El Abayarde

by

Tego Calderón

Edit

I don't usually write reviews but I want to respond to the earlier guy who said Tego's CD was a copy of English rappers. When is the last time you heard a bomba or plena beat in a rap song.... I'll tell you NEVER. None of the beats are copied and I'd like anyone to point out which song if they disagree. Being that Puerto Rico is a part of the US all samples must be cleared and the only two samples on the CD are from Ojos Chinos, and Witnila by Ismael Rivera. Interludes play rumba beats. There is hip hop salsa. However, Tego shines in the strictly hip hop songs as well as the Reggaeton (spanish reggae) and bomba, plena and salsa based songs. His strength is his lyrical talent, realness, and consciousness which is why even older Puerto Rican who don't even like hip hop have embraced Tego.... And freestylin...... please Tego would eat half of mainland rappers in English or Spanish. Most rappers that are well known can barely freestyle so lets keep it real! Cubans and Puerto Ricans have been freestyling using call and response when hundreds of years before hip hop even existed. Cop this, its a must have for anybody who loves hip hop PERIOD!