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CV:
How did the idea of fusing hip hop with Mexican regional
music first come about?
SG:
Pretty much it was something that had been brewing by just
hanging out. When we would drink we would karaoke and sing
songs by Javier Solis . . . or cualquera cosa. Alli le empezamos
a meter el hip hop (there we started adding the hip hop).
It was something we really liked. Then we met this guy Nelson
who had the same ideas we did but needed a group and we
needed his ideas. That’s how Akwid came about.
FG:
The idea is to write from our life experiences. Everything
that we write about are true stories about us and what we’ve
seen or been through. It’s reality. Things that happened
to everybody that people identify with. I think people can
draw something positive from our music and that we did something
with our lives instead of choosing the wrong route and doing
things that could have landed us somewhere else. I think
young gente just need to focus on doing something positive
with their lives and going through with it. That‘s what
we did.
SG:
We were raised in South Central L.A. around gangs, violence
and everything. A lot of our friends did choose to gang
bang and do drugs. We would always be in the circle, and
those are our homies, but amongst yourself you got to know
what you are about. Our thing was music. You got to find
what’s you and what you like and want to do for the rest
of your life.
CV:
Tell me about the Akwid sound?
SG:
There’s something that regional music does for us. For me
personally I like the sound of the banda, the instruments
and everything. People have this quick identification with
our style of music. We are fitting a piece of music that
I believe was missing from this one generation that got
formed by Mexicans with Americanized families. It’s within
our culture to mix. We talk Spanglish to each other and
our music reflects that. We don’t change words to try to
get on the radio but we don’t get explicit or cuss people
out. We disrespect no one. It’s real music with hardcore
hip hop that’s right on the edge.
CV:
How was it when you first started presenting yourselves
at the Mexican Regional shows?
SG:
When we started doing what we’re doing, we didn’t
know how the public was going to take us. But we weren't
going to change our way, it's who we are. When we did our
first performance with a bunch of Regional artists it was
a hardcore Mexican crowd. Here we go up with bald heads
and jerseys with a banda behind us. At first they stared
at us . . . what the hell is that? We felt some heat but
we knew they were either going to accept us or tell us to
hit the road. Fortunately it worked out and we didn‘t have
to change our ways and get all cowboy. That’s not what we’re
about. We know where we come from and the kind of music
we like and how we dress up is how we represent.
CV:
How has your family taken your success?
SG:
My mom is really proud of us.
FG:
My aunts are our biggest fans. They tape all the
stuff we do on TV and when we go over they play it for us
and tell us what we did and said. They remember everything.
CV:
When does the new album bust out?
FG:
As we speak we are working on our next album, which is due
out June 14th. It’s not diverting too much from what we've
started doing.
CV:
Any message to the juventud?
SG:
To all young gente: We’ve been there. We crossed the border
from Mexico with a coyote and were raised in South Central
L.A. But we were able to see things through without despair.
Whether you want to be a doctor, a lawyer, a Laker or an
Akwid, you got to be able to take it one step at a time.
Stay focused and before you know it you’re accomplishing
things. paz
Chuy
Varela is Califas’ premier Xicano musicologist. His ongoing
series on the History of Xicano Rock will continue in upcoming
issues of Xispas.
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