Rating:
  Review Date: June 26, 2007
  Website: Kemo The Blaxican Website
  Label: Dead Silence Records

Kemo The Blaxican “Not So Rich and Famous” Album Review
If there’s one about this country that I’m completely sick of, it’s those racist redneck hillbilly anti-immigration advocates. They be running around the halls of Congress, talking about how everybody should learn how to speak English if they want to live in this country, and how us Americans shouldn’t learn how to speak Spanish. And I think that’s just plain ignorance and hatred.

Did you know that the United States currently has a Latino population of more than 42 million people, making it the highest percentage minority in the country and contributing some $400 billion a year to our economy? I live in Brooklyn, and my neighborhood has more Spanish-speaking residents then English-speaking residents. Although I don’t understand what those cats be saying all the time, I’m doing my best to learn, and it appears that they are too. From my perspective, that’s the way it should be. We should be more welcoming and less closed-minded.

In fact, we should actually be doing more to facilitate a bilingual society. We need more bilingual newspapers; more bilingual television shows; more bilingual educational programs; more bilingual street signs and billboards. And for hip-hop, we definitely need more bilingual emcees.

Kemo the Blaxican is a great example of a bilingual emcee who refuses to live within our country’s language barriers. He could appeal to his Latino fan base and do a Spanish album. He could appeal to his American fan base and make an English album. But instead, he decided to create “Not So Rich and Famous,” a bilingual hip-hop album that allows Kemo to express himself in whichever linguistic fashion he deems necessary. And whether or not that’s commercially viable, it’s definitely respectable in the eyes of the underground.

The other thing I liked about “Not So Rich and Famous” was the manner in which the album title so accurately described Kemo’s state of mind. Being a world-known rapper who has sold nearly one million records world wide, Kemo has the right to act like one of those rich and famous pop rappers. But instead, he went underground, recorded this record in his basement, and talked about everyday topics of the common man over classic-reminiscent West Coast beats mixed with Latino-flavored instrumentation, sounds and samples.

LCL gives a first hand account of living in Los Angeles as a Latino. A Little Rain is a get up anthem that demonstrates appreciation for and acceptance of the hardships one experiences in life. 5th Of May takes a stab of commercial radio and it’s inability to play Latino music. Rebel encourages the listeners to educate themselves and fight for their rights against the tyrannical forces that control this country. And Breathe allows Kemo to share the things he wants to accomplish with the life he has left. Overall, the subject matter shows that Kemo is “not so rich and famous,” and that he experiences everyday hardships just like the rest of us.

“Not So Rich and Famous” has the potential to put Kemo the Blaxican back on the world map, this time as a lyricist with a wide range of subject matter and a producer with an ear for unique sound collaborations and musical exploration. Whether you speak English or Spanish, this album is definitely worth a listen. Peace.

Kemo The Blaxican Bio:
As Delinquent Habits’ only Spanish-fluent MC, Kemo spent twelve years with the group, releasing four albums and taking the Delinquent sound beyond borders and around the world. In 1996 the group struck gold with their very first single “Tres Delinquentes”, a song that masterfully fused a traditional mariachi sound (courtesy of Herb Alpert’s “Lonely Bull”) with the raw hip-hop backdrop of the streets. The sound was a breath of fresh air in a stale rap scene, and opened a new creative doorway into which many other Latin hip hop acts would follow, including Control Machete, Pitbull, Akwid, and Crooked Stilo.

“Tres Delinquentes” blew up almost overnight, receiving airplay not only on hip-hop radio but rock and Top 40 stations as well. The track even landed Delinquent Habits an appearance on NBC’s ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien’ and tours with heavyweights like Korn and Ice T. In no time, “Tres Delinquentes” became a worldwide hit, selling over 1 million copies around the globe and pushing the group’s self-titled album to nearly the same figure. This was the public’s first introduction to Kemo’s lyrical skills and flawless bilingual transitions. He stepped into the hip-hop game, introduced himself as “The Blaxican,” and never looked back.

Four Delinquent Habits albums later - after countless tours around the globe including the UK, Europe, Japan, South America, Mexico and Taiwan - Kemo decided to leave the group in 2004 and embarked upon his solo career. The move allowed him to record ‘Simple Plan,’ the solo album that many DH fans had been asking of Kemo for several years. Risky but necessary, Kemo walked away having played a major role in solidifying Delinquent Habits as one of the most influential Latin hip-hop groups of all time and establishing himself as one of today’s top Latino MC’s.

Album Track Listing:

1. More Change
2. You Know
3. LCL
4. Oh No
5. A Little Rain
6. 5th Of May (Feat. Tetsuya “Weeping Willow” Nakamura)
7. Disposition (Feat. Q-Unique)
8. Rebel
9. Ugly (Feat. Sicko Soldado)
10. 27 Different Ways (Feat. Bambie Bangkok)
11. No Que No
12. Been A Long Time
13. You Ain’t The Type
14. Breathe