La Guardia goes to Colombia: Days 3.5-4
Miami hip-hop artist La Guardia will be keeping a travel diary of his trip Colombia from May 9 - May 25, as part of La Lengua A De Mi Barrio, a hip-hop exchange program. For more information on La Guardia visit his website, www.laguardiahiphop.com.
May 13, 2009
I write from a modest hotel room in Cartagena, Colombia as my wife twists my hair…now that’s hip hop!
The past few days have been quite an experience. One of the most interesting people I’ve been blessed to meet is Julo (second picture in gallery below). He’s the Colombian Red Bull Freestyle Champion of 2007; has collaborated with an artist from France, and is overall one of the best emcees I’ve heard during my short stay down here.
His passion for lyrical content, experimental flow, and high energy helps bring perspective to the most basic elements of the emcee art form. I had the honor of recording with him and a local producer named Robert, who is building a studio in his new home, on Monday (5/11/09).
On Tuesday (5/12/09) I got the chance to speak with students in a local College about race, gender, politics, common stereotypes, and their roles in Colombian culture/society. I’ve learned that the government uses numbers (1-6) to separate communities by income status, “1” representing the most impoverished. Some students feel that classism plays a larger role in dividing the community than racism. Still, many times the 1-6 stratification system seems to link itself to a skin-color chart where the hues become generally lighter as one moves up in numbers. We also exchanged comparisons and contrasts of Miami and Colombian economy, free trade, and music.
On a lighter note: there’s nothing funnier than seeing 2 people of different languages use facial expressions and exaggerated body language to convey their points to each other, lol. I’ve been involved in a lot of that. The underground female hip hop movement around here is pretty strong as well… much more than in Miami.
Speaking of females, my wife has been enjoying this experience as much as I have. She’s involved herself in all of the conversations and has been able to share experiences of the real Miami/other parts of Florida. She spoke on immigration issues, poverty, CIW farm workers fighting against modern day slavery and local organizations that are doing great work in Miami.
There’s 2 sides to every city, I’m not knocking the beauty. Most of the students we met saw Miami only through the eyes of a ritzy Miami Beach, primarily South Beach.
Thanks for reading.
Blessings from Cartagena, Colombia.
(Intelligent edits by: my wife.)
If You Enjoyed This Post, You May Also Like:
- La Guardia goes to Colombia - Day 1
- La Guardia goes to Colombia
- La Guardia in Colombia: Days 2 - 3 1/2
- La Guardia goes to Colombia - Day 5/6
- More Info on Langerado 2009
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Good read. And thanks for the "Intelligent edits" by the Mrs. The difference is really felt. I kid, I kid.
That 1-6 scale is pretty crazy, in a disgusting way.
I look forward to the next two days adventures. And stop being stingy w/ the pictures.
God bless
1
lol, thanks! I have a photo album coming on monday. The 1-6 scale IS crazy...rating communities like hotels.
Bless.