New Music & Videos: Catching up with Los Rakas

Soy Raka. That's the call, the affirmation if you will, for all the folks rocking with the PanaBaynian duo known collectively as Los Rakas. An underground sensation in The Bay ever since Dun Dun first freaked a freestyle at La Peña years back, they are now making moves on the Eastern seaboard as well. Their bi coastal success isn't an accident. In fact, this very website predicted it some time ago. With reggaeton having gone the way of hyphy and disco, the young Latin American populations of California, New York and Miami are searching for a new sound to ride with. Thankfully, the Raka boys are spittin Tapatio cocktails these days.

Their flavor is a fusion of Central American rhythm and stateside swagger- something foreign, but still innately cool and relatable. Their signature sound has created a lane canal all their own, and it is that clearance that will help them spread upward and onward. They may rap in Spanish, but their assent is as American as apple pie manifest destiny.


Above: Dun Dun and Rich sit down with Youth Outlook to discuss their childhoods in Panama and the Bay.


Above: Los Rakas perform "Soy Raka" at Carnival SF 2010. The Turf Fienz assist and kill the game around the 2:25 mark.


Above: Los Rakas rock SOB's in NY, just a slice of a week long marathon of musical mayhem the duo wreaked on La Manzana Grande.


Above: Raka and Dun Dun sit down with Director Aris Jerome  and 24MilkCrate to discuss the treatment for their "Abrazame" video featuring Big Dan. This cut may be my favorite Los Rakas joints ever, so be sure to watch out for the music video dropping next month! Uproot Andy's remix to "Abrazame" can be found on the June Edition of The Bay Abridged mixtape and the original is right below for your enjoyment.


DL: Los Rakas feat. Faviola: "Abrazame (Hold Yuh Riddim)"