Tijuana is the the birthplace of everything cool in transborder music. After all, the city has birthed trendsetters like Julieta Venegas, Ceci Bastida, Carla Morrison and the guys who put Tijuana EDM on the map: Nortec Collective Bostich + Fussible. Pepe Mogt, the man who puts the Fussible in Bostich + Fussible, is also the mastermind behind Latinsizer. Read More
I always appreciate receiving my NALEO (The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials) newsletters because they’re pretty much my voice, my people. Here’s the latest issued the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address:
GRAMMYS
Biggest turn-offs: Juanes intro’d Frank Ocean? Wiz Khalifa’s superugly suit showing his skeleton chest; Nas losing to Drake, FUN’s rain performance=lipsync? Rihanna’s extra ombre weave and stripper dress.
Biggest turn-ons: Seeing Nas in a suit; Bruno Mars rocking with Sting #Perfect; Carrie Underwood’s visual arts dress #feltlikeakid; Alicia Keys reminding me of Shiela E. rocking the drums; Jack White #rockgod; Pleasantly suprised Quetzal won bringing Jarocho music to the forefront despite me rooting for Carla Morrison; LAST but not least, L.L. bringing out Chuck D #monumental. Chuck D trended last night! Thanks L.L.
Project Donate, a San Diego non-profit whose main focus is to build community and artistry through charity, contacted local music producer Beatsmith Resist to throw a show with some of San Diego’s finest underground artists. They included two who have ties to Tijuana: Odessa Kane, 2011 San Diego Music Awards “Best Hip-Hop Artist” nominee, and DJ Third Rail, host of Third Degree Burns Mixshow.
The non-profit group promises to raise $6,000 by April for the orphanage, Alcance Visión A.C., so that it can build an additional room. The home for children was originally designed to house 30 kids. Today, it’s grown to 40 occupants and that number continues to rise. The room addition is much needed because it will help accommodate the growing population. Read More
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You can’t help but envy Denisse Salcido, a.k.a. Girl Is Tough, with her Neutrogena skin and perfect bangs. Besides that, her feel-good dance music with a voice sort of reminds me of the supercool ’80s trio, Exposé, which is intruiging.
Girl is Tough is a beatmaker/DJ/singer with a penchant for love songs and dope bass lines. Born in Sonora, Mexico and now living in Los Angeles, Salcido began the project in 2008 with fellow writer and producer, Tö, and has toured all the way to Paris.
I wanted to know more about the freestyle music-loving, Mexicana and to find out who’s really the tough girl:
Dita Quiñones: Is Girl is Tough a band or solo?
Denisse Salcido: Girl is Tough is a solo project born. Although the first two EPs were done in collaboration with my friend Tö and we toured together for awhile. We’re both now focusing on our music independently. Read More
In his latest artwork, African-American digital artist, Phantom Kay goes in a different direction with inspiration from the classic James Dean’s torn-sweater photo shoot. When you think of James Dean, the first word that comes to mind is: rebel. The ’50s American actor became a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment when he starred as Jim Stark in his most celebrated film, “Rebel Without a Cause.”
I was so used to seeing his work paying tribute to Black music makers and athletes – I had to ask the artist, why James Dean?
Okay, I always said this before, Hip-Hop pioneers have the best “barbershop” talk in town when it comes to sports and music, sometimes politics. Always entertaining to hear them talk. This was certified true when legendary Hip-Hop producer, Pete Rock made a guest appearance on ESPN’s “First Take.” Read More
Photo Credit: Luis Garcia
Dani Shivers, the Casio goth-pop princess de Tijuana is back with a vengeance for her music video “Up” – a track off her upcoming album JINX.
I ran into her at AMF and surprisingly she was a social butterfly amongst the crowd and, of course, decked out in her signature mod long-sleeve mini-dress, a pair of Mary Janes and perfectly groomed bangs. You really can’t help but fall in love with her – she’s a smart, congenial creative with a penchant for producing dark tracks on a Casio with an overlay of her angelic but bittersweet vocals.
The song’s chorus (“Well I fell like that ’cause I was trapped when you told me to go Up and Up“) is super catchy combined with the video’s raw, voyeuristic Wicca visuals. It piqued my interest so I dug deeper with Dani Shivers herself. We talked it “Up” on siblings and horror films: Read More
photo: Jonathon Galendez
San Diego rapper, Odessa Kane’s first record off his long-anticipated EP Cuetes & Balisongs is an ode to his childhood street “Briarwood” – a recognizable street exit off the 54 freeway located in South East San Diego. The EP entirely produced by including EP artwork is from GrindTime Battles alum, Infinity Gauntlet A.K.A. ScatterBrain. According to AccessHipHop.com describes, “It [EP] amplifies the local/global struggles of the people, pays homage to roots and our hoods, while still maintaining that cold-killin Kane lyricism we all know.”
Purchase Cuetes & Balisongs and related merchandise.
