August 8, 2025 • 43 mins
Some real talk with Journalist Galilea Méndez drops from Germany about reggaeton’s messy mix of race, misinformation, and accountability. We get into AI fakery, colorism, and history rewriting are watering down reggaeton’s Black roots. From ICE raids to why some stars stay silent, this is a refreshing take—reminding us reggaeton is way more political than it looks.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
This week's combo is coming from outside the US. Literally,
I'm chopping it off with Galilea Mandela, persona Americana from Chicago,
who right now is actually in Germany studying and looking
from outside into the United States. And oh my god,
there's so much the process and coos, the los ice
(00:31):
rays that treats migrants, I mean, hinted outside looking in,
we look crazy. We look crazy. The United States is
crazy right now. And claro or toxico, if we gotta
(00:57):
keep it real, we look crazy, we look toxic in
Claroilo means so that the shira, the mass photos. It
wasn't a small decision for own a statement me Hunter,
I no necessito meco con les ante mirandan politica quos
(01:23):
getting in bless Okay, we don't need the anti immigrant
racist and actively invisibilizing political statements that are affecting Latinos
as in politic losta conversation pertas Aki, and let's get
(01:52):
into it, opening hearts and minds. But Toyak, you know,
(02:17):
super excited because I'm here talking with a fad as
journalists advocate and honestly good online friend of mine, Galilea Mendez,
who is an amazing freelance journalist and contact creator more.
Thank you so much for being here.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Thank you, I'm so happy to be here. Thank you
for the insights.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Absolutely absolutely, I'm just like, ah, this girl gets me.
I need to bring her on first and foremost, I
do like to ask, how are you. There's a lot
going on in the world.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I'm good, as good as one can be. I'm tired.
I think we all are, but I'm okay. I'm okay.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
That makes sense. And yeah, it's day by day. This
is a marathon, not a sprint. Absolutely with everything that's
going on. And with that said, for those who are listening,
Gleans an amazing commentator as well. She like has worked
with a number of outlets and we see Latina pull.
So the list goes on and on, and what I
(03:13):
am particularly fascinated on is like her manner of which
she dials back. And so we're gonna get right into
it here. And so my first question is what is
your take on the accountability or lacker of that non
black Latinos are taking now that the online conversation is
(03:34):
growing in regards to the role and how we got
here with like racism. And I'll give some more context
for those who are listening, like what are you talking about? Online?
Racist things happen in the Latino community, and then there's
this sort of like cycle that happens where a racist
phenomenon happens, and then white Latinos are pretty much shocked, like,
(03:55):
oh my god, I can't believe, how did we get here?
We're not racist, we don't get like that. But the
point at hands is that yes we are. We have
a race problem, has a we have a colorism problem.
And the longer that we act like we don't, I
feel like the longer things will perpetuate. Dalli Leo, what's
your what's your take on this? On the whole accountability
(04:17):
of it all are lack the rows.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
I'm surprised we still are acting shocked at news Like
I think there comes a time where you could have
gotten a way with like I didn't know it was
this bad, I wasn't aware, But like that excuse isn't
valid anymore and hasn't been valid in the years. I
think it shows like ignorance someone on one's part, and
(04:42):
I think, like it must be so exhausting to like
every time something like this happens, which is all the
time to go to like black creators, black latinos and
say can you educate me on this? It's like no,
Like we're tired of fucking educating you, Like when we
should not be going, we should not be counting on
people that already have so much on them to educate us,
(05:05):
Like it's twenty twenty five. Like if you're not checked
in by now, I don't know what to say.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Absolutely girl, clock it, because yeah, I am tired. I
feel like I'm the police and I am not the police,
and I will live a happy life full of joy
and I can't. I can't like every time someone does something, which,
as you said, is like every day, if we see one,
then I super admire about you. That we also shared
common is journalistic ethics storytelling. You know, like there is
(05:37):
a way. I feel like there's a right and a
wrong way to go about spreading information online, and what
that goes to is journalistic ethics. So what it takes
to crass the story? What's your take on the increase
of misinformation that's floating around because it's getting really crazy
out here. You know, people are going on Google reading
(06:00):
a blog that was made yesterday by some kid who
doesn't know anything, and then all of a sudden, there's
you know, repeating it as script in a video that's
going viral, and the people so Tayeva also, and it's like,
it's terrifying. What's your take.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
It's getting real weird and it's getting real scary. I
think people will do absolutely anything they can for clicks
and money, which is absolutely dangerous. But we can't expect
these people to care because they obviously don't. I think back,
like even a couple of years ago, narratives used to
only really come from like news channels and maybe like
(06:38):
bad actors directly misinformation especially, But now you open your
phone and it's influencers, it's public figures, and now it's
even ai. So I feel like the audience has lost
so much trust, rightfully so, And like, I think it's
so funny because it's such a meme that like your
(06:58):
parents like believes so much misinformation that they see on
Facebook and WhatsApp, And here we are, how many generations
later falling for the same shit.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
I'm glad you brought. You brought so many things, so
many gums here, and I'm gonna pick on all of them.
What is like, I mean AI is getting oh it's
getting sold bad. Just yesterday I saw like a video
of like a black girl like she had all the isms,
you know what I mean, Like this is Tom being
in Saul and see like in addition to that, I
(07:32):
saw like videos of black girls like ah like going
like in like their camera phone, and I'm just like
it's terrifying. So, like, what is the most egregious thing
you've seen, like in regards to like AI and in
this whole like phenomena of misinformation, Like what has pissed
you off the most?
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Where is pissed? Honestly, what's pissed me off is the
AI that I've actually fallen for, which I would say
I'm pretty good about it, like I can really tell
and like that's really fake. But when there's a video
that I see and like I find myself sharing it
and then like a couple of scrolls later, I'm like, wait.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
That AI.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
That's what pisces me off because I like to think
that I'm someone that's educated on this and has like
good media literacy and even I'm fucking following for it,
and it's like embarrassing one, but two it's also like damn,
like they got me, they got.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Yeah girl, same, I'll be honest what you was saying,
they got me twice? It was once, you know, because
we're like so angry with everything going on in Gaza.
So like there was this one picture I remember that
I was floating around and I had shared it and
I was like, oh my god, like I felt, I
felt so guilty, and then I's say one of my
(08:47):
honestly it's but nonetheless I shared it and I'm to
shared it. I was like, no one needs to know,
like to die like I was. It was really bad.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
So I feel you that mine was the stupid video
of like I don't know, sad. It was a kangaroo
trying to board a plane. It was like a little
kangaroo and it was really cute and they didn't let
him board a plane, and I was like, oh my god.
I sent it to my sister. I was like, wait,
he's so cute, and then I'm like, it's fucking AI.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
No, It's like it's terrifying, it really is. And then what, honestly,
in another point you brought up that I want to
pick on too, is you mentioned generations that you know,
like get that they go I'm terrified for my elders.
You know, I haven't spoken to so many old people
in my life, but media literacy with them is particularly bad.
(09:38):
You know, they have to like their technology is changing
every day, and then they have to keep up with that,
and then you know what I mean, they have to
make another account on some other app and then on
top of that, they have to be careful with what's
being shared. I know that there's like filters for like kids,
like parents make for kids, but I feel like there
should be filters that like we make for our our
(10:00):
elders too, because it's like, it's really terrifying the things
that I find some of my elders repeating. I'm like, no, no, no, no,
the yet my assel, you know, yeah, yeah, oh my goodness,
you see. So getting to this, like another topic that
I feel like we gone feel similar sentiment on is
(10:21):
revisionist history, right, and AI is contributing to that misinformations
contributing to that. And considering the fact that there are
ice raids all over the country, you know, that are
particularly escalated because of this egregious violation of due process,
it's been very odd to like witness the revisionist history
(10:45):
taking place regarding black and brown solidarity, So I would
just love to hear your take on that.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Yeah, I think this term black and brown solidarity has
been historically a real radical and deeply contested thing. Like
if we think about historically like the Young Lords and
the Black Panthers working together in the nineteen sixties, or
cross racial organizing between farm workers, prison abolitionists, and antilite
(11:15):
colonial activists, we know that historically this is a thing
that works. But we also know that, like real solidarity
is earned through struggle and shared trauma and shared experience
and can't just be invoked through a hashtag. And it's
(11:37):
also a lot of the times when we talk about
black and brown solidarity, you know, especially in regards to
the ice rates, we immediately I think as Latinos, a
lot of Latinos are like, well, why isn't the black
community speaking out when whole time, the people that are
being disproportionately affected by the ice rates are African and
(11:58):
Caribbean immigrants. They're black immigrants themselves. So we can't act like, oh,
this isn't in us problem, Like black people don't understand.
Black people definitely understand, and we're already like coming at
them crazy, saying like why aren't you supporting us? Why
aren't you supporting us? Like why is it always like
the US versus them thing? Which is actually really sad
(12:21):
to see because when you think about it, like the government,
the police, ice, dhs all work together, they all got
each other's backs, but we don't clock it.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Absolutely love the historical context. Thanks for mentioning that. And yeah,
like I feel like that even goes back to like
the point at the top right, because it's like it's
part of this like wow shock factor. It's like, oh
my god, we're on ARONI thought about what I got
and it's like Kenley, you know what I mean. It's
like it's been very okay, at least for me observing
(12:55):
what's been going on online because of course sexy community,
but online it's like there's a lot of people who
thought that they'd be safe in their little bubble and
then you know, Trump popped that bubble. I'm talking to you, Cubans,
I'm talking to you, you know, like people who thought
that you know us a song called That's something that
(13:15):
I hear heard my entire life, you know what I mean,
Like I'm okay, not effect but like now that Trump
is we broken certain visas and certain people are being
clunk together. Seen it's like now some people are like,
you know, the the lights are on, you know, so yeah,
(13:37):
like it's unfortunate. I'm not gloating for those we're listening
like it's that's not the point. The point is just
more so like we've wasted a lot of time doing
this whole us and them. So it's a song where
it's like that has never ever benefited you in a
way that's like outside of the superficial. So like you know,
(13:58):
like this is the time to really it's happen. So
thank you for that. And so speaking of online, I
don't know, maybe I'm online too much. There's something that
I be processing lately. I'm like, should I just turn
my phone off and just pop you? And I don't
know what to do? Girl Like it's like a balance,
but I just a pardaments like I can't come and
(14:19):
if I don't know, But then I find myself doom
scrolling and it's like I don't know, I don't know.
And so with that said, there's not going online. I
don't know if I'm online too much. What I do
know is sometimes I feel like I can't comment on
what's going on if I don't know what's going on.
So like I don't know. It's a process and a
(14:40):
balance that I'm trying to figure out. And in the
middle of that, I have Regaton, which lately have been
feeling like a burden because a lot of these artists,
well I love them, they don't know what to say.
Then I'm saying shit, myso loca, you know, and so
it's like I feel like I'm commenting for all of
Regedton sometimes because they're not saying So with that said,
(15:03):
some artists are paying attention and in fact are choosing
to engage in a way that's okay, indirect but direct
by skipping a whole tour list of cities in the US.
Y'all know, I'm talking about that, Bunny Girl. What was
your take on that?
Speaker 2 (15:19):
I literally screamed, I'm for it, to be honest, I'm
still seeing him. He's coming to Germany, so I'm not
too mad about it. I think i'd be I'd be
a little butt hurt if I was in the US
and I was missing out on targets. But get over it.
Like think about the world does not revolve around the US,
(15:39):
and I think that blows so many American minds that
someone could do something to exclude them. They can't wrap
their minds around it. They're like, you're going to exclude us.
But at the same time, if he did have a
tour in the US, you know that it would be
a hot spot for ice. You know that we would
be targeted. You know that it would be an unsafe thing.
(16:03):
So yeah, I don't know, Like if you want to
see him that bad book a flight girl, I don't know,
like get over it. Think about how many people have
to wait years to see some of their faves. I think,
what did he say? He said it'sunnecessary and absolutely agree.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Yes, like our boss, I love it. And so in
which case, speaking to Hayata, Oh wait, you mentioned that
you're in Germany, so we Kiki on this a little
bit earlier. But you know, for those who are listening,
what is it like? You know, you're laughing in at
in Europe watching It's like you're watching everything on a
(16:40):
street literally, you know what I mean, Like you're not
physically here. What's that been like for you? Because I
know we like crazy outside of these borders. Yeah, what's
going on?
Speaker 2 (16:51):
We looked a little foolish. Yeah, I completely agree. I've won.
First of all, the first thing I want to say
is I feel so incredible that I can exist outside
of that space that I can turn off my phone
and I'm somewhere where this news isn't affecting me directly
because I'm not in there, when I know that if
(17:12):
I was in Chicago, where I was born and raised
in a primarily Latino community, it absolutely would be affecting me.
And I guess I mean, it obviously is affecting me
now as all my family is still there, and I
know how scary it is, but it's a little jarring
to see, especially like things happening while I'm asleep, Like
(17:35):
for example, yesterday morning, I woke up and the first
thing that I saw is that the US had bombed
her on So it's so crazy to see things like
that happen while I'm asleep, completely unaware, and you wake
up and it's just something that's happened and affecting millions
of people, and I can kind of just exist outside
(17:55):
of that, which I've never really been able to exist
outside of stuff like that for insanely crazy. With that
being said, Germany has absolutely its own bullshit that we
need to figure out, and being an immigrant is scary
in Germany as well and Lacomnila, Latina. We find ourselves
(18:16):
no matter where we are in the world, and I
find I've found my own here in Germany, and I'm
just thankful for the people that I have found around me.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Ooh, this conversation with gari Leos two good, but will
be right back right after these messages. There's like a
(18:50):
large conversation going on right now right in regards to
like who did racism best? Because now, okay, because some
of the thing because now that everyone is like, oh
you know this is racist here, like oh no, this
comes from this. A lot of people are digging into history,
right They're like, actually this person did it first, or
this country did it first, or this is Hitler hated
(19:12):
was inspired by this, so you know what I mean, Like,
what is it like for you, you know, as an immigrant, Well,
like what does that look like over there? Because I
can't imagine.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Even me living it now is still hard for me
to understand. I think I've always had a racialized identity,
even before when I was living in the US. That's
not something that I can just take off, but here
it definitely translates differently. Like here, a lot of the
times people don't believe me that I'm an American or
(19:46):
don't see me as an American. They see me as
Mexican first. And who did it the best? I mean,
constantly throughout history we see how like fascism and racism
takes form and like will constantly repeat itself. Like I
had just learned recently that the chemicals that Nazi Germany
(20:10):
was using to exterminate Jewish people here were the same
chemicals that they were inspired by the US. And they're
the same chemicals that the US used to clean Mexican
immigrants at the border that were crossing. It's the same
chemical they used, the same one, and they said that
they were inspired by them.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
And when you say clean, because people, you know, are
learning from this, what do you mean by that?
Speaker 2 (20:36):
It was a chemical for them to enter the US
if they were working, So if they had to cross
the border and do some work in the US, they
had to clean them down with a disinfectant because obviously
they were dirty and full of viruses and disease and
all of that. So that's what they were doing. To
(20:59):
them to sure that they can do that, because you know,
we need your labor, but we don't really want you.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
I mean, it's insanity the length that you know, these
systems go to in order to like exploit and suppress
anything that isn't why, you know, And you know, as
you're speaking on this, my brain is fluttering just because
there's so many parallels, you know, Like I find myself
lately trying to explain to people that like a lot
(21:29):
of what's going on isn't new, it's just an evolved
version or something that's happened before. And I don't know,
I get called dramatic a lot. I feel like I
need to do like a a compilation of how many
times I've said this, like throughout my podcast, because literally
it's the thing, and maybe I'm a little traumatized, but
it's the truth. Like I'm called trauma dramatic a lot
(21:52):
because I'm constantly it's just the way my brain works.
I'm constantly like trying to teed together the dots of
like the parallels of this marginalizations. As you were speaking
on that, I was thinking about how the IDF literally
trains the NYPD, and how there's an NYPD office in
(22:13):
God in Israel. How does that make any sense? You
know what I mean? But it makes complete sense, you know.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
And how spyware that they use for surveillance that ICE
uses they have is the same one that that idea
uses as well.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Absolutely, And I wouldn't be surprised if that's being translated
over to here like American citizens. Never mind, you know
the parallels of occupation, right, which is something that still
a lot of people are still grappling to wrap their
mind around. So, I mean, I know a lot of
people are like gatas this podcast, Regaton or history. I'm like, bro,
(22:49):
I need y'all to like hear this because at the
end of the day, this this translates even into music,
right like music is programming, That's the way that I
look at it. And and music is political, like at
the end of the day, it pushes certain ideas. So
Reggaeton to believe that Regaton is not political, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
And to sit here one of the elections, Bro, I
don't know anyone who says, what does politics have to
do with the regadon don't know anything about Regathon.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Or politics for that matter for that matter. Absolutely, and
so getting into this because we spoke on whitewashing and
supremacy again going right into music, there is of course
a legacy of blanc amiento, and it's like, if it
weren't political, why would that be right? Why if this
(23:38):
music wasn't political and didn't have power, why would they
go through such extent and such lengths to try to
whitewash the former ambassadors to like make a whole new
wave of music that's wider in visualization, wider in sound,
and wider in audience, like let's be for real. And so,
as a person in the culture and as a anaton
(24:01):
for you, what has been difficult for you to witness
in the context of like and what do you want
more of?
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Probably Jaylalwn being named Afro Latino Artists of the Year.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
I don't nobody, nobody, nobody.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
What no, but like, Actually, probably one of the hardest
thing as a long time reggaton fan is seeing how
Reggaton's Black Caribbean roots, specifically Afro Panamanian and Afro Puerto
Rican contributions have been erased and disregarded, and anytime someone
wants to like bring them up, it's almost like, oh,
(24:42):
but that was reggaton then, like this is friggaton now,
when the genre literally wouldn't even exist without black diaspora influence.
And yeah, and then when we think about reggaton today,
when obviously the most visible stars are over overwhelmingly light,
light skinned, white Latinos, it's hard to see. It's not
(25:04):
to say that they're not talented. They obviously are. I'm
a big fan of many of them. But I think
we really need to talk about how a lot of
people don't even know that reggadon used to be banned
and it was criminalized, and it was underground, like if
you played that, you went to jail. And now it's
(25:25):
like a global brand, which we love to see, of course,
because if you're a fan of friggedton, you want to
see it taking off, you want it to see it
doing good. But a genre that used to be rebellious
is now commodified into something that's like maybe European friendly,
non political, clean. You take away all of like the dirtiness,
(25:51):
the grittiness, the culture from it, and I don't think
it's the same sound anymore. And who is actually benefit
who's actually benefiting from that transformation because it ain't.
Speaker 1 (26:03):
Met le Blancca. That's why I call like what's going
on now? And a lot of people but like I
don't get a fuck from my deck cause it's like
it's and it's like I feel like there's nothing wrong
with that. My whole take on it is, you know,
like I feel like there's so many versions that I
get thrown with names that a lot of people the
(26:24):
general public aren't even aware of. So like am I
mad at agaton evolving?
Speaker 2 (26:28):
No?
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Am I mad at the white washing? Absolutely, because I
feel like everybody could eat and you said something lovely
at the top of you know, your your comment, and
that you know, like there's like a lot of black
Latinos who have been whitewa washed right, who have been
removed right, And so there's kind of like this insinuation
(26:50):
that there are any black Latinas or black reggaetons that
are interested in becoming mainstream and that's just not for you,
But for those listening, I simply just want to say
that that's not true. There's a lot of letos who
like are just overlooked, and that's just straight up what
it is. You know, like at the top of my head,
(27:11):
I can name so many regas Loriglo at the La Sista,
who's out there. I profiled her for Rolling Stone, Melaner
Lacey uh La Mota guy Lang at the Genoa does
(27:33):
more raps, So I wouldn't call her per se Tokeisha
is successful, so like I love that for her, you know,
and she well she's with them. Of course she's a
person of color, Negra. I don't think i'd call her
net And so my point is, you know, it's just
a matter of I question of if it was a
thing in visibility. I wondered if it's like, Okay, people
(27:56):
don't know who they are, so like, if they don't
know who they are, they can't support them. But then
I have an initiative called Negratong and it's like what
I have found, at least in the professional space, is
that people are like, we don't get why we should
invest in them, and it's like it's kind of crazy,
you know, like you don't get why you should invest
in them, but you want to invest in a blanquita
(28:16):
who's costuming everything that they're getting from them. Okay, taving,
but it is what it is, and you know, when
I bring it up, they get But hurt. But that's
a conversation for a different day.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
So no, super.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Appreciate what you said there, And so my my next
dog goes to let's think about everything we discussed right
keeping in mind, I think I think the tightest turning
in the sense that the public is getting less patient
(28:50):
with a lot of artists nonsense. I feel like on
a side tangent small one. I promise Reya don gets
away with being silent in twenty twenty five with a
lot of what's going on right now, because while they
try to market to us Latinos for the sake of
like you know, proximity, really a lot of their dollars
(29:11):
come from Latin America, and so at the end of
the day, Latinos like from Latin America, they don't care
about what's going on over here. They got their own
problems and their own shit going on. So like this
kind of like this this disconnect because Legatonanos technically are
paying attention to those of which are paying them. But
(29:34):
at the same time, it's like if you want to
tour over here and then you don't say anything, that's
kind of like when people are losing their patients. I
don't know at least that's what I found. And so
with that context in mind, do geta legon what should
relegaton fans who are asking celebrities to speak up consider
(29:59):
moving forward? What do you think will be productive? And
I feel like I've been asking that question a lot
lately online, like is this productive? Should we be spending
time on this? Like what is the actual response to
doing something like this? Like I would love your take
on this.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
I think it's a difficult question for sure, especially like
a lot of people say, like, well, you separate, we
need to learn how to separate the art from the artists.
But I don't think you can do that all the time.
I think I would say to just you know, when
someone shows you their colors, see them and accept them.
(30:40):
Don't try to change a person, Like when someone when
you have to, when you have to ask someone to
respect you or speak up for you, It's like, why
do you even want that person on your side? Yes,
we understand that, like as global artists, people have platforms, right,
but it's like is that even genuine then? Like how
effect can something be like that? When someone that supports you,
(31:03):
when someone shares the same struggles that you as you
or once did because now they're like famous and stuff,
doesn't have to do all that stuff, Like they still
understand Like, no matter how successful you are, if you're
not humble enough to remember your situation, your family situation,
where you come from, where your people come from, and
their struggles, it's like, well, maybe I don't watch you
(31:24):
on my side anyway. I don't know, Like I've really
never heard Annol or Nikki Yam ever say anything intelligent ever,
and all of a sudden they want to be on
stages endorsing people. Okay, you do that. You do that,
Like I'm not gonna say I ever expected anything from you.
(31:46):
Like you, when someone shows you who they are, understand that,
don't try to change someone because that's who they are
at their core.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
I really appreciate you saying that because I had first
my everybody knows the up ed I wrote back in
twenty twenty when George Floyd was murdered, and I was
just like, Okay, you the woke one where you at
Okay Reggaeton, you know we come from this and you're
really not saying shit, but you want to tour here.
(32:14):
And I feel like at the time that was what
needed to be asked and said, but as time has
gone on, I love exactly what you said because it's
like local lot of sistan in signando. So it's like
com verdio cambiatraro, you know. And I feel like to
chase that is to chase your own tail, you know
(32:35):
what I mean, And like I don't got time for
that bullshit, you know what I mean, Like the end
of the day, if that's as far as you go,
that's as far as you go. I just wish, And
I guess this is what really frustrates me. There's like
a lot of romanticizing of the narrative of reggaeton in
regards to like where it came from and like what
it means, and it's rude and like what it means.
(32:57):
It's like what it meant back then, it's not what
it means right now. You know. I feel like people
are trying to apply some shit. And I was guilty
of that too, of like, oh my god, back then
they were using this to raise their voice. It's like, yeah,
they did that back then. But so it's like, I
feel like we can't be constantly giving millionaires because they're
(33:19):
all millionaires now. You feel me like we have left
the struggle. So, like I get so many on audio,
I'm not gonna give that same grace, you know what
I mean, Like it needs to be earned. So I
super appreciate what you said, girl, I super appreciate it.
And so I would like to ask. We spoke on
a wide range of topics and we went kind of
all over the world. Is there something I didn't ask
(33:41):
that you would like to comment on and say, like, and.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
Maybe I can give my heart take. Don't invite me
to your regged doon't party. If your regged don't party
doesn't play women, if they don't play black artists or
career performers, because then it's not reggaeton party is gentrified
and I don't want to be there because we should
be calling it a rao and fade party. And no, hey,
(34:10):
I like them, I like them. I get down with them,
you know. But that's not culture, that's not it's brandy.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
You know.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
We have to dig deeper, we have to make it real,
otherwise we're just cosplaying the esthetic. And again, no hate
to any of the artists. I love them, but I
want to hear some trans girls. I want to hear
some queer people. I want to hear some black reggaeton
eros because to me, that's what raton is. It's not
(34:36):
just the mainstream gentrified raggaton, Like we gotta we gotta
take it back and we got to take it forward too,
because I think the the women, the black artists, and
especially the queer performers, I think are really going to
be the future of the genre.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Girl, I'm a little flabbergastic, but also were gonna get
torn up if I don't go ahead and ask I
need the time out, time out, time out?
Speaker 3 (35:06):
Now?
Speaker 1 (35:06):
Didn't catch us strate just now.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Like and you know what, you know what. I love him.
I've paid to see him before, like I've seen him.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Lie but wait, okay, okay, paus pause because there's so
many blunk ethos and he's not a monk etho so like,
but he's of course like adjacent, I would say, like
he's very you know, the proximity is giving battle. Oh
my god. Okay, wait, so where's that coming from? Like
is it that you see like that with frequency I
got in Europe?
Speaker 2 (35:32):
Or like just because when I think it's just mainstream,
which again is not a bad thing, Like we we
love browling this house. We love faith too, but it's
just is it a party if you're just playing row
and faith and maybe you're throwing in a little that yankee.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
I get what you're saying. So like you're saying the
curation is off.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Yeah, and I think like a lot of times, I mean,
I can really only speak for like the Chicago scene,
but a lot of times, you know, the Latino scene
in Chicago will play well, they'll have a perreal night.
And the perreal in question again is maybe bad bunny question,
(36:19):
bade end Rau. But it's like we're we're missing variety,
We're missing like I want to see versatility. I want
to see more because I feel like it's giving. It's giving,
just like a cosplay of the aesthetic of this is
what is and this is betrayal and yes it can
be bang it more.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
No, I'm sorry, that's a goodlations that the per Okay,
but you're not wrong. Okay, Okay, I got you now.
I got you not because I was like her, wait
what the hell too? But I got you I got
you now because yeah, people do be having Okay. I
approved this message because, as y'all know, shout out to
I don't want to won my party. It's traveling all
(37:02):
over the US, like make sure you hit it up.
And so like Atlanta, Miami, Bronx, I have residencies, go
ahead check it out. I'm there once a month. With
that said, I superher you because like, yeah, it's why
I created the party in the first place. And I'm
very adamant. I'm very adamant. I actually tell the DJs
like limit that. So I superher what you're saying, because
(37:25):
when I you know, when I'm talking to my DJs,
I'm just like, yo, be a heckwayla. First of all
them both dance hall dance hall, Like I am pushing
a lot of people in the sense of dancehall because
dance hall. Shout out to DJ Blast was like it's
you know, a lot of people say, oh, reggae Hegatone,
It's actually not true. It's dance hall Dianthone, Like that's
(37:46):
actually the highacus of Hegaton. So like, I'm pushing people
more that way because at a Vibe and B and
see there's a lot of new dancehall that's really popping.
So like and and so what I tell people is
like put it out Akapa for a fate all macatto
gi acapella over like a dance hall beat and watches
(38:06):
smack you feel me so'o And I'm sorry I'm dying
because the p question killed me because like I I've said,
the sap ship and not for nothing. On a musicologists point,
there's a difference between and this is where you're touching
on perel and reyaton. They're not the same thing. Perrel
is political, reggaton can be, but the political part of
(38:30):
reggaeton is actually perreo. Like for those who are you know,
interested in figuring that out. We don't got enough time
to get into it. But I'll see I'm screaming and
I love that and I proved this passive get. You're
a key meaman. Thank you so much for being here.
I appreciate you and be hands them. Make sure to
check her out everywhere and tell her that I sent you.
(38:50):
We hand that that's all. That's how we got here
for Wow, that's enough yapping for me. I want to
(39:17):
hear from one of you. It's time for this week.
Let's get into it. Thank you for being here. What's
your name? I'm Hi Gill. Thanks for being here. We
are out here in l A. How are you feeling today?
I mean, it's a beautiful day.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
The sun's out, it's not too hot, it's not too bold.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
Like it's a good day to be in LA today.
Born up. Now, tell me who are you listening to
right now?
Speaker 3 (39:38):
I'm really big into let's see kat uh Sis just
the name a few I've been really getting into her lately.
Like very beautiful voice.
Speaker 1 (39:55):
You're romantic, you have a very eclectic voice. I like it.
I like it.
Speaker 3 (39:59):
I mean, I'm a so it's like I mean, like
the Little lover Boy and whatnot.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
I love it. I love it. Say your lover boy,
don't let this world.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
Like taint that.
Speaker 1 (40:07):
I love that. I love that. Oh my god. Okay,
So in which case you mentioned like a different array
of artists, what is it that you appreciate from them?
Speaker 3 (40:16):
I just feel like they all have a different vibe
than every Like songs have a way of like touching
you in a sense of like, you know, like you
could feel what the artist like wants to make you
feel in a sense you know what I mean, Like
if they want you to get up and dance, You're
gonna dance, you.
Speaker 1 (40:34):
Know what I mean. If they want you to be crying.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
You're gonna cry. Yeah, it's a it's an artistry is
a way of showing artistry in which it doesn't have
to be like physical or like not physical, but like
on paper, you know what I mean. Like and like, yeah,
music is definitely like an art that I feel like
we have kind of like when in a different direction nowadays, you.
Speaker 1 (40:56):
Know, So how do you feel about the direction? It's
bad that God tell me more about that. Like if
you're like, oh, this was a perfect era for music,
I'm not I missed that. What's that era?
Speaker 3 (41:07):
It's like early two thousands for sure, nineties two thousands.
I feel like nowadays people are not really focused on
like the artistry, and it's just like how mini streams
can I go?
Speaker 1 (41:16):
How much money can I make.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
Off a song?
Speaker 3 (41:17):
Instead of actually like you know, like giving a message
or like you know, nowadays it's just yeah, like how
much like can I get this viral song to like
get me off? Because like there's a lot of one
hit wonders, but there's not really people who like get
a moment and.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
Like longevity and have the long jevity with it, you
know what I mean? Like what up? What I appreciate that.
Are you nothing?
Speaker 3 (41:37):
Know?
Speaker 1 (41:38):
Where are you from?
Speaker 3 (41:39):
I am, well, I'm from here from my family.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
Oh my god, okay, okay, and so in which case
you are nothing you know in the sphere of like
the Latin world. Who do you listen to? And what
would you want? Who do I listen to?
Speaker 2 (41:55):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (41:55):
I listened to? Like I'm not gonna lie.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
People, okay, like you can never it's the worldwide.
Speaker 1 (42:03):
He's always going to put you in a good mood.
Speaker 3 (42:05):
I just feel like just staying true to your culture
and like, you know, like not being like ashamed of
where you come from in your roots, especially like with
everything going on, Like we really got to like be
as loud as we can right now, you know what
I mean, Like not let anybody push you around or
tell you your lesson and annot because we got each other,
you know what I mean, and like we have to
make our voice heard and whatnot.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
Last question, you just mentioned that there's a lot going on.
Do you have anything to sound off to that.
Speaker 3 (42:30):
Like Viva la dasa, you know what I mean, Like
forever and always, like you cannot let nobody tell you
that you're not good enough because of what you do.
The color just getting like you know you are who
God made you want to be like God made you
perfect in every way, shape or form, and we can't
let nobody tell.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
You otherwise, you know.
Speaker 4 (42:47):
Thank you so much, nice, it was a pleasure to
talk to you.
Speaker 1 (42:59):
Son. It's time for La Florestas and her media production
co executive produced by NAS Media, The Ko edited by SA,
produced by Grace Gonsales. Diamo music by Habby Vibes Dello Mine,
Dello Mine, and shout out to my assistant editors uh
(43:23):
Naomi Asado and Kayla Elston. I'm your host, Lagata, so
you're right here next week, and Rea
This week's combo is coming from outside the US. Literally,
I'm chopping it off with Galilea Mandela, persona Americana from Chicago,
who right now is actually in Germany studying and looking
from outside into the United States. And oh my god,
there's so much the process and coos, the los ice
(00:31):
rays that treats migrants, I mean, hinted outside looking in,
we look crazy. We look crazy. The United States is
crazy right now. And claro or toxico, if we gotta
(00:57):
keep it real, we look crazy, we look toxic in
Claroilo means so that the shira, the mass photos. It
wasn't a small decision for own a statement me Hunter,
I no necessito meco con les ante mirandan politica quos
(01:23):
getting in bless Okay, we don't need the anti immigrant
racist and actively invisibilizing political statements that are affecting Latinos
as in politic losta conversation pertas Aki, and let's get
(01:52):
into it, opening hearts and minds. But Toyak, you know,
(02:17):
super excited because I'm here talking with a fad as
journalists advocate and honestly good online friend of mine, Galilea Mendez,
who is an amazing freelance journalist and contact creator more.
Thank you so much for being here.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Thank you, I'm so happy to be here. Thank you
for the insights.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Absolutely absolutely, I'm just like, ah, this girl gets me.
I need to bring her on first and foremost, I
do like to ask, how are you. There's a lot
going on in the world.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I'm good, as good as one can be. I'm tired.
I think we all are, but I'm okay. I'm okay.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
That makes sense. And yeah, it's day by day. This
is a marathon, not a sprint. Absolutely with everything that's
going on. And with that said, for those who are listening,
Gleans an amazing commentator as well. She like has worked
with a number of outlets and we see Latina pull.
So the list goes on and on, and what I
(03:13):
am particularly fascinated on is like her manner of which
she dials back. And so we're gonna get right into
it here. And so my first question is what is
your take on the accountability or lacker of that non
black Latinos are taking now that the online conversation is
(03:34):
growing in regards to the role and how we got
here with like racism. And I'll give some more context
for those who are listening, like what are you talking about? Online?
Racist things happen in the Latino community, and then there's
this sort of like cycle that happens where a racist
phenomenon happens, and then white Latinos are pretty much shocked, like,
(03:55):
oh my god, I can't believe, how did we get here?
We're not racist, we don't get like that. But the
point at hands is that yes we are. We have
a race problem, has a we have a colorism problem.
And the longer that we act like we don't, I
feel like the longer things will perpetuate. Dalli Leo, what's
your what's your take on this? On the whole accountability
(04:17):
of it all are lack the rows.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
I'm surprised we still are acting shocked at news Like
I think there comes a time where you could have
gotten a way with like I didn't know it was
this bad, I wasn't aware, But like that excuse isn't
valid anymore and hasn't been valid in the years. I
think it shows like ignorance someone on one's part, and
(04:42):
I think, like it must be so exhausting to like
every time something like this happens, which is all the
time to go to like black creators, black latinos and
say can you educate me on this? It's like no,
Like we're tired of fucking educating you, Like when we
should not be going, we should not be counting on
people that already have so much on them to educate us,
(05:05):
Like it's twenty twenty five. Like if you're not checked
in by now, I don't know what to say.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Absolutely girl, clock it, because yeah, I am tired. I
feel like I'm the police and I am not the police,
and I will live a happy life full of joy
and I can't. I can't like every time someone does something, which,
as you said, is like every day, if we see one,
then I super admire about you. That we also shared
common is journalistic ethics storytelling. You know, like there is
(05:37):
a way. I feel like there's a right and a
wrong way to go about spreading information online, and what
that goes to is journalistic ethics. So what it takes
to crass the story? What's your take on the increase
of misinformation that's floating around because it's getting really crazy
out here. You know, people are going on Google reading
(06:00):
a blog that was made yesterday by some kid who
doesn't know anything, and then all of a sudden, there's
you know, repeating it as script in a video that's
going viral, and the people so Tayeva also, and it's like,
it's terrifying. What's your take.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
It's getting real weird and it's getting real scary. I
think people will do absolutely anything they can for clicks
and money, which is absolutely dangerous. But we can't expect
these people to care because they obviously don't. I think back,
like even a couple of years ago, narratives used to
only really come from like news channels and maybe like
(06:38):
bad actors directly misinformation especially, But now you open your
phone and it's influencers, it's public figures, and now it's
even ai. So I feel like the audience has lost
so much trust, rightfully so, And like, I think it's
so funny because it's such a meme that like your
(06:58):
parents like believes so much misinformation that they see on
Facebook and WhatsApp, And here we are, how many generations
later falling for the same shit.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
I'm glad you brought. You brought so many things, so
many gums here, and I'm gonna pick on all of them.
What is like, I mean AI is getting oh it's
getting sold bad. Just yesterday I saw like a video
of like a black girl like she had all the isms,
you know what I mean, Like this is Tom being
in Saul and see like in addition to that, I
(07:32):
saw like videos of black girls like ah like going
like in like their camera phone, and I'm just like
it's terrifying. So, like, what is the most egregious thing
you've seen, like in regards to like AI and in
this whole like phenomena of misinformation, Like what has pissed
you off the most?
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Where is pissed? Honestly, what's pissed me off is the
AI that I've actually fallen for, which I would say
I'm pretty good about it, like I can really tell
and like that's really fake. But when there's a video
that I see and like I find myself sharing it
and then like a couple of scrolls later, I'm like, wait.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
That AI.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
That's what pisces me off because I like to think
that I'm someone that's educated on this and has like
good media literacy and even I'm fucking following for it,
and it's like embarrassing one, but two it's also like damn,
like they got me, they got.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Yeah girl, same, I'll be honest what you was saying,
they got me twice? It was once, you know, because
we're like so angry with everything going on in Gaza.
So like there was this one picture I remember that
I was floating around and I had shared it and
I was like, oh my god, like I felt, I
felt so guilty, and then I's say one of my
(08:47):
honestly it's but nonetheless I shared it and I'm to
shared it. I was like, no one needs to know,
like to die like I was. It was really bad.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
So I feel you that mine was the stupid video
of like I don't know, sad. It was a kangaroo
trying to board a plane. It was like a little
kangaroo and it was really cute and they didn't let
him board a plane, and I was like, oh my god.
I sent it to my sister. I was like, wait,
he's so cute, and then I'm like, it's fucking AI.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
No, It's like it's terrifying, it really is. And then what, honestly,
in another point you brought up that I want to
pick on too, is you mentioned generations that you know,
like get that they go I'm terrified for my elders.
You know, I haven't spoken to so many old people
in my life, but media literacy with them is particularly bad.
(09:38):
You know, they have to like their technology is changing
every day, and then they have to keep up with that,
and then you know what I mean, they have to
make another account on some other app and then on
top of that, they have to be careful with what's
being shared. I know that there's like filters for like kids,
like parents make for kids, but I feel like there
should be filters that like we make for our our
(10:00):
elders too, because it's like, it's really terrifying the things
that I find some of my elders repeating. I'm like, no, no, no, no,
the yet my assel, you know, yeah, yeah, oh my goodness,
you see. So getting to this, like another topic that
I feel like we gone feel similar sentiment on is
(10:21):
revisionist history, right, and AI is contributing to that misinformations
contributing to that. And considering the fact that there are
ice raids all over the country, you know, that are
particularly escalated because of this egregious violation of due process,
it's been very odd to like witness the revisionist history
(10:45):
taking place regarding black and brown solidarity, So I would
just love to hear your take on that.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Yeah, I think this term black and brown solidarity has
been historically a real radical and deeply contested thing. Like
if we think about historically like the Young Lords and
the Black Panthers working together in the nineteen sixties, or
cross racial organizing between farm workers, prison abolitionists, and antilite
(11:15):
colonial activists, we know that historically this is a thing
that works. But we also know that, like real solidarity
is earned through struggle and shared trauma and shared experience
and can't just be invoked through a hashtag. And it's
(11:37):
also a lot of the times when we talk about
black and brown solidarity, you know, especially in regards to
the ice rates, we immediately I think as Latinos, a
lot of Latinos are like, well, why isn't the black
community speaking out when whole time, the people that are
being disproportionately affected by the ice rates are African and
(11:58):
Caribbean immigrants. They're black immigrants themselves. So we can't act like, oh,
this isn't in us problem, Like black people don't understand.
Black people definitely understand, and we're already like coming at
them crazy, saying like why aren't you supporting us? Why
aren't you supporting us? Like why is it always like
the US versus them thing? Which is actually really sad
(12:21):
to see because when you think about it, like the government,
the police, ice, dhs all work together, they all got
each other's backs, but we don't clock it.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Absolutely love the historical context. Thanks for mentioning that. And yeah,
like I feel like that even goes back to like
the point at the top right, because it's like it's
part of this like wow shock factor. It's like, oh
my god, we're on ARONI thought about what I got
and it's like Kenley, you know what I mean. It's
like it's been very okay, at least for me observing
(12:55):
what's been going on online because of course sexy community,
but online it's like there's a lot of people who
thought that they'd be safe in their little bubble and
then you know, Trump popped that bubble. I'm talking to you, Cubans,
I'm talking to you, you know, like people who thought
that you know us a song called That's something that
(13:15):
I hear heard my entire life, you know what I mean,
Like I'm okay, not effect but like now that Trump
is we broken certain visas and certain people are being
clunk together. Seen it's like now some people are like,
you know, the the lights are on, you know, so yeah,
(13:37):
like it's unfortunate. I'm not gloating for those we're listening
like it's that's not the point. The point is just
more so like we've wasted a lot of time doing
this whole us and them. So it's a song where
it's like that has never ever benefited you in a
way that's like outside of the superficial. So like you know,
(13:58):
like this is the time to really it's happen. So
thank you for that. And so speaking of online, I
don't know, maybe I'm online too much. There's something that
I be processing lately. I'm like, should I just turn
my phone off and just pop you? And I don't
know what to do? Girl Like it's like a balance,
but I just a pardaments like I can't come and
(14:19):
if I don't know, But then I find myself doom
scrolling and it's like I don't know, I don't know.
And so with that said, there's not going online. I
don't know if I'm online too much. What I do
know is sometimes I feel like I can't comment on
what's going on if I don't know what's going on.
So like I don't know. It's a process and a
(14:40):
balance that I'm trying to figure out. And in the
middle of that, I have Regaton, which lately have been
feeling like a burden because a lot of these artists,
well I love them, they don't know what to say.
Then I'm saying shit, myso loca, you know, and so
it's like I feel like I'm commenting for all of
Regedton sometimes because they're not saying So with that said,
(15:03):
some artists are paying attention and in fact are choosing
to engage in a way that's okay, indirect but direct
by skipping a whole tour list of cities in the US.
Y'all know, I'm talking about that, Bunny Girl. What was
your take on that?
Speaker 2 (15:19):
I literally screamed, I'm for it, to be honest, I'm
still seeing him. He's coming to Germany, so I'm not
too mad about it. I think i'd be I'd be
a little butt hurt if I was in the US
and I was missing out on targets. But get over it.
Like think about the world does not revolve around the US,
(15:39):
and I think that blows so many American minds that
someone could do something to exclude them. They can't wrap
their minds around it. They're like, you're going to exclude us.
But at the same time, if he did have a
tour in the US, you know that it would be
a hot spot for ice. You know that we would
be targeted. You know that it would be an unsafe thing.
(16:03):
So yeah, I don't know, Like if you want to
see him that bad book a flight girl, I don't know,
like get over it. Think about how many people have
to wait years to see some of their faves. I think,
what did he say? He said it'sunnecessary and absolutely agree.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Yes, like our boss, I love it. And so in
which case, speaking to Hayata, Oh wait, you mentioned that
you're in Germany, so we Kiki on this a little
bit earlier. But you know, for those who are listening,
what is it like? You know, you're laughing in at
in Europe watching It's like you're watching everything on a
(16:40):
street literally, you know what I mean, Like you're not
physically here. What's that been like for you? Because I
know we like crazy outside of these borders. Yeah, what's
going on?
Speaker 2 (16:51):
We looked a little foolish. Yeah, I completely agree. I've won.
First of all, the first thing I want to say
is I feel so incredible that I can exist outside
of that space that I can turn off my phone
and I'm somewhere where this news isn't affecting me directly
because I'm not in there, when I know that if
(17:12):
I was in Chicago, where I was born and raised
in a primarily Latino community, it absolutely would be affecting me.
And I guess I mean, it obviously is affecting me
now as all my family is still there, and I
know how scary it is, but it's a little jarring
to see, especially like things happening while I'm asleep, Like
(17:35):
for example, yesterday morning, I woke up and the first
thing that I saw is that the US had bombed
her on So it's so crazy to see things like
that happen while I'm asleep, completely unaware, and you wake
up and it's just something that's happened and affecting millions
of people, and I can kind of just exist outside
(17:55):
of that, which I've never really been able to exist
outside of stuff like that for insanely crazy. With that
being said, Germany has absolutely its own bullshit that we
need to figure out, and being an immigrant is scary
in Germany as well and Lacomnila, Latina. We find ourselves
(18:16):
no matter where we are in the world, and I
find I've found my own here in Germany, and I'm
just thankful for the people that I have found around me.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Ooh, this conversation with gari Leos two good, but will
be right back right after these messages. There's like a
(18:50):
large conversation going on right now right in regards to
like who did racism best? Because now, okay, because some
of the thing because now that everyone is like, oh
you know this is racist here, like oh no, this
comes from this. A lot of people are digging into history,
right They're like, actually this person did it first, or
this country did it first, or this is Hitler hated
(19:12):
was inspired by this, so you know what I mean, Like,
what is it like for you, you know, as an immigrant, Well,
like what does that look like over there? Because I
can't imagine.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Even me living it now is still hard for me
to understand. I think I've always had a racialized identity,
even before when I was living in the US. That's
not something that I can just take off, but here
it definitely translates differently. Like here, a lot of the
times people don't believe me that I'm an American or
(19:46):
don't see me as an American. They see me as
Mexican first. And who did it the best? I mean,
constantly throughout history we see how like fascism and racism
takes form and like will constantly repeat itself. Like I
had just learned recently that the chemicals that Nazi Germany
(20:10):
was using to exterminate Jewish people here were the same
chemicals that they were inspired by the US. And they're
the same chemicals that the US used to clean Mexican
immigrants at the border that were crossing. It's the same
chemical they used, the same one, and they said that
they were inspired by them.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
And when you say clean, because people, you know, are
learning from this, what do you mean by that?
Speaker 2 (20:36):
It was a chemical for them to enter the US
if they were working, So if they had to cross
the border and do some work in the US, they
had to clean them down with a disinfectant because obviously
they were dirty and full of viruses and disease and
all of that. So that's what they were doing. To
(20:59):
them to sure that they can do that, because you know,
we need your labor, but we don't really want you.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
I mean, it's insanity the length that you know, these
systems go to in order to like exploit and suppress
anything that isn't why, you know, And you know, as
you're speaking on this, my brain is fluttering just because
there's so many parallels, you know, Like I find myself
lately trying to explain to people that like a lot
(21:29):
of what's going on isn't new, it's just an evolved
version or something that's happened before. And I don't know,
I get called dramatic a lot. I feel like I
need to do like a a compilation of how many
times I've said this, like throughout my podcast, because literally
it's the thing, and maybe I'm a little traumatized, but
it's the truth. Like I'm called trauma dramatic a lot
(21:52):
because I'm constantly it's just the way my brain works.
I'm constantly like trying to teed together the dots of
like the parallels of this marginalizations. As you were speaking
on that, I was thinking about how the IDF literally
trains the NYPD, and how there's an NYPD office in
(22:13):
God in Israel. How does that make any sense? You
know what I mean? But it makes complete sense, you know.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
And how spyware that they use for surveillance that ICE
uses they have is the same one that that idea
uses as well.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Absolutely, And I wouldn't be surprised if that's being translated
over to here like American citizens. Never mind, you know
the parallels of occupation, right, which is something that still
a lot of people are still grappling to wrap their
mind around. So, I mean, I know a lot of
people are like gatas this podcast, Regaton or history. I'm like, bro,
(22:49):
I need y'all to like hear this because at the
end of the day, this this translates even into music,
right like music is programming, That's the way that I
look at it. And and music is political, like at
the end of the day, it pushes certain ideas. So
Reggaeton to believe that Regaton is not political, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
And to sit here one of the elections, Bro, I
don't know anyone who says, what does politics have to
do with the regadon don't know anything about Regathon.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Or politics for that matter for that matter. Absolutely, and
so getting into this because we spoke on whitewashing and
supremacy again going right into music, there is of course
a legacy of blanc amiento, and it's like, if it
weren't political, why would that be right? Why if this
(23:38):
music wasn't political and didn't have power, why would they
go through such extent and such lengths to try to
whitewash the former ambassadors to like make a whole new
wave of music that's wider in visualization, wider in sound,
and wider in audience, like let's be for real. And so,
as a person in the culture and as a anaton
(24:01):
for you, what has been difficult for you to witness
in the context of like and what do you want
more of?
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Probably Jaylalwn being named Afro Latino Artists of the Year.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
I don't nobody, nobody, nobody.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
What no, but like, Actually, probably one of the hardest
thing as a long time reggaton fan is seeing how
Reggaton's Black Caribbean roots, specifically Afro Panamanian and Afro Puerto
Rican contributions have been erased and disregarded, and anytime someone
wants to like bring them up, it's almost like, oh,
(24:42):
but that was reggaton then, like this is friggaton now,
when the genre literally wouldn't even exist without black diaspora influence.
And yeah, and then when we think about reggaton today,
when obviously the most visible stars are over overwhelmingly light,
light skinned, white Latinos, it's hard to see. It's not
(25:04):
to say that they're not talented. They obviously are. I'm
a big fan of many of them. But I think
we really need to talk about how a lot of
people don't even know that reggadon used to be banned
and it was criminalized, and it was underground, like if
you played that, you went to jail. And now it's
(25:25):
like a global brand, which we love to see, of course,
because if you're a fan of friggedton, you want to
see it taking off, you want it to see it
doing good. But a genre that used to be rebellious
is now commodified into something that's like maybe European friendly,
non political, clean. You take away all of like the dirtiness,
(25:51):
the grittiness, the culture from it, and I don't think
it's the same sound anymore. And who is actually benefit
who's actually benefiting from that transformation because it ain't.
Speaker 1 (26:03):
Met le Blancca. That's why I call like what's going
on now? And a lot of people but like I
don't get a fuck from my deck cause it's like
it's and it's like I feel like there's nothing wrong
with that. My whole take on it is, you know,
like I feel like there's so many versions that I
get thrown with names that a lot of people the
(26:24):
general public aren't even aware of. So like am I
mad at agaton evolving?
Speaker 2 (26:28):
No?
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Am I mad at the white washing? Absolutely, because I
feel like everybody could eat and you said something lovely
at the top of you know, your your comment, and
that you know, like there's like a lot of black
Latinos who have been whitewa washed right, who have been
removed right, And so there's kind of like this insinuation
(26:50):
that there are any black Latinas or black reggaetons that
are interested in becoming mainstream and that's just not for you,
But for those listening, I simply just want to say
that that's not true. There's a lot of letos who
like are just overlooked, and that's just straight up what
it is. You know, like at the top of my head,
(27:11):
I can name so many regas Loriglo at the La Sista,
who's out there. I profiled her for Rolling Stone, Melaner
Lacey uh La Mota guy Lang at the Genoa does
(27:33):
more raps, So I wouldn't call her per se Tokeisha
is successful, so like I love that for her, you know,
and she well she's with them. Of course she's a
person of color, Negra. I don't think i'd call her
net And so my point is, you know, it's just
a matter of I question of if it was a
thing in visibility. I wondered if it's like, Okay, people
(27:56):
don't know who they are, so like, if they don't
know who they are, they can't support them. But then
I have an initiative called Negratong and it's like what
I have found, at least in the professional space, is
that people are like, we don't get why we should
invest in them, and it's like it's kind of crazy,
you know, like you don't get why you should invest
in them, but you want to invest in a blanquita
(28:16):
who's costuming everything that they're getting from them. Okay, taving,
but it is what it is, and you know, when
I bring it up, they get But hurt. But that's
a conversation for a different day.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
So no, super.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Appreciate what you said there, And so my my next
dog goes to let's think about everything we discussed right
keeping in mind, I think I think the tightest turning
in the sense that the public is getting less patient
(28:50):
with a lot of artists nonsense. I feel like on
a side tangent small one. I promise Reya don gets
away with being silent in twenty twenty five with a
lot of what's going on right now, because while they
try to market to us Latinos for the sake of
like you know, proximity, really a lot of their dollars
(29:11):
come from Latin America, and so at the end of
the day, Latinos like from Latin America, they don't care
about what's going on over here. They got their own
problems and their own shit going on. So like this
kind of like this this disconnect because Legatonanos technically are
paying attention to those of which are paying them. But
(29:34):
at the same time, it's like if you want to
tour over here and then you don't say anything, that's
kind of like when people are losing their patients. I
don't know at least that's what I found. And so
with that context in mind, do geta legon what should
relegaton fans who are asking celebrities to speak up consider
(29:59):
moving forward? What do you think will be productive? And
I feel like I've been asking that question a lot
lately online, like is this productive? Should we be spending
time on this? Like what is the actual response to
doing something like this? Like I would love your take
on this.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
I think it's a difficult question for sure, especially like
a lot of people say, like, well, you separate, we
need to learn how to separate the art from the artists.
But I don't think you can do that all the time.
I think I would say to just you know, when
someone shows you their colors, see them and accept them.
(30:40):
Don't try to change a person, Like when someone when
you have to, when you have to ask someone to
respect you or speak up for you, It's like, why
do you even want that person on your side? Yes,
we understand that, like as global artists, people have platforms, right,
but it's like is that even genuine then? Like how
effect can something be like that? When someone that supports you,
(31:03):
when someone shares the same struggles that you as you
or once did because now they're like famous and stuff,
doesn't have to do all that stuff, Like they still
understand Like, no matter how successful you are, if you're
not humble enough to remember your situation, your family situation,
where you come from, where your people come from, and
their struggles, it's like, well, maybe I don't watch you
(31:24):
on my side anyway. I don't know, Like I've really
never heard Annol or Nikki Yam ever say anything intelligent ever,
and all of a sudden they want to be on
stages endorsing people. Okay, you do that. You do that,
Like I'm not gonna say I ever expected anything from you.
(31:46):
Like you, when someone shows you who they are, understand that,
don't try to change someone because that's who they are
at their core.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
I really appreciate you saying that because I had first
my everybody knows the up ed I wrote back in
twenty twenty when George Floyd was murdered, and I was
just like, Okay, you the woke one where you at
Okay Reggaeton, you know we come from this and you're
really not saying shit, but you want to tour here.
(32:14):
And I feel like at the time that was what
needed to be asked and said, but as time has
gone on, I love exactly what you said because it's
like local lot of sistan in signando. So it's like
com verdio cambiatraro, you know. And I feel like to
chase that is to chase your own tail, you know
(32:35):
what I mean, And like I don't got time for
that bullshit, you know what I mean, Like the end
of the day, if that's as far as you go,
that's as far as you go. I just wish, And
I guess this is what really frustrates me. There's like
a lot of romanticizing of the narrative of reggaeton in
regards to like where it came from and like what
it means, and it's rude and like what it means.
(32:57):
It's like what it meant back then, it's not what
it means right now. You know. I feel like people
are trying to apply some shit. And I was guilty
of that too, of like, oh my god, back then
they were using this to raise their voice. It's like, yeah,
they did that back then. But so it's like, I
feel like we can't be constantly giving millionaires because they're
(33:19):
all millionaires now. You feel me like we have left
the struggle. So, like I get so many on audio,
I'm not gonna give that same grace, you know what
I mean, Like it needs to be earned. So I
super appreciate what you said, girl, I super appreciate it.
And so I would like to ask. We spoke on
a wide range of topics and we went kind of
all over the world. Is there something I didn't ask
(33:41):
that you would like to comment on and say, like, and.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
Maybe I can give my heart take. Don't invite me
to your regged doon't party. If your regged don't party
doesn't play women, if they don't play black artists or
career performers, because then it's not reggaeton party is gentrified
and I don't want to be there because we should
be calling it a rao and fade party. And no, hey,
(34:10):
I like them, I like them. I get down with them,
you know. But that's not culture, that's not it's brandy.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
You know.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
We have to dig deeper, we have to make it real,
otherwise we're just cosplaying the esthetic. And again, no hate
to any of the artists. I love them, but I
want to hear some trans girls. I want to hear
some queer people. I want to hear some black reggaeton
eros because to me, that's what raton is. It's not
(34:36):
just the mainstream gentrified raggaton, Like we gotta we gotta
take it back and we got to take it forward too,
because I think the the women, the black artists, and
especially the queer performers, I think are really going to
be the future of the genre.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Girl, I'm a little flabbergastic, but also were gonna get
torn up if I don't go ahead and ask I
need the time out, time out, time out?
Speaker 3 (35:06):
Now?
Speaker 1 (35:06):
Didn't catch us strate just now.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Like and you know what, you know what. I love him.
I've paid to see him before, like I've seen him.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Lie but wait, okay, okay, paus pause because there's so
many blunk ethos and he's not a monk etho so like,
but he's of course like adjacent, I would say, like
he's very you know, the proximity is giving battle. Oh
my god. Okay, wait, so where's that coming from? Like
is it that you see like that with frequency I
got in Europe?
Speaker 2 (35:32):
Or like just because when I think it's just mainstream,
which again is not a bad thing, Like we we
love browling this house. We love faith too, but it's
just is it a party if you're just playing row
and faith and maybe you're throwing in a little that yankee.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
I get what you're saying. So like you're saying the
curation is off.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Yeah, and I think like a lot of times, I mean,
I can really only speak for like the Chicago scene,
but a lot of times, you know, the Latino scene
in Chicago will play well, they'll have a perreal night.
And the perreal in question again is maybe bad bunny question,
(36:19):
bade end Rau. But it's like we're we're missing variety,
We're missing like I want to see versatility. I want
to see more because I feel like it's giving. It's giving,
just like a cosplay of the aesthetic of this is
what is and this is betrayal and yes it can
be bang it more.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
No, I'm sorry, that's a goodlations that the per Okay,
but you're not wrong. Okay, Okay, I got you now.
I got you not because I was like her, wait
what the hell too? But I got you I got
you now because yeah, people do be having Okay. I
approved this message because, as y'all know, shout out to
I don't want to won my party. It's traveling all
(37:02):
over the US, like make sure you hit it up.
And so like Atlanta, Miami, Bronx, I have residencies, go
ahead check it out. I'm there once a month. With
that said, I superher you because like, yeah, it's why
I created the party in the first place. And I'm
very adamant. I'm very adamant. I actually tell the DJs
like limit that. So I superher what you're saying, because
(37:25):
when I you know, when I'm talking to my DJs,
I'm just like, yo, be a heckwayla. First of all
them both dance hall dance hall, Like I am pushing
a lot of people in the sense of dancehall because
dance hall. Shout out to DJ Blast was like it's
you know, a lot of people say, oh, reggae Hegatone,
It's actually not true. It's dance hall Dianthone, Like that's
(37:46):
actually the highacus of Hegaton. So like, I'm pushing people
more that way because at a Vibe and B and
see there's a lot of new dancehall that's really popping.
So like and and so what I tell people is
like put it out Akapa for a fate all macatto
gi acapella over like a dance hall beat and watches
(38:06):
smack you feel me so'o And I'm sorry I'm dying
because the p question killed me because like I I've said,
the sap ship and not for nothing. On a musicologists point,
there's a difference between and this is where you're touching
on perel and reyaton. They're not the same thing. Perrel
is political, reggaton can be, but the political part of
(38:30):
reggaeton is actually perreo. Like for those who are you know,
interested in figuring that out. We don't got enough time
to get into it. But I'll see I'm screaming and
I love that and I proved this passive get. You're
a key meaman. Thank you so much for being here.
I appreciate you and be hands them. Make sure to
check her out everywhere and tell her that I sent you.
(38:50):
We hand that that's all. That's how we got here
for Wow, that's enough yapping for me. I want to
(39:17):
hear from one of you. It's time for this week.
Let's get into it. Thank you for being here. What's
your name? I'm Hi Gill. Thanks for being here. We
are out here in l A. How are you feeling today?
I mean, it's a beautiful day.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
The sun's out, it's not too hot, it's not too bold.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
Like it's a good day to be in LA today.
Born up. Now, tell me who are you listening to
right now?
Speaker 3 (39:38):
I'm really big into let's see kat uh Sis just
the name a few I've been really getting into her lately.
Like very beautiful voice.
Speaker 1 (39:55):
You're romantic, you have a very eclectic voice. I like it.
I like it.
Speaker 3 (39:59):
I mean, I'm a so it's like I mean, like
the Little lover Boy and whatnot.
Speaker 1 (40:04):
I love it. I love it. Say your lover boy,
don't let this world.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
Like taint that.
Speaker 1 (40:07):
I love that. I love that. Oh my god. Okay,
So in which case you mentioned like a different array
of artists, what is it that you appreciate from them?
Speaker 3 (40:16):
I just feel like they all have a different vibe
than every Like songs have a way of like touching
you in a sense of like, you know, like you
could feel what the artist like wants to make you
feel in a sense you know what I mean, Like
if they want you to get up and dance, You're
gonna dance, you.
Speaker 1 (40:34):
Know what I mean. If they want you to be crying.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
You're gonna cry. Yeah, it's a it's an artistry is
a way of showing artistry in which it doesn't have
to be like physical or like not physical, but like
on paper, you know what I mean. Like and like, yeah,
music is definitely like an art that I feel like
we have kind of like when in a different direction nowadays, you.
Speaker 1 (40:56):
Know, So how do you feel about the direction? It's
bad that God tell me more about that. Like if
you're like, oh, this was a perfect era for music,
I'm not I missed that. What's that era?
Speaker 3 (41:07):
It's like early two thousands for sure, nineties two thousands.
I feel like nowadays people are not really focused on
like the artistry, and it's just like how mini streams
can I go?
Speaker 1 (41:16):
How much money can I make.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
Off a song?
Speaker 3 (41:17):
Instead of actually like you know, like giving a message
or like you know, nowadays it's just yeah, like how
much like can I get this viral song to like
get me off? Because like there's a lot of one
hit wonders, but there's not really people who like get
a moment and.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
Like longevity and have the long jevity with it, you
know what I mean? Like what up? What I appreciate that.
Are you nothing?
Speaker 3 (41:37):
Know?
Speaker 1 (41:38):
Where are you from?
Speaker 3 (41:39):
I am, well, I'm from here from my family.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
Oh my god, okay, okay, and so in which case
you are nothing you know in the sphere of like
the Latin world. Who do you listen to? And what
would you want? Who do I listen to?
Speaker 2 (41:55):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (41:55):
I listened to? Like I'm not gonna lie.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
People, okay, like you can never it's the worldwide.
Speaker 1 (42:03):
He's always going to put you in a good mood.
Speaker 3 (42:05):
I just feel like just staying true to your culture
and like, you know, like not being like ashamed of
where you come from in your roots, especially like with
everything going on, Like we really got to like be
as loud as we can right now, you know what
I mean, Like not let anybody push you around or
tell you your lesson and annot because we got each other,
you know what I mean, and like we have to
make our voice heard and whatnot.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
Last question, you just mentioned that there's a lot going on.
Do you have anything to sound off to that.
Speaker 3 (42:30):
Like Viva la dasa, you know what I mean, Like
forever and always, like you cannot let nobody tell you
that you're not good enough because of what you do.
The color just getting like you know you are who
God made you want to be like God made you
perfect in every way, shape or form, and we can't
let nobody tell.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
You otherwise, you know.
Speaker 4 (42:47):
Thank you so much, nice, it was a pleasure to
talk to you.
Speaker 1 (42:59):
Son. It's time for La Florestas and her media production
co executive produced by NAS Media, The Ko edited by SA,
produced by Grace Gonsales. Diamo music by Habby Vibes Dello Mine,
Dello Mine, and shout out to my assistant editors uh
(43:23):
Naomi Asado and Kayla Elston. I'm your host, Lagata, so
you're right here next week, and Rea
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