Audio: Los Rakas - "Chica De Mi Corazón"
Los Rakas just released their debut album and it is already sitting right next to Shakira in the Top 5 of the Latin iTunes charts. The LP entitled El Negrito Dun Dun & Ricardo is a bold expression of Oakland, CA-based (by way of Panama) cousins Raka Dun and Raka Rich. What began as two solo projects soon morphed into the duos debut album signed to Universal Records (which dropped this past Tuesday April 15th). In telling their respective stories, the cousins have provided a bilingual and multicultural experience, with genres ranging from soul to hip-hop and the heavy influence of reggae, dancehall and afro-latin beats. Raka Dun's side of the album speaks from the perspective of "El Negrito Dun Dun" and is packed with honesty hoping to impact the definition of “Rakataka” (Panamanian slang for ghetto) and give it positive connotations. Raka Rich's side of the album is fantasy driven, presenting the persona "Ricardo" who's music could score your own personal novela on a night out. Raka Dun explained the double sided project:
"Dun’s side of the album is like a documentary. It’s a little more personal. The sound of the album is like dancehall reggae with hip-hop, experimental, with a little bit of jazz and soul. My side is called 'Ricardo' – it’s more about partying and nightlife. The sound of the CD is like Michael Jackson, ‘90s, uptempo music, feel-good stuff."
This mixture of imagination and reality is what brings us the single "Chica De Mi Corazón" a soulful laid back love song - definitely a slow jam. If you are a hip-hop fan who appreciates rhythmic variety, Los Rakas is bringing you exactly that. With a nostalgic feel, "Chica De Mi Corazón" takes you back to driving home on a late summer night - that's probably what you'll be doing with this track as the season approaches. A soft piano progression that exists in the sweet r&b sound blend the Caribbean inspired hip hop drum loops creating space for Raka Dun to switch rhythms and intensity in his flow. The video for "Chica De Mi Corazón" will be coming as the sequel to the groups visuals for the single "Sueño Americano." Pregame for those summer nights with the smooth sound of "Chica De Mi Corazón" streaming exclusively below and hit the link to cop the full LP (including a cameo from Yay Area Okayplayer fam Martin Luther) via iTunes:
>>>Purchase Los Rakas New LP (via iTunes)