Musical revolution
Stefan Christoff
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Obsesion's Magia Lopez and Alexey Rodriguez perform in Montreal
photo: Noé Sardet
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Havana hip-hop duo Obsesión talk about Afro-Cuban culture, hip-hop and Montreal
Cuban hip-hop ensemble Obsesión recently visited Montreal for a series of community concerts hosted by Nomadic Massive. As a group that celebrate their Afro-Cuban identity, the Havana-based rappers are both supportive and critical of the revolutionary Cuban government, and mix contemporary hip-hop with traditional Cuban musical traditions. They tackle key issues facing Cuban society today using Spanish lyrics.
During Obsesión's last visit to Montreal, Hour had the opportunity to speak with Obsesión's Magia Lopez and Alexey Rodriguez for the Cultural Crossroads interview series.
Hour When we think of Cuban music, we think of celebrated groups like Buena Vista Social Club. But Obsesión represents an underground sound in Havana's vibrant hip-hop scene. Can you talk about the hip-hop scene in Cuba today and its relationship to Cuban music generally?
Alexey Rodriguez Today, there isn't one Cuban identity. Cuban youth express themselves in countless ways in Havana. Around the world today people listen to classic Cuban music like salsa or son, but there are alternative cultural currents happening in Cuba, including hip-hop culture, underground rock music and punk, all of which incorporate a social message into the music. Trova Cubana, another Cuban music, also presents a deeper message and deserves more attention outside Cuba.
Personally, I never really learned about traditional Cuban dances or music. I regret this, but it reflects on my upbringing and my family. I actually
listened to American music, to funk music - groups like The Commodores, Earth, Wind & Fire. These influenced me so much and inspired me to adopt hip-hop as my passion. Of course, it is impossible to completely disconnect from Cuban music traditions, and these are also a part of Obsesión. Our Cuban influence brings something unique to our sound.
Magia Lopez Obsesión's music will not fit into a particular model or sound that pre-exists; this is what makes our sound unique in Cuba. Also our lyrics and words are more personal. They tell our stories and struggles as Cubans today. Trova Cubana music is also about reality, and address[es] issues often ignored in our society in song. [Songs are] about the difficult neighbourhoods in Cuba, issues you will not hear in a commercial song.
It is important for people to understand the magnitude of Cuban music today, and its growing diversity. Salsa is made for dancing, for example, while hip-hop addresses social and political realities. In the 1990s, hip-hop emerged in Cuba, adding another layer to alternative musical expression in Cuba.
Hour Can you describe your sound in Obsesión?
Rodriguez Obsesión will not impose limits on our music - we mix all different styles into hip-hop. We have very political tracks, or songs about simple things in our life. Certainly a focal point to our music and to our sound is the Négritude movement. This is about expressing our pride as Afro-Cubans.
Hour Why is this important? Can you explain how the Afro-Cuban identity is woven into your music?
Rodriguez Both of us in Obsesión went through a process of rediscovering our identity as Afro-Cubans. During a large part of our lives, we rejected our identity as Afro-Cubans, which is not uncommon. Hip-hop allowed us to discover our own history as Afro-Cubans, opening up a whole spectrum of knowledge that wasn't accessible at school or on TV.
Writing songs has now gone beyond the music; we research and discover different sides of Cuban and global history that relate to our identity as Afro-Cubans, and we incorporate this new knowledge into our music.
Hour Can you give an example of an Obsesión track that manifests this process of discovery about your Afro-Cuban history?
Rodriguez One song is Pelo, which is about hair, because in Cuba there is a social obsession with a certain type of hair which isn't black hair. Also there is Drume negrita, meaning "sleep little black girl," based on a song often sung as a nursery rhyme, made popular by legendary Cuban pianist Bola de Nieve. It was originally a lullaby, but we adapted it and Obsesión's version of Drume negrita expresses a declaration of principles to live by as Afro-Cubans: to respect oneself and our history.
Lopez Through our music we are trying to transmit knowledge. Actually, we hope that everything we learn in the songwriting process is passed on to the listener, particularly black consciousness and pride for all Afro-Cubans.
Hour What is the relationship between Afro-Cuban culture and the Cuban revolution?
Lopez Obsesión supports the Cuban revolution, but we also create a space for self-criticism in Cuba and to bring something new to the revolutionary process in Cuba. There is an important relationship between the black community in Cuba and the revolution. Cuba's 1959 revolution led to black people accessing many things in Cuban society that were denied to them, including education and representation in the political process. Afro-Cubans have generally benefited from the revolution, but we still need to struggle.
Revolution in Cuba is not static and Obsesión tries to move this process forward through hip-hop. We want to contribute to the revolutionary process in Cuba [by formulating and singing] constructive critiques about Cuban society today.
Hour Rap has taken hold in all corners of the world. As celebrated hip-hop artists from Cuba who regularly visit Montreal and other countries around the world, can you offer your reflections on global hip-hop culture?
Lopez Hip-hop's origins in the Bronx wasn't only an Afro-American expression, many Latin Americans, Cubans and Puerto Ricans also thrived in the Bronx and certainly influenced hip-hop's origins. In a way, hip-hop's global reach today actually reflects the [diversity of the] neighbourhood where hip-hop started.
Rodriguez Hip-hop is really a universal language. Music is universal, but hip-hop brings people together in a conscious way that is unique.
Hour As hip-hop artists from Havana who regularly perform in Montreal, what draws you to the city?
Rodriguez First we travelled to Montreal on an invitation from Nomadic Massive. Montreal has a strong feeling of community and Nomadic Massive share a similar outlook on hip-hop culture and community as we do in Havana. Coming to Montreal isn't only about the concerts but also about building ties between the hip-hop community in Havana and in Montreal.
Lopez Montreal's hip-hop community is really exciting, groups like Nomadic Massive or Kalmunity have inspired us to find collective ways to make music in Havana. In Montreal, we have always stayed in Côte-des-Neiges, so this introduced us to Montreal as a multicultural city. We live the experience every time we visit.
Rodriguez We have had the chance to travel and perform across the world - to Mexico, England, France, New York City, Venezuela, but our experiences in Montreal have been the most fruitful and inspiring for us artistically.
For more info on Obsesión, visit www.myspace.com/obsesioncuba.
