Pescozada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pescozada | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Chalatenango, El Salvador |
| Genre(s) | Rap Hardcore |
| Years active | 1998 — present |
| Label(s) | The Assembly Line |
| Associated acts | Joaquin Santos, Mecate, Poeta DeMente, Omnionn |
| Website | pescozada.com |
| Members | |
| Debil Estar, Fat Lui, Omnionn | |
| Former members | |
| Poeta DeMente | |
Pescozada is a hip-hop group formed in Chalatenango, El Salvador. They usually rap in Spanish, sometimes throwing in bits of English like "Yeah" "Uh-huh" or "Hip hop", and use an extreme amount of Caliche. Their name, which used to refer to an honor given to a knight by royalty, literally means "slap" or "punch" (usually in the face) in modern Spanish. They are also well-known throughout El Salvador for rapping about topics like the country's political situation, its problems, and its civil war.
Contents |
[edit] History
Pescozada was formed it 1998 by two rappers, Luis Escobar (Fat Lui) and Cesar Diaz Alvarenga (Debil Estar), who were longtime friends and both hip hop enthusiasts. They grew up in the darkest times of El Salvador, when the civil war was happening and their department, Chalatenango, was facing the most violence. Unlike many other rappers they do not rap about the usual drugs and sex but rap about social topics such as gangs (however they do not express any allegiance to any specific ones), politics, and the future of El Salvador. The addition of Salvadoran hip hop and electronica producer, Omnionn, has elevated music production to unprecedented levels in the Latin hip-hop scene. Their music (both lyrics and melodies) is much heavier and darker than common Latin hip-hop, and the lyrics are usually more fast-paced.
[edit] Diaz Ozkuros en el Barrio
In 2002, they released their first album, "Diaz Oskuros en el Barrio". In 2003, they released a compilation called "El Klan de la Diskordia-La Primera Reunion". This compilation featured themselves and other great rappers of Central America, particularly from El Salvador. They have worked with many artists such as Mecate, Apollo 11 and Frost from Sindicato Argentino Del Hip Hop, Mi'ky y El As (Spain), and most of their fellow Salvadoran rappers, like Robwest and Reyes del Bajo Mundo.
[edit] Dialectos Nativos
In 2004, Pescozada released "Dialectos Nativos" with Salvadoran-American rapper Joaquin Santos. It had a tremendous influence in first and second generation Salvadorans throughout North America. They also claim those immigrants once again started speaking "el dialecto" (Salvadoran Spanish) and this helped them retain their proud traditions as the Salvadoran people, despite the oppression and poverty they faced in the countries they immigrated from.[1] This album also speaks heavily about the Salvadoran civil war, which can be heard on songs like "Cielo Gris".
Both "Diaz Oskuros en el Barrio" and "Dialectos Nativos" were released with the three original members of Pescozada: Fat Lui, Debil Estar, and another rapper by the name of Poeta Demente (Mario Arteaga). Arteaga has since left the group for unexplained reasons. "El Teatro Plebeyo" was released with Pescozada being a duo (Debíl Estar & Fat Lui) but under the musical, technical, and marketing supervision of US-based producer Omnionn. In 2007 Pescozada became officially a trio once again with the incorporation of Omnionn as a member, according to their official website.
[edit] El Teatro Plebeyo
In August 2005, Pescozada released their first label-backed release titled "El Teatro Plebeyo". The CD contains 17 tracks true to the group's ideology and political points of view. The record also contains collaborations with well-respected acts in the international hip-hop scene such as Frost from Sindicato Argentino del Hip Hop (2001 Grammy Winners), San Francisco Bay Area's Sean T (Producer for Mac Dre, E-40, Spice 1, San Quinn, Guce, Planet Asia, and others), Santos, Apolo 11, Reyes del Bajo Mundo, Salaya, Mic'ky y El As (Spain), and Robwest.
The album served not only as an international showcase for group, but as a point of reference for Central American hip-hop to this day. Pescozada gained radio airplay in many markets outside of El Salvador where Salvadoran communities can be found, especially in the US and Canada.
[edit] Other claims to fame
Pescozada is also famous for its worldwide collaborations with producers including Smoothcut, March the 5th, Sean T, and DJ Moon. They are currently feuding with a reggaeton group called Heavy Clan from San Miguel and released a diss (disrespect recording) called "Relaciones Diplomaticas" featuring Santos. A sample of the song can be found here.
Debil Estar has made a solo EP called "Debildades", released on August 6th, 2006, featuring 11 tracks that can be downloaded for free from the group's website. He also has a radio hip-hop show in Salvadoran radio station YXY 105.7 FM every tuesday 7-9 PM (Central American Standard Time|-6 GTM), which can also be heard through the internet on the radio station's website http://www.yxy.com.sv
Pescozada is currently working on their new album for 2008 from which they have released two preview tracks: "Si lo quieres" feat. Spanish hip hop duo Dos Hermanos, and "Anarquia". The last mentioned song has raised controversy amongst media outlets in El Salvador, mainly for the use of current Salvadoran President Antonio Saca's voice as part of the lyrical content. The song has raised questions regarding freedom of expression in El Salvador, which traditionally has been easily silenced in the small Central American nation. "Anarquia" has only found a handful of left-wing radio stations willing to air it since most main stream radio stations have allegedly censured the song.
