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Latin rap is not a homogeneous musical style but rather a term that covers all rap by Latinos.

The first bilingual ("Spanglish") rappers were a group from Bronx, New York by the name of Mean Machine. They put out the very first bilingual rap song in 1981 on The Sugarhill Record Label. The record was called Disco Dream. The emcees were Mr. Schick, DJ Julio, Mr. Nice, and Jimmy Mac. Then came Kid Frost and Mellow Man Ace, followed by Cypress Hill featuring Mellow's brother Sen Dog. On the East Coast, Puerto Rican rappers Big Pun, Hurricane G and Fat Joe followed.

In the course of the 1990s, rappers from Latin America and Spain dropped their first records, e.g. Control Machete from Mexico, DJ Kun from Argentina and 7 Notas 7 Colores from Spain. Latin hip-hop continues today with Artist such as Carlos Coy AKA South Park Mexican from Texas, SPM also manages Dope House Records a conduit for other upcoming artists.

It is also important to remember a big movement that is going on in Puerto Rico with latin rappers, and a new kind of "latin rap" is gaining popularity. While big time Puerto Rican rappers like Big Pun and Fat Joe made their mark in the american industry of hip hop, many talented rappers are hidden under the language barrier and produce great spanish lyrics on the Puerto Rican hip hop movement. Some of these are Mc Ceja, Lito Mc Cassidy, Polaco, Tempo , and a new rapper who is reintroducing some of the old school and so called "real" hip hop, Tego Calderon. These are some of the many rappers that hold respect among hip hop fans, but there are a bunch of others that produce a rather "new style" invented in PR. This is called "reggaeton", in other words a mix of very tropical tracks, combined with some sort of "techno" music and heavy bass and fast drums. The singers specialize in topics such as women, sex, and parties and dancing.

This very popular movement have caused a lot of controversy in PR for the explicit lyrics of the aforementioned topics and the very explicit music videos produced. Among the most famous "rap singers" of this genre are Og Black and Master Joe, Nicky Jam, Ranking Stone, Don Omar, Ivy Queen, Plan B and Wisin y Yandel. Actually, reggaeton music has reached international acclaim and some videos and parties are actually made in US. However, because of the popularity of this new genre, some really talented rappers are faded. Some day perhaps, track masters like Dj Black, Dj Ecko and Dj Dicky will reach international status and credit.

Latin Rap is a type of music that has been influential to youngsters of Latin American countries as well as those of Hispanic background who reside in the United States, since the middle to late 1980s and the early 1990s.

Latin Rap has been a hit specially in countries with a large number of migrators to the United States. In Puerto Rico, for example, where many of it's residents have moved to New York, Miami and Chicago over the years, latin rap was jumpstarted by a wave of singers that included Ruben DJ and Vico C. Ruben DJ's hit, La Escuela, (The School) and Vico C's hit, La Recta Final, (The way to the End) received considerable radio time during the late 1980s.

Hip-Hop. Latinos in Hip-hop. Latin Hip-Hop. Chicano Rap. Puerto Rican Rap. Mexican Rap.

At one time and another, the Latino influence in hip-hop has been categorized as one of the aforementioned names listed above. But what exactly do we call this music and the artists listed below.

For one, it’s just hip-hop. Hip-hop is so huge and diverse that many “sub-divisions” have been made to try and fit every aspect of hip-hop into it’s own category. Whether the MC’s rap in English, Spanish, or Nahualt, the music and message itself is still hip-hop. It’s like trying to categorize Xzibit’s music as black Hip-hop. It just doesn’t work. And when Artists like Puffy raps in Spanish it’s still considered hip-hop. Mellow Man Ace put it best when he said that it’s good for Latinos in hip-hop to be respected enough to have it’s own category but the music is still hip-hop.

Nobody knows exactly when hip-hop was created. Elements of hip-hop have always been around. But when the media first noticed hip-hop, it came from the streets of New York. It was widely and falsely publicized that hip-hop was a “new” black art form. What wasn’t mentioned was the majority of Puerto Ricans that were MCs’, break dancers(Rock Steady Crew), and Graffiti artists. Fidel Rodriquez of Seditious Beats thinks the reason for the corporate media putting one type of face on hip-hop makes it easier for the Major Labels to market and distribute to the masses. Others also believe that the corporate media does this as a separatist move, dividing the people of the Ghettos or Barrios. But what was falsely publicized to the masses didn’t make the cut in the streets. As the youth in the streets, coming from diverse cultures, shaped hip-hop to represent the voice of the people of the streets, and eventually helped hip-hop spread across Amerikkka.

Many of the old school legends like Prince Whipple Whip (Puerto Rican) didn’t enjoy the success of many Rappers that followed, but they helped form and shape the music. Just a few years later, in Southern California, a couple of Latino Radio DJs' were tearing up the underground hip-hop scene. The station was 1580 AM KDAY, and the show was "The Mix Master Show". Jacken of Psycho Realm thought KDAY was the best station of all time. The reason was Hip-Hop was being spun all day. The DJ's: Ralph M, Tony G, and Julio G. Respect throughout the hip-hop world spread for these three DJ’s, as the shows have become classics.

Ralph M, Julio G, and Tony G learned the art of producing as well. Tony G and Julio G would go on to work with the top Latino Artists. Ralph M would hook up with Son Doobie to create Funkdoobiest. Around the time that “The Mix Master Show” was blowing up, Latinos were getting ready to make their mark permanently on the hip-hop world. Corporate Media would no longer ignore the impact of Latinos in hip-hop.

Mellow Man Ace’s "Mentirosa" and Kid Frost's "La Raza" blew the scene up during the late 1980's and early 1990. Along with those two singles, Lighter Shade of Brown's "On a Sunday Afternoon", Proper Dos’ "Mexican Power", Delinquent Habits "Tres Delinquentes", ALT's "Tequila", Latin Alliance's "Lowrider", and N2DEEP's "Back to the Hotel" proved that this movement was not a fluke. These singles began breaking the Billboard Charts, and Major Labels suddenly started signing Latino Artists.

Then Cypress Hill dropped, and instantly the fact that they were Latino was no longer a matter. Even though Latinos were finally getting Radio AirPlay, the movement had already spread throughout the states. Funky Aztecs, JV, Funkdoobiest, Tony Touch, and the Beatnuts were all starting to gather respect in their regions.

During the 90’s, Latinos across Amerikkka started putting out hip-hop albums, and many did it through independent distribution. In Northern California, Sir Dyno, Duke and the Darkroom Familia started releasing albums in their region. Soon, success and countrywide recognition were to follow. In Texas, South Park Mexican and Capone did the independent route and were able to get success. In Denver, Deuce Mob hit. In San Diego California, Royal T, Lil’ Rob, Nightowl, Lil’ One, and Aztec Tribe all represented for their area. Now Chicago, Arizona, Florida, and New Mexico are some areas where MCs' are putting it down.

And of course, New York. The Terror Squad, Big Pun (rest-in-peace) and Fat Joe took the Puerto Rican side of hip-hop to the top. Big Pun and Fat Joe helped gain renewed interest to the Major Labels into the Latino Rap Scene.

Now the Latin hip-hop scene can be seen growing in Mexico, with groups like Molotov and Control Machete, as well as the rest of Latin America, Parts of Canada, and the rest of the world.

Since there are so many Artists and Groups that helped blow up the Latino Hip-Hop scene, proves Latinos will be around to the very end. And taking it to the next level should be the goal of every MC out there today. Rage against the Machine’s Zack De La Rocha, Tha Mexakinz/Malafia, The Psycho Realm, Chino XL, Brownside, Cuban Link, Brown Town Looters, Rhyme Poetic Mafia, Cisco the Frisco Mack, Mr. Shadow, Aztlan Underground, Conejo and Tattoo Ink, Los Tumbados, Mafiosos, 5th Battalion, OTW, Street Platoon, Lethal Assassins Clique, G-Fellas, Latino Velvet, El Nuevo Xol, Rhyme Asylum, Wicked Minds are among the artists putting it down today as well as many of the Artists listed above.

While Latinos, as a whole begin spreading across the States and the world, Latinos in hip-hop will continue to grow. Today, the underground scene is as big as it has ever been. Major Labels are once again interested in Latino Artists and Groups. As ALT put it “as long as we support each other we will never fall”. - Written by Richard Montes

Also see:

• Spanish Hip Hop
• Mexican Hip Hop
• Reggaeton

Noted Latino rappers

• 5th Battalion - Hip-Hip Circle out of Los Angeles County.
• Abstract Nature Group out of SGV, California.
• Afaze Music - Rap group out of Las Vegas.
• Another Latin Timebomb aka A.L.T. - One of the founders of Latin Hip Hop.
• Aztec Tribe - Chicano rap group from San Diego.
• Aztlan Nation - Chicano activist from Northern California.
• Akwid - A two man hip-hop group out of Los Angeles.
• Aztlan Underground - A political Hip Hop/Rock band from Los Angeles.
• The Beatnuts(link)
• Big Punisher(link) - A Puerto Rican rapper from the Bronx, NY.
• Brown Intentions - Rap Group out of 805 Oxnard, California.
• Brown Pride - OG rap group from Califas.
• Brownside - A harcore gangster group from Los Angeles out of G-Spot.
• Brown Town Looters - Down Chicano rappers straight out of East Los/Boyle Heights.
• Cali Life Style - Chicano group from California.
• Cali Players - from the 805 area of California.
• Capone - Rapper from Texas by way of Southern California.
• Central Coast Clique - Chicano rappers from the 805 area of So. California.
• Chingo Bling
• Click Tha Supah-Latin - Los Angeles based rapper from Peru.
• Conejo - Chicano rapper from West Los Angeles.
• Cuban Link - Bronx rapper and member of the Terror Squad.
• Cypress Hill - Los Angeles based rappers from the city of South Gate.
• Crooked Stilo - Salvadorian group out of South Gate, Ca.
• Darkroom Family - Hardcore rappers from Northern California.
• Darkroom Family Presents - Sir Dyno and friends representing Chicanos from California.
• Deliquent Habits - Part of the Cypress Family from Norwalk.
• Dynamic Lo - Group from New Mexico.
• Earthquake Institute - Latino hip-hop group from Southern California.
• El Demonio - Rapper from Inland Empire, Southern California.
• Eddie Montelongo - Chicano rapper from Oxnard, California.
• El Nuevo Xol - Latin hip-hop regga from Los Angeles.
• El Vuh - Decolonizing Hip-Hop.
• Fat Joe - New York rapper from the Bronx.
• Frontline Officials - Rap group out of L.A.
• Funkdoobiest - L.A. group with producer Ralph M. & rapper Son Doobiest.
• Funky Aztecs
• Ground Keepers
• Junebug Slim - Junebugs comes from the streets of Sacramento, Ca.
• Juvenile Style - Latin Rappers from South Central Los Angeles.
• J V - Latina rapper from Los Angeles.
• Kid Capri - One of the greatest DJ's, from the Bronx, New York.
• Kid Frost - The God Father of Latin Hip Hop (G-Spot).
• Kinto Sol - Latino rap group from the Mid-West.
• Knight Owl - Coming out of San Diego, California.
• Krazy Race - Latin rap group out of South East Los Angeles.
• Kurious - Cuban/Puerto Rican from New York City.
• Latin Alliance - O'G. Group consisted of A.L.T., Frost, and Mellow.
• Latin Bomb Squad(link) - Los Angeles rap group with straight up Hip Hop.
• Latin Frozz - Central American Latin hip-hop group based out of L.A.
• Latino Velvet Clique - Is Jay Tee & Baby Beesh from Vallejo,California.
• Lethal Assassins Clique - Bomb ass rap group from East Los Angeles.
• Lighter Shade of Brown - One of the first groups from California.
• Lil Rob - Chicano rapper from San Diego, California.
• Lyrical Assassinz Klique - Rap group from Highland Park.
• Los Tumbados - Live instrument hip-hop band with new style.
• Los Marijuanos - Mexican rap group from Chicago.
• Madogg - Mexican rapper from Oxnard, California.
• M.C. Blvd - Positive L.A. rapper from the Valley.
• Mellow Man Ace - One of the founders of Latin Hip Hop.
• Tha Mexakinz - Two Chicano rappers from Long Beach, California.
• MIC MC - Young talented Latino outta the 805, part of the Krazy Race Camp
• Molotov - Mexico City rap group that's blowing up on both sides of the border.
• Mr. Sam and The Affiliates - Rap/Rock group from Sacramento, California.
• Mr. Shadow - Chicano rapper from the 619(San Diego).
• N2DEEP - Latino rap group from Northern California.
• Nastyboy Klick - Rappers from the 602.
• Norwalks Most Wanted - Harcore rappers from Norwalk, California.
• No Sleep - A Chicano Rapper from Albuquerque,New Mexico.
• Project Affiliated - Northern California Chicano label and group.
• Proper Dos - Hardcore rappers from Los Angeles.
• Official Proper Dos Website - Hardcore rappers from Los Angeles.
• Psycho Realm - Revolutionary rappers from Pico-Union, Los Angeles.
• Official Psycho Realm site - Revolutionary rappers from Pico-Union, Los Angeles.
• Royal T - Chicano rapper and owner of Low Profile Records
• Rhyme Poetic Mafia - Chicano rap group from Los Angeles.
• Second State - Underground hip-hop group from Los Angeles.
• Slow Pain - Part of the G-Spot Family from Pico Rivera.
• Official Slow Pain site - Rapper and CEO of Old Town Records, Pico Rivera.
• Mr. Slow Pain - Official website of lil Don Juan.
• South Park Mexican - Mexican rapper from Houston (South Park), Texas.
• Spanish Fly - Mexican Rappers from the Harbor Area of Los Angeles.
• Street Mentality - Slow Pain's original group from Pico Rivera.
• Street Platoon - Raw underground hip-hop group out of Pico-Union L.A.
• Street Sweepaz - South East L.A. gangster rappers.
• Styles From The Under - Latinos from the Washington, D.C. Metro area.
• Terror Squad - Bronx rap crew featuring Fat Joe and Big Pun.
• Tony Touch (Toca) - Top Puerto Rican DJ from New York.
• Tony Gonzales - Pioneer Producer founder of G-Spot Studios.
• Voodoo Click - Chicano rappers from Los Angeles.
• Wicked Minds - Gangster rappers from Cudahy in Los Angeles.