN SU CUERPO.

Anonymous's picture

mh2

(USA)

6/13/2008

i love these fellas they actually have something to talk about in their music...not to mention how diverse they are!!
when i seen them perform the stage presense and delivery was dope!!

Anonymous's picture

num1fan♥jr

(the bay)

6/15/2008

i love how they combine english and spanish in their songs. They are a great duo and you can tell they put their heart into their music.

Anonymous's picture

Maryjane

(san francisco)

6/2/2008

These young men are very talented and have a bright future ahead of them. I strongly urge everyone to keep their ears and eyes open for these two! They are definitely unstoppable!

Anonymous's picture

John Pro

(San Francisco)

6/2/2008

alfin mucica de verdad este grupo si la mueve

Anonymous's picture

Mr. G

(El salvador)

6/15/2008

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