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."
also tagged mvs1c, panama, as seen on myspace, los rakas, reggaeton is bigger
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I've seen them perform & they get down on stage =D.
IRMA
(Los Angeles,Ca)
5/31/2008
they go
j.malo
(bay area/panama)
6/2/2008
El futuro de la cultura Centro Americana musical!! Oh yeah!!
fREddY stylEz
(sin franpyscho)
6/2/2008
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.
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!
John Pro
(San Francisco)
6/2/2008
Los Rakas (Rico and Dun) are the now, and future of LATIN HIP HOP, Reggae, Dancehall, Plena, some reggaeton...NO HAY NADIE COMO NOSOTROS as they well put it on their single Fuego en su cuerpo... Stay focused and humble gentlemen, I see the light at the end of the tunnel for you both along with your company.
Cali's Finest
(Bay Area)
6/2/2008
no credit... tsk tsk tsk
los cacas are alright lol
Tragik
6/2/2008
Great article, I listened to several of Los Rakas tracks after reading this article and did not get bored I was left with the crave for more of their Music. I like the sound and the delivery of their words I look forward to more of what they got.
Reserved
6/2/2008
Tragik: our bad - It's been taken care of!
holamun2.com
6/2/2008
Hey I love these guys I saw them perform at the Def Poetry Jam .. They always have something interesting to say.. N their music is so hot!!! Les deseo mucha suerte!! mmuah!!!
La DominiRican
(New York)
6/3/2008
(101 total)
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