The Hidden Raves of Champetesburg

For decades confined to Colombia’s poor coastal regions and condemned by conservative politicians as violent and corrupting, the African-Latin fusion sound of champeta is finally cracking into the mainstream.

Obviously the fact half of the planet saw it at the Superbowl when Shakira danced to it and made a whole challenge that gave a completely new audience that otherwise would have never knew about this hidden genre in the Afro-Colombian community.

There are several theories about the origin of the word champeta, but it likely stems from the champeta knife used by workers in Cartagena’s Bazurto market. In the ‘70s, these workers would meet regularly to listen to African music on picós, but over the decades the word has been

deliberately sullied by conservatives seeking to attach connotations of violence to the music. This kind of prejudice against the country’s black population has stifled the genre’s growth over the years, with Colombian politicians even attempting to enforce a national ban on champeta, accusing the music of encouraging violence and teenage pregnancy.

In fact, our brother Lucas Silva, who did 2 compilations with us and owns perhaps the most significant Afro-Colombian label: PALENQUE RECORDS says about champeta’s significant raise to become Shakira’s superbowl halftime most talked dance: “It was a very tough fight. There is a lot of racism in this county and champeta was too new – people didn’t understand it, it was a shock, like with any revolution. I remember coming back to Bogota in the mid ‘90s and everybody hated champeta. They all said it was ‘stupid’ music and too sexual. But the lyrics were just covering normal things about life. Bogota was a very white city in the ‘90s – everyone was listening to rock music at the time. Rock music was for rich people and cumbia and champeta were for the poor people.”

Latino Resiste unveils THE HIDDEN RAVES OF CHAMPETESBURG which is a continuing part of the electro-champeta movement we began a decade ago, this time expanding Champeta’s DNA towards newer subgenres which could include Aleteo, House, bits of moombahton, and acoustic champeta..

Each track takes one of the elements most relevants of the genre. Whether the heavily Abelardo Carbono’s influenced guitars, or the Roland Dogs, or the percussive patter or simply its lyrical content, champeta is always expanding, it can’t be contained or defined by just few parameters, and our responsibility in Latino Resiste is to expand our Latin Music diaspora.

Enjoy THE HIDDEN RAVES OF CHAMPETESBURG for #ZEROPESOS

Kinky Electric Noise- Perreo Digital ( A trip into electrochampeta)

Finally one of the most anticipated releases of 2011 is here:
Kinky Electric Noise drops Perreo Digital, a FREE EP that gathers 2010 world music unveiled jewel (CHAMPETA) and blends it with global bass.
DOWNLOAD IT!!!! available on 320’s HERE or .WAV HERE

Kinky Electric Noise fulfills perfectly all the elements to make champeta and even takes it to the next level, blending champeta and Tuki on their tune WAZAMAYETA

But this album is just the tip of the iceberg of what now Electrochampeta has became!

From Cartagena, Miami, Norway or Moscow, Producers have given Champeta a V.40 update!!
Also on this post we will have exclusive stuff from Bomba Estereo, La Makina del Caribe, Systema Solar.

This is a PREMIERE of what is going to happen with LA MAKINA DEL KARIBE NEW RELEASE.. coming soon!!

In order to sound “champeta” a track needs to have at least 1 out of 3 from the following elements:

1) The champeta is a hybrid style made up of the rhythms of the Caribbean, Cumbia, Compás, Soca, Calypso, Reggae; combined with the sounds of several countries of the African continent, such as Soukous, Mbaqanga, Bikutsi, Highlife, Juju and Congolese rumba. They were intertwined and gave way to a new style in the barrios (districts) of Cartagena (Colombia). The lyrics are usually satirical. It is also known as terapia criolla.

2) Emulate Guitar Patterns from Abelardo Carbono, or Noel Petro or teto Ocampo.
Separately, these 3 gentlemen shifted the whole genre sound with their guitar tone and style. Huge influence on other players.

Here’s an exclusive footage!! Bomba Estereo LIVE!!
and here you can check the guitar style..
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=27986491&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0

When I asked Simon Mejia, Bomba’s Bassist, why they played champeta-like more than any other rhythm on their live sets, he replied: “because you can moshpit with Champeta!!” – Por que la champeta se presta al pogo!!-
Also Bomba’s singer used to do champeta before ..
This is Mister Gomez en bombay

3) Casio-Yamaha Dogs o dj scratch!!
EXCLUSIVE!! Systema Solar’s upcoming track: Con el boton del Pantalon

From Moscow: Qurrambeat!

Dont forget to download
PERREO DIGITAL totally FREE
available on 320’s HERE or .WAV HERE