Hip-hop duo Los Rakas proud of their Latino roots

Source by John Benson

Doing whatever feels right in the moment is often easier said than done.
However, for the better part of the last decade, Oakland’s Los Rakas has been doing just that, turning heads with its unique mélange – hip-hop, plena, soul, reggae and dancehall – of music that bounces between Spanish and English lyricism.

Featuring cousins Raka Rich and Raka Dun, the bilingual rap and reggae duo was recently named as one of the first Latin artists – alongside 3BallMT­– to join the Honda Civic Tour, which will be on the road for the next month.

Read more.

Latin Grammy "Tangos" - Rubén Blades

[VIDEO] Pitbull's Latino-themed jokes at the American Music Awards not appreciated

Source by Fox News Latino

Pitbull brought some Latino flavor when he took the stage to host the American Music Awards for the second consecutive year. But for some viewers, the Miami rapper left a sour taste in their mouths.
The show started with a burst of energy thanks to Taylor Swift’s on fire, almost literally, performance of “Blank Space,” but when the Cuban-American rapper took the stage for his intro, it just fell flat “Mr. Worldwide” spent a good portion of his introductory monologue with Latino-themed jokes including poking fun at President Obama’s recent immigration action.

“Now, you all know I’m Cuban, but remember America, not all Latinos are Mexican,” Pitbull said. “We got everybody here tonight – black, white, pink, purple, orange, Asian, Latino – and guess what, President Obama said we can all stay. God Bless America.”

Read more.

Watch the video

 

Edward Furlong: The unknown Latino badboy of Hollywood

Source by Tony Castro

There was a time when teen actor Edward Furlong, who played the heroic young savior John Connor in “Terminator 2: Judgement Day,” was being called one of Hollywood’s future leading men, the likes of a Leonardo DiCaprio or Brad Pitt.

He was 15, a teen heartthrob, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s younger half in a billion-dollar action movie franchise of mankind’s war against machines, and celebrated with a slew of awards attesting to his precocious brilliance and tremendous promise.
Had it been common knowledge that the dreamy-eyed Furlong was Mexican on his mother’s side, Hispanics who helped make the “Terminator” franchise a worldwide blockbuster would have been hailing him as the American Latino major Hollywood star who might open the gates in Tinseltown. Read more.

Latin Grammys 2014: Rubén Blades wins Best Tango Album

Source by Martin Chilton

Rubén Blades's new album Tango wins a Latin Grammys award, and there are wins for Enrique Iglesias and Placido Domingo.

Rubén Blades won his fifth Latin Grammys awards last night for his new album Tango.

Enrique Iglesias, Calle 13, Placido Domingo, Niña Pastori and the late flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia, were also winners

Blades spoke recently about the benefits of choosing tango over salsa.

Tango was also nominated for album of the year and the 66-year-old from Panama City said: "People probably have to rub their eyes and say, 'What, Ruben Blades in the tango category?' I was surprised because you never know about Grammy nominations. My album Siembra, arguably the biggest seller in the history of salsa, never got nominated for a Grammy. Read more.

Ruben Blades Tangos His Way to Latin Grammys

Source by CHARLES J. GANS

Ruben Blades says he never imagined his CD "Tangos" would be nominated for a Latin Grammy.

Instead, it's up for two ? album of the year and best tango album.

"People probably have to rub their eyes and say, 'What, Ruben Blades in the tango category?' I was surprised because you never know about Grammy nominations. My album 'Siembra,' arguably the biggest seller in the history of salsa, never got nominated for a Grammy," said the 66-year-old Blades, who has won four Latin Grammys and six Grammys.

Read more.

Univision searches for ultimate Latino boy band

Source by Juan Fernandez Gonzalez

Univision Communications has opened online auditions to select the first participants for La Banda, a reality TV show developed by the US Hispanic network, Fremantle Media Latin America and Syco Entertainment.

La Banda aims to create the world's ultimate Latino boy band via a massive search in the US. Contestants will compete for a place in a band called La Banda and for a coveted recording contract with the Sony Music Latin label (home to many Latin music artists) along with Simon Cowell's Syco Music, One Direction's record label.

"I'm very excited about this show. There is a huge amount of talent out there and La Banda is going to give five guys the opportunity of a lifetime," commented Simon Cowell.

"We are proud to start the search for the next great Latino boy band," added Alberto Ciurana, president for programming and content at Univision Communications. "There is vast talent in our community and with La Banda we will find and launch the next generation of musical superstars."

The first phase of the auditions will take place online, with interested parties submitting information to the site LaBandaoficial.com. The best contestants will receive a ticket to take part in a private audition in front of the production team. The online casting will be followed by casting events across the United States and Puerto Rico in the spring of 2015.

"The launch of Labandaoficial.com is the first step in what I know will be more than a television show but a life-changing experience for many young talents, and one that will change the Latin music industry," said Alejandra Espinoza, who will be the host of the Univision show.

Rubén Blades & The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

Demi Lovato Says Her Latino Roots Changed How She Views Her Body

Source by Carolina Moreno

 

Demi Lovato is no stranger to body image issues -- but the singer says her Latino roots are one reason she learned to love her curves.

A seemingly bare-faced Lovato, 22, graces the cover of Glam Belleza Latina’s winter issue. The “Neon Lights” singer spoke to the magazine about the importance of “self-care,” her new skin care collection and how her Latin background has impacted the way she views her body. Read more.

Top 10 bestselling books by Latino authors

Source by Veronique de Miguel

Want to stay on top of your Latino literature? Well here is the list of bestselling Latino authors in the US that have taken the top 10 spots in the last month. The great thing is most of these selections are printed in both Spanish and English editions for your reading enjoyment.

Here is the list.

Disney's 'McFarland, USA' Tackles Latino Themes With Inspiring True Story

Source by Carolina Moreno

For decades Disney has suffered from a dearth of real Latino stories, but the studio seems to be changing that with “McFarland, USA.”

The upcoming movie is inspired by a 1987 true story and follows a group of Latino students in a California farming town who, with the help of their P.E. teacher Jim White (Kevin Costner), build their high school’s first cross-country team. The boys run into a series of issues on and off the track but learn to band together to prevail.

“This is a farming town. These kids working here are invisible. They come from the fields and they go back to the fields,” is how the film’s trailer, released last week, opens. Right from the start audiences know this sports drama will not only follow the vein of its inspiring predecessors (think “Field Of Dreams,” also starring Costner), but will deal with social issues that are a reality for many Latino children who are migrant workers. 

Read more.

Watch the trailer.

Latinas For Latino Lit: 'Remarkable' Children's Books of 2014

Source by Sandra Lilley

It's the holiday season and the end of the year, with its accompanying "best of" lists, including book lists. Viviana Hurtado and Monica Olivera, the creators of Latinas For Latino Lit (L4LL), have compiled the Remarkable Latino Children's Literature of 2014, a wonderful collection of Latino-themed books, many of them written and illustrated by Hispanic authors and artists.

L4LL's mission is to boost literacy among U.S. Latino children through initiatives such as their summer reading program while showcasing Latinos' cultural, literary and artistic contributions.

Much of the beautifully written and illustrated Latino children's books are not front and center on traditional book lists, and L4LL hopes their list spurs parents and educators - as well as publishers, sellers and reviewers - to showcase these works. Read more.

Rubén Blades Sings His Way Into Discovery

Source by NPR STAFF

Rubén Blades is one of the great salsa singers in the world. He also happens to be a composer, an actor, an activist and a man who's run for president of Panama. He lost that election, but became that country's Minister of Tourism.

His latest album, Tangos, has been nominated for two Latin Grammys: Album of the Year and Best Tango Album. On the record, Blades turns some of his well-known salsa repertoire into tango music with the help of Argentine composer Carlos Franzetti.

"I was always interested in trying to find how different genres would affect the lyrics that I'd written," Blades says. "Salsa is where most of my songs have been recorded, the genre of salsa. It's very frenetic, fast-paced. And I felt that the lyrics sometimes were being lost. I wanted to see how the lyrics would react under a tango type of structure, which is more reflexive."

Blades says the tango versions, slower and more atmospheric, have led him to understand his songs in a new way. There's also been a less pleasant surprise: "Some people have told me, 'Oh, I didn't realize that you could sing, actually,' which is kind of distressing to hear after 40 years."

Hear the rest of the conversation at the audio link, including Blades' plan for a potential presidential bid in 2019 and a tender moment he shared with his father while listening to the album's last song, "Tiempos."

Bodega Bamz Reps for His Latin Culture With “El Rey"

Source by @swishthis.

Bodega Bamz sets the internet ablaze with his new single – “El Rey.”

Riding off the success of his 2012 mixtape, Strictly 4 My P.A.P.I.Z., the New York-bred, half-Dominican/half-Puerto-Rican rapper Bodega Bamz dropped his newest single to rave reviews from his fans.
El-Rey”gives a taste of Bodega’s forthcoming debut album, Sidewalk Exec. With its modest but clean production value, the track harkens back to an older era of hip hop, when simple beats and efficient hooks underscored vivid lyricism.
Bodega has won his growing throng of followers with a gritty flow and authentic references rooted in Latin culture.  His unabashed pride for his heritage and inner city upbringing resonates deeply with his working class disciples. He tells tales of his street life with aimless braggadocio and an el barrio twang.
O
ften comparing himself to a Christ-like persona, like in his video for “P.A.P.I.,” which places him an allegorical scene from the Last Supper, Bodega clearly reckons himself to be a god among men.  We’ve seen his brand of pseudo-divinity before from the likes of Kanye and Nas. Although he’s far from taking the throne based off his lyrics alone, his perspective fills a gaping hole for Latino representation in hip hop

Latin Grammys 2014: Marc Anthony, Carlos Vives, Juanes, Rubén Blades

                                                          Source by Melissa Castellanos

Latin Grammys are almost upon us and fans in the U.S. and around the world are getting amped for a night filled with the best in the industry -- Latin artists who bring the traditional-to-contemporary, smooth Latin beats and rhythms, rich cultural components and some killer rhythm to boot!
The Latin Recording Academy recently announced that Latin Grammy winners and current nominees Marc Anthony, Carlos Vives, Juanes, Rubén Blades, Carlos Franzetti and the 2014 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat will perform for its milestone 15th anniversary on Nov. 20.
Also on the stellar Latin line-up includes current nominee Carlos Santana, who will perform for the first time with Latin Grammy-winner Pitbull, which was previously announced by The Latin Recording Academy. The legendary guitarist, who still continues to wow, has two nominations for Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album for "Corazón" (Deluxe Version) and Best Long Form Music Video for "Corazón: Live From Mexico - Live It To Believe It."

Read more.

Actress Olga Segura to begin directing "The Dinner"

Source by EFE

Mexican actress Olga Segura will begin working on a new film, "The Dinner," starring Cate Blanchett and on which she will be part of the production team.

Segura, who currently plays the role of Edith Phillips in the Telemundo soap opera "Señora Acero," told Efe that, just like acting, she enjoys everything about producing films because it encompasses elements that "as a creative person" she wants to explore.

"When you produce a film, you have to create an entire world so that the actors can do their work," said the actress, who along with her brother Juan Carlos and her friend, actor Hector Jimenez, founded the "Producciones A Ciegas" production company after filming "Cellmates," directed by Jesse Baget. Read More.

John Leguizamo will screen his movie FUGLY in NYC

On November 5th he will screen his movie FUGLY in a NYC theater. Leguizamo will be present greeting guests and for Q & A! Check out his IG post.

'Pitbull: The Lyfe' and 'The REAL Change Project'

Source by Philiana Ng

Pitbull has his sights on expanding his TV presence.

The Miami rapper, whose real name is Armando Christian Perez, has teamed with The Weinstein Co. via his Honey I'm Home shingle to produce two unscripted series, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Pitbull: The Lyfe will offer a behind-the-scenes look into Pitbull's busy life, world tour and sessions in the recording studio. He is behind radio hits like "Timber," "Give Me Everything" and "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)."

The REAL Change Project will team the rapper with the world's top entertainers and public figures, such as First Lady Michelle Obama, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney and Kobe Bryant as they look back at the mentors who helped inspire and shape their success, as well as include performances to help raise money for teachers and educators internationally. Patrick Reardon, seniorvp television production, will oversee for Weinstein Co. Pitbull, Michael Calderon, Liam Murphy,president and CEO of Real Change Productions, and Robert Engler are executive producers.
Neither projects have networks attached to them yet.

“Our television division at TWC has made an incredible name for themselves in creating fresh and entertaining unscripted programming. Partnering with Pitbull, one of the biggest names in music today, on The REAL Change Project and The Lyfe is a phenomenal opportunity that we’re all very excited to get started on," said Harvey Weinstein, Weinstein Co. co-chairman.

"It’s an honor to partner with The Weinstein Company and Real Change Productions/Honey I’m Home on Lyfe and The REAL Change Project, two series with the point of view that life is what we make it — some follow the rules; others bend them,” said Pitbull. “After the party kicks off 2015, we will show what’s behind the curtain and most important, learning, listening from the best plays a huge role in thejourney.”

Pitbull has a busy slate ahead of him — he's returning in a row Nov. 23 and on Fox. On the music side, he's prepping his eighth studio album, Globalization, out Nov. 24 via RCA.