Comments on: “Grito de Dolores…”

By: Wasatch Son

Wasatch Son — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:54:20 +0000

I just recently came across BB while at best buy and I will admit, it was their album artwork that initially caught my eye. (DOPE layout) I am Chicano to the bone and I did see that these brothers were also ‘latino’ at the very least and so i decided to give em a shot & I copped it. To my delight, it is one of the most enjoyable listens I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing lately. From the poignant albeit sometimes elementary, (yet entertaining), lyrics and delivery to the boom bap production mixed with some hard hittin’ west coast flavor-I wanna high five these vatos for actually bringing something to the table in this stale, watered down “rap” game. I LOVE hip hop. I HATE rap though. The powers that be have produced this kind of mentality and I appreciate BRWN BFLO for the revitalizing contribution to the culture and over all solid representation for Chicano’s WORLDWIDE!
Orale fellas.
Keep up the good work and I’ll pass the word about ya’ll over here in my neck of the woods!
UnO!!!

By: Mr. Wednesday

Mr. Wednesday — Mon, 25 May 2009 01:59:35 +0000

I was at the Uptown show too. First off, Bambu killed it. I really liked his set. And I can see what he’s saying about it being the release party-jump off-celebration-get crazy-vibe. But the result was not necessarily nice on the ears. I left the spot feeling like I still really hadn’t heard their music yet. I’m looking forward to hearing them on record to see what they actually sound like.

By: Masllena

Masllena — Wed, 20 May 2009 06:48:02 +0000

Personally, I think BB has raised the bar higher, although at superficial glance it may not appear that way. I do not personally know BB, but I know of them from their work in the community and I was at their recent album release show where they got the crowd moving at one of the biggest crowds I’ve ever seen at the Uptown. As an educator in the Bay Area of 10+ years and a fan of hip-hop in general, I see that their approach to this music business is not typical. From an educational standpoint, I respect their effort to educate and entertain: making music that appeals to young people and then using it as a platform to discuss (literally in workshops and pre/post show forums) complex and real issues in the lives (and those impacting the lives) of youths in the Bay Area and beyond. Not only do they foster real dialog around issues, they work to help youths learn how to organize themselves to exact change in what they see around them. This is not the norm and is much more dynamic than just making and marketing good music. You could effectively argue that there are cliches and contradictions in their music, but for me it doesn’t detract from the work they do on campuses and with youths when they are not performing. Look at their upcoming shows and its diverse and rooted in activism and community. For me, I see young men and women every day deeply invested in music that doesn’t make them better or more informed people and they’re finding BB and being turned onto histories and cultural awareness on a whole different level, and that is not something I generally say about much of the music that is currently marketed at them. Props to BB.

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 19 May 2009 07:21:21 +0000

im kinda biased on this matter cause julio aka somos one was a mentor for me in high school, but to me the whole cd was a breath of fresh air. im from oakland and errthing u hear is either gangsta rap or hyphy but most of the rappers are black and you relate to them to a degree but for somebody thats proud of my mexican roots this is a cd i could relate to. yall should check out there music video “the reapppearance” on youtube

By: dj franchise

dj franchise — Mon, 18 May 2009 04:22:07 +0000

@MDUBB – I hear you. I must say that I am stuck on the task of offering a better group but I’ll do my research.

@ Krish – Thanks for the welcoming mind and open discussion. I was going to say that you, Corey, and any other blog peeps in the Bay should meet up to discuss hip-hop, our sites, and such. Maybe a dinner before one of my gigs. Hip-Hop bloggers gotta stick together (c) Chappelle.

By: Fred Anker

Fred Anker — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:23:01 +0000

TH3 4 PRESIDENT

By: misterchane

misterchane — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:35:52 +0000

good post…
great break down of Latino rap cliches
as a SoCal native – Nor Cal has always fascinated me
(Af Am, Latino and Pinoy/PI artists)
smaller land mass/port city =better melting point ?
I’m a bit more of a Sick Symphonies/Immortal Technique kind of guy
these dudes make me think of the way poppier cousin of the Farmer’s Market of the Beast off the Beneath the Surface compilation
BRWN BFLO sound like a new group to me – more power to them

By: Bambu

Bambu — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:07:47 +0000

@djfranchise
I’m not going to jump on you for speaking your mind, but I do think you need to check out more sets from these brothers. The show you saw, which I was at as well, was their release party — so the energy and flow of the set was executed with that as the backdrop. It was a show for family and friends to wild out to (which is why all the homies were on stage). I appreciate your ability to open up on the matter, but please come out see these brothers next time a flyer lands in your lap, homie!

BFLO movement in effect…

Serve The People: BAMBU
http://www.bambu.la

By: Krish

Krish — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:32:23 +0000

Hey all!

Thanks for the comments, and please add more. My job is to introduce, your job is to break down, and even DJ Franchise’s criticisms were valid and appreciated :) It’s easy for us locals to be critical to Bay Area music/performances since we’re so close in proximity, but like MDUBB, Baby Paw, Bsl_01 and P.S.A. said, people first have to be aware that these alternatives exist before we fully judge what is relevant to our own tastes or not.

In my own opinion, anything with a message is a great start regarding representation, but fans will always be the judge of what has longevity and mass appeal. Don’t let this be the final comment…discuss!

peace
Krish

By: MDUBB

MDUBB — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:53:33 +0000

@DJ Franchise
Your opinion is most def justified. But you do what most do in this context, you didn’t provide an alternative, ie a link to some other dope groups in the same vein as BRWN BFLO.
I personally liked what I heard, so if theirs something better don’t just down them and bounce. I’m a hip-hop fan from Florida living in Italy, so I’m not in the bay area attending the shows that you are attending. So help out genuine hip-hop fans and provide a link to something better or otherwise it’s just a wasted statement. Peace