During Lottery.com’s Puerto Rico benefit concert, Busta Rhymes declared that Black and Puerto Rican people created hip hop… he also goes in and drops the mic. Busta Rhymes delivered a strong message, this past weekend, on the need to address the ignorance that many young artists and fans of hip-hop have towards the history of the genre.

The legendary rapper took a few moments out of his performance at the “Power To The People” benefit concert in Puerto Rico to toast to the role that Puerto Ricans played along with African American and Afro-Caribbeans in the creation of the Bronx born culture and music form. And in addition to acknowledging its roots, he urged elders who may find themselves in disagreement when the facts are ignored or distorted, to actively inform the next generation so that they can acquire the knowledge and pass it forward.

Puerto Ricans have played a fundamental role in the development of hip-hop since its inception in the early 1970’s. In those days they were primarily celebrated for their contributions to breakdancing and graffiti, but although their presence wasn’t as profound on the mic or in the DJ booth since day one there were definitely Ricans putting it down across all elements.

“I wanna remind everybody that may not know – how the origin of hip-hop was started. The origin of hip-hop was started by the power of Black and Puerto Rican people. In case you needed to be reminded,” Busta said to cheers from the Coliseo de Puerto Rico crowd. “A lot of motherf**kers wanna try to gentrify our culture. A lot of motherf**kers wanna try to act like they conveniently forget who fathered this s**t. Black people and Puerto Rican people together. We created the greatest culture in the f**king world and its called hip hop. Facts!”

Busta’s speech comes at a time when many have challenged the legitimacy of racially ambiguous artists like Cardi B and Bruno Mars benefitting from hip-hop’s newfound dominance over pop music.

For more info about these article visit: https://www.vladtv.com/article/242750/busta-rhymes-credits-blacks-puerto-ricans-with-being-hip-hop-originators

REM Project, San Juan, Puerto Rico. A contemporary art gallery is proud to announce the creation of www.puertoricoarte.com.

www.puertoricoarte.com is a online art gallery about Puerto Rico and they will be launch at VOLTA Art Fair during The Armory Show weekend in NYC these next March 7-11, 2008.

PUERTORICOARTE.COM IS THE FIRST ONLINE ART GALLERY AND COMMUNITY PLATFORM ABOUT PUERTO RICO’S GROWING ART SCENE WITH THE WORLD. OUR ARTIST DISCOURSE NOW A DAYS HAVE RECOGNIZE SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO(PR) AS ONE OF THE ART CITIES OF THE FUTURE ON THE INTERNATIONAL ART MARKET. WE HAVE CHOSEN THE BEST NATIONAL REPRESENTATION ON PAINTING, DRAWINGS, SCULPTURE, PHOTOGRAPHY, PRINTS, CARTELS IN A VARIETY RANGE OF PRICES, IN A CURATED ENVIRONMENT WE EXHIBIT AND SELL OUR CULTURAL PATRIMONY.

These online art gallery and community will present our art around the world and will educate all the users about our culture through the arts and for those brother boricuas out now you can re-connect with us trough the expression of our Artist. Said: Roberto Escobar Molina, Director of REM Project.

“Cultura Profética” Prophetic Culture is more than a rustic reggae band in Spanish, is an ingenious project with a strong track record which 20 years of experience and 7 albums. Over one million fans on social networks and maintain an average of more than 20 thousand daily visits. Each update on their fan pages generated thousands of comments in just minutes. Youtube visitors exceeded the number of million .

“Cultura Profetica” Prophetic Culture was formed by the need to express social ideas through roots style rhymes. They are the most love and respected reggae band in Puerto Rico. They have obtained golden record and have captivated all radio stations, including the ballad, which have revolutionized their radio formats for your music sound, because the fans demanded it. The band members are: Willy Rodriguez (vocals and bass), Boris Bilbraut (drums and vocals), Omar Silva (guitar and bass), Juanqui Sulsona (piano and keyboards), Eliut Gonzalez (guitars), Egui Santiago (organ and keyboards), Roy Sanchez (percussion), Ilang Ilang Gutiérrez (chorus), Kianí Medina (vocals), Esteban González (trombone), Eduardo Cosme (trumpet), José Furito Rivers (saxophone), Elier Caro (soundman), Alex Diaz (visual and photography)

Cultura Profetica recorded their first studio production titled; Warning song in Jamaica in the recording studio of Bob Marley. In 1998, he was released their debut album with which they were released throughout the island. In this production, its most popular song was “Fruit of the Earth.” One issue in favor of legalizing marijuana and nature conservation, now a day Puerto Rico Island is in the process to legalized for medical purpose. A year later released their second studio album titled New Ideas in which experienced and merged with musical styles like hip-hop, bossa nova, trip-hop, jazz, bachata, carranga among others. In this production, some of its most prominent issues are “New Ideas” and “Release the Moorings” in which guest is Guillermo Bonetto, Los Cafres.

In 2001 they released their first live album Culture Live, recorded in his 2000 concert held at the Tito Puente Amphitheater in San Juan Puerto Rico. This concert was a guest group, the Argentine reggae band; The CAFRES. In 2002 his third studio album Journal in which first begin to sing love songs, with songs like “before” and “Where No Reach My Verso”. One of his most famous songs in this production was “Bieke”, a song for the liberation of the island of Vieques. This topic is an adaptation of the song Bob Marley Zimbabwe.

In 2005 he was released his album MOTA, in the song Sube el Humo explain the meaning of the acronym (moments of leisure in the Temple of Ajusco), and this is an umbrella in the history of Reggae in Spanish, and showing a professional band, but with a solid growth lyrical and musical concept. Two years later he paid tribute to legendary reggae musician Bob Marley, emulating his most famous songs almost perfectly. Boris Bilbraut, the drummer of the band made of lead vocals on this successful tributo.1

2010 is the year goes on sale Tenderness his latest album under the label La Mafafa, is a production of Willy Rodriguez (vocals and bass), Omar Silva (guitar and bass), Eliut González (guitar), Boris Bilbraut (drums and vocals) and John C. Sulsona (keyboard). Over 20 years Prophetic Culture has been very important musicians who for one reason or another have had to abandon the project but its base is thus maintained since its inception. In February 2015 for the first time in the history of his career, Prophetic Culture is part of the festival Vina del Mar in Chile taming the “monster” and taking home silver gull and gull gold.

They identify with the student struggles in favor of higher education for all sectors of society. Prophetic culture is a cult band, something dreamed but inaccessible to most contemporary bands, especially Spanish language. They are not going to double standards are consistent and do not lie to their fans. So it is not surprising that the issue Complicity were for 20 weeks on the charts of Billboards and Tenderness appear number 1 on the iTunes Latino Tropical.There hasn’t been a successful band like Cultura Profetica in the roots they are our maximum and best reggae band from Puerto Rico to the world. To get more information about cultura contact Soraya Abdouni, Manager/Booking. skalotto@gmail.com or +1 (787) 528-6486 or +1 (787) 460-9518

His Family and close friends call him Omar Vazquez Santos but in the art world streets his name is Mostdefynite “DEFY” from ADM CRU  have leave his most recent mark in Barcelona Street.

Founded in 2002, the ADM (Aerosol Designing Minds) is a group of 8 young Puerto Ricans dedicated to the practice of graffiti. Since its inception, this group composed Bez, Defy, Dwek, Iks, Nek, Selek, Xel and Pun18, its founder, has been characterized by maintaining a solid reputation by proposing a consistent supply, fresh style, textures and design, with a colorful palette, nourishes all painted within the circuit of “writing style” along the island of Puerto Rico images. In addition, recognition has spread worldwide in places where they have exhibited their works such as Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Montreal, Toronto, New York and San Francisco, among others.

Which come from different cultural contexts, does not add any of these 8 artists limitation. Rather, it is the main element that impels them to achieve new aesthetic dimensions while maintaining high affinity and unique in their productions harmony. For more information about DEFY or ADM CRU email at: mosdefynite@gmail.com

Mario E. Ramirez doing independent videography is the creator of Tostfilms. Since 2012 has been documenting Puerto Rico urban art scene. The artist Mario E. Ramirez Capellá travels to different parts of the world for documenting interventions of urban space with urban artists to capture that moment of creating art and to appreciate it in different perspectives.

Tostfilms focuses on the documentation of urban art in the process. They have collaborated with local and international inside and outside the island artists. Artists like Alexis Diaz, BIK ISMO, David Zayas, Pixel Pancho, Spear, Don RIMX, Inti, Faith47, Jaz, Evoca1, etc… Tostfilms work has been recognized internationally and videos have been shared by social networks around the world as Street Art News, The Huffington Post, Brooklyn Street among others.

Mario E. Ramirez, David Zayas, Damaris Cruz, BIK ISMO

Mario have an important mission when he capture that moment of artistic creation and to appreciate different perspectives. Mario is creating and immortalizing Puerto Rico Art in many ways…

Alexis Diaz “La Pandilla”, Nicole Chacón, Mario E. Ramirez

Mario strongly believe that Tostfilm is a movement. It is a means for urban art and his artistic work. Tostfilms works also as a promoter of art or artist. for more information about Tostfilm http://www.tostfilms.com or tostfilms@gmail.com

Curators in almost all art museum hold PhDs and have distinguished records of scholarship and Carla Acevedo Yates understand these very well. The qualifications are getting more–not less–stringent. The reason is simple: without knowledge of what these collections are and why we value them, there is no point in having museums. Carla create the soul that people connect to and invest in by sharing their knowledge with audiences on many levels

Carla Acevedo-Yates is a curator, researcher, and art critic based in San Juan, Puerto Rico and New York. She earned an M.A. in Curatorial Studies and Contemporary Art at the Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College (Ramapo Curatorial Prize) and a B.A. in Spanish and Latin American Cultures from Barnard College, Columbia University (Clara Schifrin Memorial Spanish Prize in Poetry). In 2008 she founded Dawire.com, an online platform for contemporary art that addresses emerging art production on the island and abroad, while hosting a wide range of contributors from the Americas. Since 2011 she has worked as an independent curator. Recent projects include Turn on the bright lights at the Hessel Museum of Art (Ramapo Curatorial Prize), Soy Isla: A conversation on and around Zilia Sánchez at Artists Space Books and Talks, The Dialectic City: Document | Context at Laboratorio de Artes Binarios and OB-R at ARTLAB753, a project that experimented with exhibition formats and collaborative production models. Her writing has appeared in Art Agenda, Small Axe: A Caribbean Platform for Criticism, Artpulse, La Tempestad, Mousse, South as a State of Mind, and Sculpture. She was a curatorial resident at Espaço Fonte (Recife, Brazil) in 2014 and RIC (Santiago, Chile) in 2015.

Carla has done some online projects like:

A.  DaWire when she Founded on July 26th 2009, DaWire is an online platform featuring artist texts, editorials, interviews, exhibition news and reviews from across the globe with a focus on Central America and the Caribbean, Institute fro tropical Research.

B. The Institute for Tropical Research (ITR) is a project that addresses tropicalities in contemporary art through historical research, documentation, and critical thinking. Its aim is to define the terms of discussion, both today and historically, and to critically engage with the iconography and contextualization of art made in tropical climates.

C. Archive of Problem. There are a thousand stories intertwined in the lives of those on our graphic, many of which are worth any scholar or inquisitive soul’s time to study. Archive of problems is a comprehensive history of philosophy infographic.

The Dialectic City Document / Context curated by Carla Acevedo Yates San Juan, PR.

With less then 35 yrs old Carla has done many selected projects like:

• West 21st Street Drive-In (Leave Your Car at Home)
• Prólogo a un objeto at AREA
• Turn on the bright lights at Hessel
• Jesús Bubu Negrón at CCS Bard
• Bard MFA Thesis Exhibition
• Robin Bruch at Leslie Fritz
• Zilia Sánchez at AS Books and Talks
• OB-R at ARTLAB
• The Dialectic City [Document|Context]
• Tree Boat: A Meditative Non-Site

            Turn on the bright Light @ Hessel Museum of Art

Some of her selected text are:

• José Morales at MAPR
• The 31st Sao Paulo Biennial
• Bernadette Corporation: 2000 Wasted Years
• Seth Price at Friedrich Petzel
• Less is More: La Loseta and the Economy of Means
• Considering Activist Art in the Age of Occupations
• Ironing a Camel’s Hump
• Spain’s 30-year-old art fair turns slightly modest
• Renegade Acts
• Reflections on the Electric Mirror
• ¡Patria o Libertad!: The Rhetorics of Patriotism
• The Good, the Bad, and the Greater New York
  
• Moments of Suspended Disbelief
  
• Horror 14.2
• When a painting moves… something must be rotten!
• Michael Joaquín Grey
  
• Talia Chetrit
• Colonialism & the Politics of Cultural Consumption
• Branding Ideologies
  
• The Exploration of Self

Her curatorial research focuses on recuperative art histories, abstraction as experimental geography, and post-global-decolonial curatorial methodologies. Today’s curators can be informed and have expertise, but they should also be educators and entertainers Carla understand these importan aspect. To contact Carla Acevedo Yates for exhibition in or out of Puerto Rico you can email her at: carlaacevedoyates@gmail.com or see her web at: carlaacevedo.com

Vito Mercado, the creator of HA! Music, has focused his career as a Promoter, Festival Producer, Manager, Festival Consultant and Developer.  His company, established since 1996, embarked on a mission to make people dance while building Puerto Rico as the Electronic Dance Music epicenter of the region.  Ha! Hidden Agenda was born in 1998 out of the idea of organizing, developing and promoting all styles of electronic music in the island, and generating enough interest to bring proper international talents.

                 Electric Daisy Carnival, San Juan, Puerto Rico 2015. Photo by SakoGraphy.

Vito is responsible for many of the mayor music festival events in Puerto Rico, such as EDC Puerto Rico Festival, Movement Getaway, We the Future Festival, Electric Holiday, Coors Light Sound Fields, Coors Light Circothic,  and other events with thousands of local and international guests. Vito Mercado said: “The quality of productions is superior every year, and the increasing size of the talents and audiences is our fuel to keep doing what we LOVE. It has become an attractive business for some, but our vision sees beyond and our undisputed experience should be the shield of our success.” “Constantly evolving and looking forward to the next step, we believe our synergy will help us reach the unimaginable goal…”

Skrillex (left) & Vito (center) in a festival Stage

Vito and his HA Music tribe, Analiz Zayas his wife, Jorge Ramos and Jesús M. Quiñones,  are acclaimed for building electronic music upon Puerto Rican culture and rhythms. They also help produce local DJs, helping transform artists from local to international careers. Some of their collaborations include artist such as Caleb Calloway, DANO, LVST, Emiliano Martini, and 10 days.

With the success that Vito and his tribe have had, we’re ecstatic to see them share their talent across continents fusing electronic music and other rhythms, as in ‘All Together As One’.

Vito feels that: [Ha=Truth]  …and is For Believers Only!

written and edited by FTLOB

Frank Lara is the most prolific DJ Booking agent in the island of Puerto Rico. Without him we would stand less of a chance of being able to see our favorite international DJ at our local night venues, events or festival. He is the one to go to if you are a Puerto Rican or International producing DJ or Musician searching for a gig or any electronic music event or idea.  Lara is the creator of Nightology and creates and implements innovative and diversified non-traditional marketing campaigns for a variety of companies offering services, media groups, international artists bookings, sales tickets & more. Lara has focus more his booking on Deep House, House Music and Tecno.

His bookings are responsible in connecting the Puerto Rico Growing Electronic Scene with the whole world. Lara has book DJ’s like: Dixon, Benoit & Sergio, Wolf + Lamb, Guy Gerber, M.A.N.D.Y., Gaiser, The Martinez Brother, Art Department,  DJ T, Fur Coat and many more it’s been more then 10 year of experience he have put in their dream and career. He is responsible in bringing to the island and creating a cultural connection between both, International and Local DJ united by one purpose, one music, one rhythm. The most important part is that these two bookers never have left out our local producing DJ’s and Musician in any nightclub, festival or event they are involve they always take care of our local one’s, here is were the local ones open or close the set for the International producing DJ without living the island.

Guy Gerber & Frank Lara

Electronic music is one of the most popular music genres of our times worldwide. It’s much more than music to dance and free yourself from stress and your daily worries, people gather around the world in music festivals to enjoy of the great beats, but there is so much more behind electronic music. It can bring benefits to your health and mind and these music lover understand it.

The project of “Don Senario …” insert the theatrical genre urban artistic movement in this sixth edition of Santurce’s Law.  Don was born in Trastalleres Senario. He is a friend of Andy Montanes Club Los Centralinos, also known as the querendón the neighborhood. Your body has the versatility to be assembled and disassembled in any outdoor space. This wise modulus of about 20 ‘x 20’ x 20 ‘, is constructed of wood pallets, carts and reused rubber clothing. These magic that will take the fun dome. All these materials are hundred percent recycled in order to reduce the cost of materials and natural resources.

DON SENARIO-  El Abuelito Teatrero. “Don Senario: The granddaddy teatrero” arises in the process of seeking new spaces for theatrical activities from theater rolling mode. This scenographic sculpture, represented by the head of a grandfather, is an ode to all those human beings who came before us and who worried about leaving their knowledge to future generations.

From the piece you will appreciate the innovative and creative way it is designed and implemented technical elements: scenery, lighting and stage machinery; the latter being the most important because it is responsible for giving movement and physical life to work.

The public and the community santurcina can enjoy various performative genres, which will take place inside the mouth of Don Senario. Therefore they will be presented: monologues, circus, improvisations, performances, urban poetry, pantomime and impersonation. Thus the performing arts become our connection with the local community and the central format of a well designed and accessible for all diverse artistic offerings.

During the second weekend of March, “Don Senario …” come with their wisdom to wherever they need. He opens his mouth, he moved his mustache, his huge eyes, expand their throat and inside will toyed with the public different characters. Through these artistic dynamics we comply with the educational mission and entertainment which was created this work will be from March to enjoy the community and visitors.

Long live the art!

Jose Luis Gutierrez Reyes
PIEDEAMIGO

Tranki …, Inc., is a non-profit company dedicated to the production and cultural management through the performing arts, theater, cinema, music, visual and audiovisual arts, among other arts.   info.tranki@gmail.com

JOEL F. PIERLUISI aka MR. DANGER GARDEN

The Producer/Percussionist/Pianist/Guitarist/Bassist/Drummer/Vocalist & music lover since 4 years old, Joel Pierluisi “Mr.Danger” welcomes you to DNGR GRDN grove sounds and present his show at the opening night of the H&M Store in San Juan, PR.  More then 300 person when to the store inaguration.

DNGRous Label (thedangergarden@gmail.com)

DON RIMX has finish his new master piece in the New York City. RIMX has move from San Juan, PR to promote his work around the world using as new home base in Florida.

“El mal con bien se apaga ”

Mural en Jefferson St y st Nicholas Ave en Bushwick , brooklyn , NY .

20′ x 40′

“The evil with good goes out”

Mural in Jefferson St and St Nicholas Ave in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY.

20 ‘x 40’

David “Don Rimx” Sepulveda was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  His family lived in the public housing development, Nemesio R Canales, who in the 90s had a very high crime rate.  Drugs and gun violence were a part of his everyday life.  Through his parents watchful eyes Don Rimx was kept on the straight and narrow. They noticed his interest in drawing at a young age and nurtured it by enrolling him in weekend art classes at the local art school.  He later received his diploma from the Central High School of Visual Arts and went on to continue his education at the Escuela de Artes Plasticas.  Upon finishing his studies, he dedicated himself to incorporating the various techniques of classic art into urban art, with a specialization in murals. Lorenzo Homar, Jose Alicea, Rafael Tufino, Rembrandt, and Joaquin Sorolla, are just a few of the influences one see’s in the line work, color treatment and poetic imagery of his pieces.

In 2009, Don Rimx moved to Brooklyn, NY.  Life in the big city had a profound affect on his latest works, from the different cultures and styles to the many textures and materials.  The skeletal structures explore the synthesis of man and his city.  Resulting in works of art comprised of rigidity and personality.

“16 Barras” Brooklyn was an exploration of this connection.  Murals were painted throughout Brooklyn, of randomly chosen residents, interlaced with one number and word, that when put in numerical order, created a poem. It was meant to inspire people to search for the pieces to the puzzle, to get to know their borough and its residents. “16 Barras” received media coverage in the NY Daily News and various online publications. The concept was later extended to Puerto Rico and featured in the annual art event ‘La Campechada.’

Don’s also participated in national and international urban beautification projects like Artists for Israel, Los Muros Hablan New York & Puerto Rico and Art Basel Miami in the Wynwood Design District. Additionally he’s painted many murals around Brooklyn, at the Bushwick Collective and at the former 5Pointz Queens.

Don’s individual style bridged the gap between the streets and corporate America. His work caught the eye of a progressive commercial real estate developer and was commissioned to produce several grand scale murals in the Bryant Park area of NYC. The synthesis of the two resulted in breathtaking works of art. An arrangement so unique it received media coverage in the NY Times.

In the summer of 2014, Don Rimx and his family made the move to Miami Florida. The warm climate, Latino culture and large arts presence really attracted the artist, making him feel a little closer to home. Since the move Don was invited to the Brooklyn Museum as the guest artist for National Hispanic Heritage Month and has worked on a couple of projects with the Jordan sneaker brand. In the Miami area, he was one of the featured artists in the Cars Meet Art exhibit of the Miami Auto Show. And is currently one of 15 artists participating in the Beck’s Urban Canvas.

Don Rimx’s unparalleled artistry has set him apart from the rest; a classically trained fine artist, graffiti purist, grand scale muralist and new school tattoo artist. No matter the medium, he’s guaranteed to continue doing what he loves for many years to come.

To see more DON RIMX Murals visit: http://www.donrimx.co/murals/

Christopher Columbus arrived at Puerto Rico in 1493. He originally called the island San Juan Bautista, but thanks to the gold in the river, it was soon known as Puerto Rico, or “rich port;” and the capital city took the name San Juan. Soon, Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony on its way to becoming an important military outpost.

There is a one-of-a-kind space on Santurce’s Calle Elisa Cerra whose charm is inescapable as it celebrates the history of the El Gandúl community and its people, echoing the past while also reflecting the present.

Opening on September 23, 2015, the autumnal equinox, Dia Art Foundation presents Puerto Rican Light (Cueva Vientos) (2015), a new long-term work by Allora & Calzadilla on the southern coast of Puerto Rico, inside a remote cave at El Convento Natural Protected Area.

The urban artist Philip Cruz Villegas, alias El Pun 18, died around 11:00 pm yesterday, Monday, in a hospital. Cruz Villegas suffered from Crohn’s disease eight years ago.

Mario E. Ramirez owner of Tostfilms creates these series of video since 2007 when he meet El Pun18 in one of its murals on the street Canals, where El Pun 18 was the event creator Title: Urban Art “The Canals”.

RIP my friend…

Alexis Diaz- “La Pandilla” mural got vandalized by a fanatic religious person that who were claiming that the image was a diabolic one.

The Skull with guan PR’, located on the De Diego Avenue, Santurce. “Talk about the death of our culture; that and people, alive, left to die, unwilling to take pa’lante. “Inspired by the words of Julia de Burgos.

After the mural been vandalized Alexis return to the mural and integrate to the mural the cross painted by the religious fanatic.

Alexis Diaz is one of the most important street artist form Puerto Rico. He travels the world to paint awesome and morbid chimeras on giant walls. Using notoriously tiny brushes, Alexis Diaz dropped this highly-detailed skull.