Who are your favourite Spanish-speaking artists?
I quite like Rosalía, especially her newer music. I have heard people say she is guilty of cultural appropriation, but I’m unclear on the whole story there, and my Spanish is not good enough to understand all her lyrics (i.e. if the reactionary lyrics are obvious but I’m missing their meaning).
Ana Tijoux is good, too. Revolutionary-adjacent music, so far as I can work out. She is French-Chilean. Her parents had to flee Pinochet.
Any revolutionary artists I should try? Hip hop or rap especially. Immortal Technique is great but there’s generally too much English in his songs to use them to improve my Spanish.
I have a lot of music recommendations. What kind of music do you like?
Thank you.
Hip Hop and rap mainly. Preferably radical / pro-communist / pro-revolution.
In English, I’d happily listen to a few artists on repeat: Tupac, Dead Prez, Immortal Technique, Akala, Stormzy, Wu-Tang Clan, Bambu.
Some pop music is good, too. Probably not boybands, though. I quite like Tove Lo if you know of a Spanish-singing equivalent?
I’d also listen to Shakira, Christina Aguilera, or Karol G, but they’re lyrics aren’t exactly political. Maybe there’s some political reguetón?
Okay, here are some of my recommendations of artists and songs, I hope you like them!
Los Chikos del Maiz (LCDM): This group is characterized by acid lyrics, in which sarcasm is intertwined with literary, cinematographic, political and popular culture references. Its members, Toni Mejias and Nega, have declared themselves Marxists and anti-fascists, both through their songs and in different interviews. Personal recommendation: La Estanquera de Saigon (Lyrics)
Mala Praxis: It was a hip hop group from Zaragoza that did political rap, like LCDM. Personal recommendation: Esclavos (Lyrics)
Erick Hervé: He is a very underrated Valencian rapper and considered one of the best lyricists of his city. He does not rap politically, but in many of his songs he adopts an anti-racist and anti-fascist stance. Personal recommendation: Reggie (Lyrics)
Bejo: He’s one of the most extravagant, complex and original Canarian artists in Spanish rap (in fact, his logo is literally a drawing of a penis). Although he doesn’t rap politically, he usually makes references to communist figures and criticizes capitalism, consumerism, and also criticizes pretentious artists. Personal recommendation: La Pipa del Aguacate (Lyrics) and La Florinata (Lyrics)
Toteking: It’s considered by many the best rapper in Spain. He has been rapping for a long time and has very complex verses and makes very interesting references. He is openly anti-capitalist and has very harsh criticisms against consumerism and the more “mainstream” rappers. Personal recommendation: Sota, Caballo y Yo. (Lyrics)
Las Ninyas del Corro: It’s a group of Spanish female rappers, strongly influenced by the American rap of the 90s. The group is composed by Felina Vallejo and Laura Bonsai. Both are from working class backgrounds, they’re feminist, and have publicly supported anti-fascist artists. Personal recommendation: L.N.D.C. (Lyrics)
Gata Cattana: She was a rapper who mixed poetry with rap and flamenco. She was a feminist, Marxist, and anti-globalist and her themes delved into dialectical materialism, existentialism and the Spanish political scene. She died at an early age due to severe anaphylactic shock. She died just after finishing “Banzai”, his most outstanding postumous work. She has inspired other artists such as Las Ninyas del Corro. Personal recommendation: The entire Banzai album
Pablo Hasel: He is a Marxist-Leninist rapper who is currently imprisoned for rapping against the Spanish monarchy, NATO, and for supporting the IRA and GRAPO. Personally I have to say that I am not a big fan of his rap, but his political rap is one of the most transgressive in Spain and his imprisonment was very controversial. I’m pretty sure that many of you here will like his old songs. Personal recommendation: Malcolm X
Los Chikos del Maiz (LCDM): This group is characterized by acid lyrics, in which sarcasm is intertwined with literary, cinematographic, political and popular culture references. Its members, Toni Mejias and Nega, have declared themselves Marxists and anti-fascists, both through their songs and in different interviews. Personal recommendation: La Estanquera de Saigon (Lyrics)
I spotted the Berri Txarrak t-shirt in that video! Can I do a follow up request for recommendations for Basque songs/artists if you have any?
