Orishas

Hooray for Cuban hip-hop! It's about time. Orishas deliver a fabulous collection of Salsa-infused rap that rocks with national pride and infectious choruses. The title track hits hard, and several songs pay homage to the Afro-Cuban deities for which the band's named. Tough and innovative, it's a promising debut.

Until now, attempts to translate the quirks of hip-hop into the Spanish vernacular have
been mostly unsuccessful, because of the lack of a coherent concept. Orishas, a
collective of Cuban expatriates currently based in France, have finally found one: The four
members rap, sure, but deep inside they're still salseros with a serious weakness for the
sinuous spice of son montuno piano lines, the comforting darkness of Yoruba rel... More >