We've got an amazing conversation with Pablo Herrera, an anthropologist and one of Cuba's most influential hip hop producers. Pablo speaks about how he got interested in hip hop and the ways Havana's scene of the 1990s sought to emulate American hip hop, especially east coast styles, before becoming more localized and grounded in Cuban culture. The Special Period, Cuba's deep economic crisis, was the backdrop for the emergence of Havana's hip hop scene, and we discuss its influence on Cuban rap lyrics, as well as the continuing racial inequality that the Cuban Revolution never successfully eradicated. 

Songs played:

Primera Base, Igual que tú
Amenaza, Achabon cruzao
Instinto, Kirino con su tres
Orishas, A lo cubano
Hermanos de Causa, Tengo
Popy y la Moda, Tengo

Unfortunately it's very difficult to find translations of the lyrics of these songs online, but if you're interested in translations, send us a message and we may be able to send you some translated lyrics. @clavechronicles on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook

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Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions