Cristian Gonzalez
The music of Hispanic, Latin American or Mexican Chicano rappers began to consolidate in the 1980s, when Cypress Hill, a rap group of Latin American descent, would set a precedent in the culture of rap made by people of Latin American descent in the United States.
These rappers imbued the rap with all their perspectives from the point of view of relegated Latin Americans and Americans who are not so well received in the country where they were born and raised. Since then, just as with the Lowriders Chicanos sought a way to express their aesthetic, Chicano rappers are also doing their own thing with hip hop and in the process taking it out of the stadium.
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5.- Mr. Shadow
José Anguiano, better known as Mr. Shadow, is a Chicano rap artist from San Diego, California. He began writing music at the age of 12.
The musical content of Mr. Shadow almost never leaves the imagery of gangs, sex and drugs. In fact, Shadow is a member of local San Diego gang Woptown Krazies and he claims it is located in Little Italy. Shadow has collaborated with several rap heavyweights such as Daz Dillinger, Kurupt, Kokane, Baby Bash, 40 Glocc, Suga Free, Roscoe, Don Cisco and C-Bo.
4.- SadBoy Loko
Sadboy Loko started as a freestyle rapper when he was just 13 years old. Born in Santa Barbara, California. This hip-hop singer and songwriter is best known for his albums I’m Still Here (2012), The First Ese (2016) and My Evil Ways (2018), all released on the 4Hunnid label.
He performs on YG’s album Still Brazy alongside rapper Lil Wayne, rapper Drake and other renowned rappers. In addition, he has managed to combine hip hop with corridos in songs such as Controlando Las Calles.
3.- Lil Rob
Roberto Flores, known as Lil Rob, is another Chicano rapper hailing from San Diego, California, reaffirming that the evident Chicano rap scene in California is big.
Lil Rob debuted as an artist in the Chicano rap world in 1992, before releasing his first album Twelve Eighteen Part 1. In 1994, at the age of 18, Lil Rob’s chin was broken when he was shot in the jaw. Eventually, Lil Rob renounced his gang affiliation and called for “Brown Pride” and unity among all Chicanos.
2.- Kid Frost
Arturo Molina Jr, better known as Kid Frost, is a popular and well-known Chicano rapper in East Los Ángeles, California.
Frost started rapping in 1982 and as an MC he named himself Kid Frost as a tribute to Ice T, with whom he often fought. He then joined Uncle Jamm’s army. As a solo artist, he had several first albums that were released by Electrobeat Records and Baja Records. Their song La Raza became very popular for appearing in the PC game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
1.- The Psycho Realm
This Chicano rap group is made up of Jack and his older brother Duke, who for many years have been crowned the undisputed kings of underground rap in the Los Ángeles, California scene, where they have cultivated an impressive fandom, calling themselves the Sicks Soldiers.
Their debut was in 1997 with their eponymous album, after that they consolidated their position as one of the great representatives of Chicano rap in the American scene, especially in the underground. And furthermore, their career took off even more when they decided to split from Sony Records, becoming independent producers.
“We do it all ourselves” (…) “For two guys, me and my brother, who’s quadriplegic, we’re not doing too bad.”
Says Jack.
