Cuban Link
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cuban Link | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Felix Delgado | |
| Also known as | Cuban Link | |
| Born | 1974 | |
| Origin | Havana, Cuba | |
| Genre(s) | Hip hop | |
| Years active | 1997 – present | |
| Website | www.cubanlinkonline.com | |
Felix Delgado (born 1974), known by stage name Cuban Link, is a rapper best known for his former membership in the group Terror Squad, his friendship with Latin rapper Big Pun, and his problems with rapper Fat Joe.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
In 1980 Cuban's father emigrated from Cuba to the United States, eventually settling in the New York City borough of the Bronx. Despite a language barrier, Cuban adapted quickly to his surroundings. He spent only one year in bilingual classes, Cuban Link quickly learned English, and was immediately influenced by early hip-hop culture. Cuban began writing lyrics at the age of 15 and became friends with fellow Latin rappers Triple Seis and Big Punisher. Soon after, he met Triple Seis and Big Punisher, his future partners in rhyme, and everything snapped into place. "We clicked like brothers," Cuban remembers fondly. Like blood relatives, they had each others backs as they tried to storm the rap game Full a Clips Crew . When he hooked up with the Terror Squad under Fat Joe, a neighborhood acquaintance everyone hoped could launch them, Pun looked out for Cuban and Seis. "Pun could appreciate Joe for bringing him along as his hypeman, but I appreciate Pun for bringing me along," says Cuban. "Pun used to do shows with Joe for $50, then turn around and give me $20." More importantly, he refocused Cuban when hed lost interest in rhymes following his stabbing and hospitalization in 1994.
Together they made waves in the hip-hop community, meriting respect from lyrical heavyweights like Nas, who quoted their lyrics back to them when they first met. First heard alongside Pun on the Beatnuts smash "Off the Books" in 1997, Cuban subsequently cultivated buzz with memorable appearances on Puns platinum Capital Punishment ("Glamour Life"), Fat Joes Don Cartagena ("Bet Ya Man Cant (Triz)") and the eponymous Terror Squad LP ("Tell Me What You Want").
[edit] Solo career
This is obviously from a press release: When Pun died suddenly on February 7, 2000, everything fell apart. "Flowers for the Dead", Cubans premier solo single and tribute to his immense partner, couldn't begin to relate the loss. Without Pun to mediate, Cuban began butting heads with Joe over managerial decisions and his Atlantic Records debut, 24K, was shelved. Ultimately he bought his way out from under both, and retreated to launch his solo career properly. Around the same time, Cuban was sliced in the face at a popular New York night club. Having regrouped and resurfaced with independent MOB Records (Men of Business), Cuban views his revamped debut, "Chain Reaction", which was released on the August 16, 2005 as an opportunity to make things right and fulfill a promise to Pun and Seis. Once collectively known as the Full-A-Clips crew, and also the Caribbean Connection, they swore theyd become the first Cuban, Puerto Rican (Pun) and Dominican (Seis) rappers to go platinum. "The dream lives on," says Cuban. "Pun took care of his job, now we gotta do ours."
Cuban is also a subject with a collaboration with Don Omar for their Reggaeton hit "Scandalous".
[edit] Discography
- 24K (shelved)
- Chain Reaction
