Cuban Rap Agency
Encyclopedia
The Cuban Rap Agency is an organization subsidized by the Cuban government aimed at aiding Cuban hip hop
artists in attaining radio exposure and recording contracts. Founded in 2002, the Cuban Rap Agency seeks out talented Cuba
n hip hop
artists, like Papo Record, in order to promote hip-hop in Cuba.
The CRA provides a state-run record label named La Fabri-k to help promote hip-hop on the island. The two main groups that make up the La Fabri-k label are Obsesion
and Doble Filo
. An important part of their style is live musicianship, underlining a mixture of traditional percussion, guitar, violin, cello, saxophone and piano all layered under rhyme.http://www.workers.org/2007/world/fist-0816/
The CRA is an example of the growing nationalization
of rap and music in general in Cuba. Indeed in 1999, Abel Prieto
, the minister of Culture, declared rap to be " an authentic expression of Cuban culture".
Skeptics charge the organization with the marginalization of hip-hop in Cuba
. Intrinsic to the Cuban Rap Agency's mission of increasing exposure of Cuban hip-hop is an emphasis on the commercialization of the music. This in addition to the growing materialism in Cuba has put pressure on artists signed by the agency to adopt a more commercially viable sound such as reggaeton
. According to journalist Jessica Thurston of The Tartan
, the Cuban Rap Agency leads hip-hop artists to "abandon their ideals and minimize the ability of any group to cause change." The agency's growing number of reggaeton artists and decreasing number of hip-hop artists causes concern with the shift in messages that these two genres of music represent. Hip-hop in Cuba was embraced so quickly because contained a revolutionary social message which to many resonates with the Cuban revolution. On the other hand, Thurston characterizes reggaeton as the genre that "celebrates the trivial lifestyle of bars, dancing, and objectifying women". Many view the Cuban Rap Agency as a threat to the future of underground hip-hop in Cuba.
The Cuban Rap Agency rejects these accusations, claiming that the CRA is beneficial for the hip-hop community in Cuba
. CRA director Susan Garcia Amorós asserts that the rappers endorsed by the organization "have rapped their own way." Journalist Antonio Paneque Brizuela of La Revista Cubana de Hip Hop interprets this quotation to mean that CRA artists have impacted the development of other musical styles.
Upon its initiation, the CRA consisted of two major rap groups: Cubanitos 2002 and Cubanos en
la Red. The number of recording artists that existed beneath the CRA's jurisdiction fluctuated until 2004. At that point, many "rap" and "hip-hop" artists had withdrawn from the organization, providing for an unprecedented distribution of reggaeton
. A rift gradually formed between the CRA and the more hip-hop centered Asociación Hermanos Saíz
. The AHS
, however, is not a government endorsed institution, and instead a function of the Union of Young Communists. The AHS
maintains a similar critique to that of Jessica Thurston, openly criticizing the genre at the 8th Congress of the Union of Young Communists in 2005.
Cuban hip hop
Hip hop music arrived in Cuba via radio and TV broadcasts from Miami. During the 1980s hip hop culture in Cuba was mainly centred around breakdancing...
artists in attaining radio exposure and recording contracts. Founded in 2002, the Cuban Rap Agency seeks out talented Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
artists, like Papo Record, in order to promote hip-hop in Cuba.
The CRA provides a state-run record label named La Fabri-k to help promote hip-hop on the island. The two main groups that make up the La Fabri-k label are Obsesion
Obsesión
"Obsesión" is a 2002 single by Dominican-American bachata band Aventura. It was included on the 2002 album We Broke the Rules. It achieved a huge success in many countries, reaching the top of many international charts...
and Doble Filo
Doble Filo
Doble Filo is a Cuban hip-hop band formed in 1995 and composed of Yrak Saenz, Edgaro aka Edgar Gonzale], and more recent member DJ Dark aka Alain Medina. The band, which is often compared to Dilated Peoples and The Amorphous, won the Alamar rap Festival’s Grand Prize in 1996.-History:Doble Filo can...
. An important part of their style is live musicianship, underlining a mixture of traditional percussion, guitar, violin, cello, saxophone and piano all layered under rhyme.http://www.workers.org/2007/world/fist-0816/
The CRA is an example of the growing nationalization
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
of rap and music in general in Cuba. Indeed in 1999, Abel Prieto
Abel Prieto
Abel Prieto Jiménez is a Cuban politician and the current Minister of culture of the country. He is also a published author of fiction.-External links:*...
, the minister of Culture, declared rap to be " an authentic expression of Cuban culture".
Skeptics charge the organization with the marginalization of hip-hop in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Intrinsic to the Cuban Rap Agency's mission of increasing exposure of Cuban hip-hop is an emphasis on the commercialization of the music. This in addition to the growing materialism in Cuba has put pressure on artists signed by the agency to adopt a more commercially viable sound such as reggaeton
Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a form of Puerto Rican and Latin American urban and Caribbean music. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European and Asian audiences. Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico but is also has roots from Reggae en Español from Panama and Puerto Rico and...
. According to journalist Jessica Thurston of The Tartan
The Tartan
The Tartan, formerly known as The Carnegie Tartan, is the original student newspaper of Carnegie Mellon University. Publishing since 1906, it is one of Carnegie Mellon's largest and oldest student organizations. It currently has over 170 student members, who contribute on a weekly basis...
, the Cuban Rap Agency leads hip-hop artists to "abandon their ideals and minimize the ability of any group to cause change." The agency's growing number of reggaeton artists and decreasing number of hip-hop artists causes concern with the shift in messages that these two genres of music represent. Hip-hop in Cuba was embraced so quickly because contained a revolutionary social message which to many resonates with the Cuban revolution. On the other hand, Thurston characterizes reggaeton as the genre that "celebrates the trivial lifestyle of bars, dancing, and objectifying women". Many view the Cuban Rap Agency as a threat to the future of underground hip-hop in Cuba.
The Cuban Rap Agency rejects these accusations, claiming that the CRA is beneficial for the hip-hop community in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. CRA director Susan Garcia Amorós asserts that the rappers endorsed by the organization "have rapped their own way." Journalist Antonio Paneque Brizuela of La Revista Cubana de Hip Hop interprets this quotation to mean that CRA artists have impacted the development of other musical styles.
Upon its initiation, the CRA consisted of two major rap groups: Cubanitos 2002 and Cubanos en
la Red. The number of recording artists that existed beneath the CRA's jurisdiction fluctuated until 2004. At that point, many "rap" and "hip-hop" artists had withdrawn from the organization, providing for an unprecedented distribution of reggaeton
Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a form of Puerto Rican and Latin American urban and Caribbean music. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European and Asian audiences. Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico but is also has roots from Reggae en Español from Panama and Puerto Rico and...
. A rift gradually formed between the CRA and the more hip-hop centered Asociación Hermanos Saíz
Asociación Hermanos Saíz
The early/initial visible roots of Hip hop in Cuba are believed to have emerged through break dance competitions or battles that were seen on the streets of Cuba. The continuous repetition of break dance battles were one of the strong channels or pioneers of the Hip Hop culture in Cuba...
. The AHS
Asociación Hermanos Saíz
The early/initial visible roots of Hip hop in Cuba are believed to have emerged through break dance competitions or battles that were seen on the streets of Cuba. The continuous repetition of break dance battles were one of the strong channels or pioneers of the Hip Hop culture in Cuba...
, however, is not a government endorsed institution, and instead a function of the Union of Young Communists. The AHS
Asociación Hermanos Saíz
The early/initial visible roots of Hip hop in Cuba are believed to have emerged through break dance competitions or battles that were seen on the streets of Cuba. The continuous repetition of break dance battles were one of the strong channels or pioneers of the Hip Hop culture in Cuba...
maintains a similar critique to that of Jessica Thurston, openly criticizing the genre at the 8th Congress of the Union of Young Communists in 2005.