Akwid

Akwid is arguably the most successful group in the fledgling Urban Regional genre. The Los Angeles-based duo, comprised of brothers Sergio "Wikid" and Francisco "Ak" Gomez – originally from Juiquilpan, Michoacan – is best known for its border-crossing mix of hip hop and Mexican regional music.

Their 2003 major label debut Proyecto Akwid turned heads up and down city streets with its Banda El Recodo-sampling single No Hay Manera, which peaked at number 50 on Billboard's Hot Latin tracks. One year later, their follow-up Komp 104.9 Radio Compa – with its concept of a fictional radio station devoted solely to Akwid's music – was also a success. Jamás Imaginé helped the duo sell 350 thousand units of Komp 104.9 Radio Compa with almost no radio airplay. Their third album, Los Aguacates de Jiquilpan, released in 2004, continued the concept album trend with a fairy tale accounting of how the Gomez brothers came to the U.S. The single Sentir La Vida is memorable for its skinalicious traffic jam video.

Despite commercial success and critical praise – including a Latin Grammy and two Billboard Music Awards – the Gomez brothers are hardly complacent, refining their fusion of banda, rancheras and hip hop with each new release. Akwid's latest album E.S.L. (English as a Second Language), featuring lead single Que Quiere La Nena, may well become their most successful album to date.