This year, the Orishas released their most recent album, El Kilo, with help from prolific producer and multi-instrumentalist Andres Levin, the Venezuelan head of New York band Yerba Buena. Yotuel said this album is the most traditionally Cuban in its style ("really, really old-school, like Benny More"), while their debut featured more new-school Cuban styles like timba and salsa. The middle album, he said, was the most straight-forward hip-hop, but even Emigrante was different from typical rap.
"We make music, not just beats with samples on top. We talk about social issues, the reality on the streets, not just money and women," said Yotuel. "And we don't disrespect women - that's probably the biggest difference, actually."
The members of the Orishas now live all over Europe, with Yotuel in Madrid, Roldán in Paris, and Ruzzo in Milan, but when asked about the future, Yotual said, "I want to live here in America, maybe Los Angeles. The weather is nice and the people understand my lyrics."
Eventually Yotuel envisions himself back in Havana working with other Cuban rappers. "We have tried to make some collaboration with rappers in Cuba, but the government there makes it so difficult. One day we would like to start a label and produce Cuban rappers in Cuba."
Spring Break
