Bocafloja

Bocafloja

Bocafloja performing in New York City, 2012
Background information
Birth name Aldo Villegas
Born July 12, 1978
Origin Mexico City, Mexico
Genres Hip hop, spoken word, world
Occupation(s) Rapper, spoken word artist, poet, lecturer
Years active 1995 – present
Labels Quilomboarte
Associated acts Quilomboarte, Cambio, DJ Ethos, Para la Gente, HACHE st, Danny Hoch, SieteNueve, Actitud Maria Marta, Eternia, DJ Disco Wiz, Blitz the Ambassador, Gabriel Teodros
Website Official website

Aldo Villegas (born 12 July 1978), better known by his stage name Bocafloja, is a rapper, poet, spoken word artist, and outspoken social communicator from Mexico City, Mexico. Bocafloja began his musical career in the mid-1990s with the groups Lifestyle (1996-1998) and Microphonk (1999). As a solo artist since 2000, he released his demo EP album Lengua Insurrecta in 2002. Bocafloja burst on the Mexican hip hop scene with the release of the his debut album, Pienso Luego Existo, in 2003. Followed by the successes of Jazzyturno in 2004, A Titulo Personal in 2005, El Manual de la Otredad in 2007, and Existo: Matriz Preludio al Pienso in 2009, Bocafloja has transgressed into one of the most revered icons in the hip hop scene in Mexico. Lyrically Bocafloja critically addresses topics such as institutionalized racism, social and political oppression, mental slavery, colonialism, and other human conditions. Bocafloja's most recent album Patologías del Invisible Incómodo, released in 2012, is a concept album which narrates the experience of the body of the oppressed as a vehicle of transgression to hegemonic structures.[1] Bocafloja is projected to release by 2014, a music video for each of the albums 16 tracks.[2]

Bocafloja is recognized in Mexico as the pioneer of the utilization of hip hop culture as an alternative tool to create awareness, developing a different form for political participation that reaches and is more relevant to marginalized youth.[3] Bocafloja lives in New York city.

Biography

Early Days (1995-1999)

Bocafloja, like many other young people in Mexico, was first exposed to hip hop thanks to immigration patterns between the United States and Mexico.[4] Bocafloja was drawn to rap music from a young age even without fully understanding hip hop culture. His initial musical influences were completely varied, referencing hip hop artists from the United States, given at the time Spanish language rappers were limited if not non-existent. In 1993 groups of young people who were fans of hip hop in Mexico City began to come together at small house parties. The number of youth that were associated with the hip hop scene during the early 1990s was relatively small, most of them knowing each other personally.

In 1995 Bocafloja began to write his own rhymes but did not start recording until 1996. His first tracks were recorded in rudimentary home studios. Bocafloja's early rhymes reflected his adolescence and state of maturity, mimicking the excesses of commercialism: money, women, etc. It was not until years later as Bocafloja passed through a process of political awareness, in 1999, when the content of his lyrics dramatically changed as a natural product of personal transformation.

Professional Career (2000-Present)

In 2002 Bocalfoja released his demo EP album Lengua Insurrecta. The album, which established Bocafloja as a solo artist, represented a radical departure from his previous musical projects in his initial career with its politically infused lyric. The LP contains 6 songs and was distributed by hand and gained underground popularity by word of mouth.

2003 marked the release of Pienso Luego Existo whose subject matter struck cords among his peers and established Bocafloja with respect and following within the burgeoning hip hop community in Mexico City and beyond. With many of the tracks the artist recounts his experiences of life in the second largest metropolis in the world and critiques the political and religious systems within the country. The album spawned several hit singles which became instant classics, "Chillatown", "Los Diez Mandamientos", "Avasallando" and "Pasado, Presente, y Futuro". Bocafloja utilized the production of ED One and collaborated with fellow MC's JR (now known as Akil Ammar), SPIA, Epik and NedMan.

In 2004, Bocafloja released Jazzyturno. A departure from his previous album with jazz infused beats. Noteworthy singles include "El Día de mi Suerte" which samples Hector Lavoe's song of the same title, "Mi Gente", "Mujer Ser" and "Sector Lucido". The album features collaborations with Akil Ammar, Miguel Contreras, Skool 77, and Ximbo. Tracks are produced by Skool 77, Ed-One, Matheus Pinguim, Mother Tongue Productions, Nemezyz Beats, Nugit Productions, and Ximbo.

Bocafloja Performance, Vive Latino, Mexico, 2010

In 2005 Bocafloja released A Titulo Personal. The album, produced in grand part by Soulman, contains tracks with a soulful feel. The album contains the hit single "Tiempo", which has proven to be Bocafloja’s most famous single. The video "Tiempo" gained popularity with frequent media rotation on various cable and network channels in Mexico. A Titulo Personal features collaborations with Menuda Coincidencia, Nico Royale (Italy), and Denisse of the group Anastasias (Brazil). The album’s success gave way for Bocafloja’s to win the DJ & Clubbing Awards’ Hip Hop Artist of the Year Award 2006 in Mexico.

El Manual de la Otredad, the artist’s fourth full-length album, was released in 2007. In this album Bocafloja experiments with a new sound, utilizing stylized mainstream hip hop beats. It was the artist’s intent to juxtapose fiercely politically charged lyrics with beats that the hip hop community would deem “commercial.” The album’s singles included "Autónomo" and "Soulrebel" and contains collaborations with Malena Actitud Maria Marta (Argentina), Moyenei (Chile), Tek-One (Puerto Rico), and SieteNueve (Puerto Rico). For the album El Manual de la Otredad Bocafloja was awarded Hip Hop Album of the Year 2008 by the Indie-O Awards in Mexico.[5] The album has also been the subject of several academic studies and research projects in the United States and Latin America for its poetic contribution and connection with political processes.

Bocafloja performance, Festival de las Resistencias, Mexico City, 2010

Existo: Matriz Preludio al Pienso, released in 2009, was the first album Bocafloja wrote and released after moving to the United States in 2008. Existo’s sound is reminiscent of early 1990s classic hip hop albums with its jazz influenced beats—a trademark of Bocafloja. The album’s content does not cease to push the envelope with Bocafloja’s politically infused lyric, but Existo stands out among previous albums with its sophisticated poetic discourse. The majority of the tracks are produced by Nuff Ced (Puerto Rico), Yallzee (Puerto Rico), and Jim B (Spain). Bocafloja collaborates with classic global hip hop artists, such as Afu-Ra, Velco (Puerto Rico), Hache ST (Dominican Republic) and Cambio from the group Para la Gente, with whom Bocafloja has formed an artistic alliance. "Quilombo" and "Las Estaciones", which was produced by Hexsagon, are the album’s top singles.

In 2012, Bocafloja released Patologías del Invisible Incómodo.[6] In this album, Bocafloja deals with the concept of the body as a vehicle of transgression toward hegemony. It is a project that speaks about the invisibility of people of color and the discomfort that individuals cause in certain settings. The album is composed of 16 soul and jazz infused beats with profound, insightful, and always critical lyricism.[7] The artist's website is quoted as stating, "Patologías del Invisible Incómodo" is a concept album, where the interconnection & interdependence of each track signifies and globalizes a musical and discursive experience. It is not about a collection of singles".[8] In this album, Bocafloja features collaborations with his fellow Quilomboarte collective, Cambio, Hache ST, Michelle Ricardo and Fabian Villegas, as well as Moyenei, Favi, Gabriel Teodoros, Siaira Harris, Alexandra Blakely, Guerrilla Queenz, Hollis Wong, R.E.A.L.I.D.A.D., and Indee Styla. Tracks are produced by Jim B, Danny B, Best Quality, Vnerable, Andino, Hexsagon, BeanOne, Kajmir, SK1, and Aaron Moore.

Bocafloja has shared the stage with such artists as Dead Prez, Afu-Ra, Ozomatli, MV Bill (Brazil), J-Live, Freestyle Fellowship, Immortal Technique, K'naan, Rascalz, Intifada (Puerto Rico), Actitud Maria Marta (Argentina), and SieteNueve (Puerto Rico), among others.[9]

Personal life

Bocafloja does not comment on the details of his personal life. He has maintained his private life out of the public eye.

Social and political views

Bocafloja understands the inherent political nature of hip hop, as a musical genre born out of marginalized communities worldwide. For that reason he utilizes his musical and literary careers as a manifestation of resistance and political participation.[10] Bocafloja's lyrics harshly critique the oppressive nature of capitalism and first world imperialism. He has been influenced by Black and Brown political struggles throughout history. Bocafloja has been connected with several political organizations that support emancipatory and anti-colonial struggles.

Discography

Solo Albums

Bocafloja accepts Indie-O Award, 2008

Compilation Albums

Awards

Videography

References

  1. ↑ Macchia, Amanda. "Bocafloja- "Memoria" (Official Video)". Nomadic Wax. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
  2. ↑ "Video: Bocafloja – Memoria". The Find Magazine. Retrieved 2012-06-19. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  3. ↑ "Expresan sus ideas con el rap". Diario de Yucatan. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  4. ↑ León Bernal, Oscar (September 8, 2007). "Bocafloja: Un MC Internacionalista y el Desarrollo del Hip-Hop en México". NY ReMezcla. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
  5. ↑ "Indie-O Music Awards, 2008". Retrieved 2009-08-27.
  6. ↑ Feloarias. "BOCAFLOJA, MUY FLOJA PARA HABLAR POR EL OPRIMIDO". Redbull.Panamericana.FM. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  7. ↑ Teodros, Gabriel. "Bocafloja "Patologias del Invisible Incomodo"". GabrielTeodros.com. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
  8. ↑ "Patologias del Invisible Incomodo". Quilomboarte. Retrieved 2012-06-19. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  9. ↑ "Bocafloja Official Website". Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  10. ↑ Buitre, Alberto (2012-10-25). "El rapero Bocafloja habla de México, la revolución, y su música". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 19 November 2012.

External links