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 Spanish Hip-Hop
article 0015 added 27.07.00 words Caballo Locco for ukhh.com
THE SPANISH SEEN
7 Notas 7 Colores
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Does it exist??? Hell yeah, even though you gotta keep in mind that things still aren't exactly full blown. If you wanna talk numbers , for example, a 15000 copy-selling cd is a big hit 4 most hiphop artists (can't get mo' undaground dan dat, ha); although when it comes to the amount of performers in the biz (and their quality) things be taking care of. This was visible, for instance, in the Violadores del Verso (a saragossa based cru) '99 collabo with non other than the perveted monk himself: Jeru da Damaja. A comparable flow in a joint like this woulda been unthinkable just a few years back. These recent conections may help to both back up our scene and to get it a bit of international recognition. Cos after all if you're doin' ya thang from Spain its almost impossible to get any attention outside these borders. It is also true that a Spainish hiphopper is as ignorant to what's being done in Europe as an average European Hip Hop head is completely oblivious to what's been going done in Spain; people tend to believe that there's noting happening here (i've seen some hilarious articles) but to neglect this scene would be a big error. So that takes me to the part where I explain the evolution of this movement (in a rather simplistic way):
Something resembling a hiphop scene has in fact existed since the mid eighties. Graf, break and mcing had a pretty large media backup (maybe more than now) but the scene wasn't really established at all. A lot of people were just passing by ( you know acting all trendy about it) and the industry tried 2 fiddle with the culture by bringing out weak and commercial products (mostly stupid recompilations); the few real acts were on the selling outta the trunk of by car level. The 'scene' rapidly broke up; By the early nineties the movement was shut down and outta bidness. Only a few true followers were left.
That is why 1994 was a sort of milestone for the movement: el Club de los Poetas Violentos (since '98 they're known as CPV) released something like a thunderstorm compared to the emptiness felt before. Their 1st LP Madrid Zona Bruta cleared da way for real hh albums and independent labels. Actually their label back then Yo Gano was the only one; that LP let them create Zona Bruta (Recordings) which would later on sign some of the best acts in the country. Their record was indeed essential for the establishment of the movement but it did leave a lot of space for improvement (on various levels).
The 1996 La Saga Continua (from CPV) was a good album; it had better production quality and served to set record sales (for Spanish hip hop) at around 20000 copies (plus their late I998 album would confirm them as the 1st supergroup of the scene). But this time they weren't left alone: from that year till now, the number of a new acts(or old who have finally gotten into the public eye) has been increasing. SFDK (from Seville), La Mala (wicked female MC outta Cordoba), Frank T (whom we'll talk about latter) and Nach Scratch (from Alicante) are some of them.
Continuing wit the evolution thingy: '97 saw important events La Caceria: a track included in a maxi-single by CPV ( big up to Mr Rango and by man Paco) that quite possibly (thanks to it's video and it's radio popularity) became the 1st big hit for this movement. Although the true star of that year was 7Notas7Colores (Barcelona located trio). Their 1st CD Hecho es Simple was a tremendous hit. Their fresh and indeed wicked sound (crafted by Dive Dibosso) counted with a solid reputation in the streets and they also received an unusual amount of props from the media. It's 30000 copies enabled their lead MC, Mucho Muchacho to start a label, La Madre, inside Yo Gano( the groups label). The scenes 1st superstar was born.
1998 was absolutely of the 'big' years: Avoid, the third major hiphop label was created (in Valencia). It would soon sign Jazz Two (a jazz hiphop band, from Madrid) and Solo los Solo; this last cru (comin outta the Barcelona area) released that year, Retorno al Principio: simply one of the best albums ever made in this here country. Juan Solo + Dj Grifi brought for the 1st time an innovative (and elegant) flamenco-rumba flow incorporated into some funky ass beats. But before all that one of the Madrid pioneers, Frank T (founding and ex member of CPV) had released his 2nd album and started to co-host (with CPV's Dj Jota) El Rimadero 1st nationally broadcast radio-show; becoming a sort of spokesperson for the whole movement.
7Notas7Colores dominated '99 with they're 2nd cd which included NYC-BCN a surprising ( and really good too) collabo with Company Flow. Ari (Dominicans inda house) released a nasty and raw LP that assured her crown as queen of the movement as see was the 1st female MC to get on a record (on a member of CPV, Meswy's, solo album).
As for 2 triple 0; it has seen an overwhelming number of nice LPs. For example CPV's Jotamayuzcula's wicked solo project and from OPP's album (with the outstanding Doble H and Dave Bee (Jazz Two cru) and K-Seo (one the country's best MCs and a member of Violadores del Verso). The recent improvement in the whole artistic quality is noteworthy. The production and mastering has a global almost acceptable level; most of the artists record that can, record at least part of their projects abroad in Paris or NY.
C.P.V.
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Looking towards the new millennium I'd say that this movements roots are healthy, so what's left is the growing. Its like the scene isn't tight, but it has to be getting there cos for the last 6 years progress has been enormous. The 4 elements have been charged up with the support of a growing number of true souljas (graf, for example has reached a level comparable 2 any other place).
Shit, even fash is getting well kept too with brands like Broncoestilo (conected with whom other than CPV) producing phat wear.
Hopefully the common Spaniard will be forced to see hiphop as a familiar thang soon.
The journey is long and for us, it has only just begun....
Words by Caballo Locco with the inestimable help of MC Oily Oil
Addendum by spoon:
There's probably a few Spanish HipHop sites out there but here's one I found:
http://www.cuatrogrados.com/muevelo/
7Notas7Colores have their own site at 7n7c.com
(but it's Flash so won't work through the translator)
Mucho Mu appeared on DJ Vadim's USSR:Life From The Other Side album, out now on Ninja Tune
Kool Arrow distribute 7N7C material in America and CDNow and Amazon both stock the latest CD
and if you need a translator I recommend translator.go.com
 
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