Ana Tijoux's hip-hop goes back to Chilean roots

By Luis Andres Henao

Ana Tijoux, whose rap song "La Bala" (The Bullet) became the soundtrack for Chile's student movement, has emerged as one of the most influential voices in Latin America's hip-hop scene.

Now Tijoux, who spent her youth in France after her family was forced into exile during Gen. Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship, says she's eager to discover her roots. Her latest album, "Vengo" (I Come), trades pre-recorded electronic tracks for a live band of traditional Andean instruments to accompany powerful lyrics that tackle everything from social conflicts and indigenous rights to feminism and freedom.

"It's a sort of manifesto," Tijoux told The Associated Press. "I want to learn and look at the world with other eyes."

Tijoux, 36, moved back to Chile as a teenager and discovered her love for hip-hop. Her album "1977," referring to the year she was born, was nominated for a Grammy in 2011 and the song under the album's same name was featured in the popular TV drama series "Breaking Bad." Back home, "La Bala" became the anthem for multitudes of Chilean students demanding education reform and a lessening of the country's huge gap between the rich and poor.

"This new generation of students has been a bucket of cold water, a giant slap in the face for all of us. It's a huge lesson about the ability to unite, and fight over something as basic as the right to study," Tijoux said.

"It was also a tremendous inspiration. The marches have been a high point for the gathering of otherwise invisible artists," she said. "I never saw so many photographers, dancers, musicians as I saw in the marches. It's a boiling pot for artists who are not part of the mainstream."

The student protests began under the 2006-10 presidency of Michelle Bachelet, who appeased some students by naming a commission including several of their leaders, and shuffling her Cabinet. But others were disappointed.

Bachelet was inaugurated for a new presidential term last month. She has vowed an education overhaul in response to the millions of people who have taken part in protests since 2011 demanding deep changes to a system suffering from poor quality public schools, unprepared teachers and expensive private universities.

Luis Andres Henao on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LuisAndresHenao

Ana Tijoux: Crossover Rap Superhero

By Dita Quinones

Rapper Ana Tijoux is incredibly busy these days since the March 18 release of her third, highly anticipated album, Vengo: The day after the release, the mother of two was at SxSW rocking the stage at four different showcases followed by concert dates in San Francisco, L.A. and Tijuana -- and most recently on Sunday, the Roots Factory presented Tijoux with the Kumbia Queers and Cumbia Machin here at the sold-out Casbah house. Despite all the hectic Vengo promotion, Tijoux keeps parenthood and rap career in tune to a well-planned scheduled by bringing her now 1-year-old daughter, Emilia on tour with her -- no nanny. Now, that's impressive.

In 2006, she went solo. In 2007, Tijoux skyrocketed out of the Chilean rap scene into mainstream Latin Alternative success with the collaboration with Julieta Venegas, “Eres Para Mi.” That same year, she released her debut solo album Kaos, which garnered nominations for Best New Artist and Best Urban Artist at the Latino MTV Video Music Awards. In 2010, her U.S. crossover hit “1977” (Tijoux's birth year) got her tons of props. Thom Yorke, lead singer of Radiohead, even recommended the single as a must listen on the band's official website. The single also got placement on AMC's hit series Breaking Bad and on EA's FIFA video game. That same year, Tijoux performed "1977" with the Roots as her backing band for Grammys weekend.

The multi-Grammy nominated rapper from Chile could be likened to a Lauryn Hill of rap en Espanol. Tijoux, like Hill, out-rapped and outgrew her male comrade crew, Makiza. And like Hill, she can seamlessly spit verses and belt out memorable hooks. Tijoux is exactly the type of rapper we need to keep checks and balances within the male-dominated rap industry. Her breath control and rap technique is as sharp as a Jay-Z with a Bahamadia silkiness. Tijoux raps about real life, colonialism and motherhood -- all intertwined over golden-era '90s beats that never go out of style.

This year, Vengo challenges the Tijoux fan to hear her rap with a live band and native Andean instruments. The same-titled single is a powerful story-telling, horn-heavy introduction to her third effort: “Vengo, en busca de respuestas con el manojo lleno y las venas abiertas/Vengo, como un libro abierto, ansiosa de aprender la historia no contada de nuestros ancestros.” [Translation: “I come for answers, with a bundle of full and open veins/I come as an open book eager to learn the untold story of our ancestors.”]

If you've seen the Vengo cover artwork, you'll know that Ana Tijoux is our earthly rap superhero who intends to give it to you straight, no chaser. What you see is what you get. I predict another Grammy nod for Tijoux -- my fingers are crossed she will finally break the Susan Lucci curse. I caught up with my Chilean sister from another mother at the Casbah before her show for sage advice to fellow female rappers on the come-up and to learn more of the making of a sample-free Vengo.

For the latest news, follow @anatijoux on Twitter.