Calle 13 Thesis

Calle 13

“Soy América Latina. Un pueblo sin piernas pero que camina” (Latinoamerica). Calle 13 is a popular Latin music group known for their political and social stance portrayed in their music. Mostly known for their 2006 Grammy nominated song “Atrevete”, Calle 13 has skyrocketed in becoming one of the most influential music groups in the reggeaton genre. It is no secret that Latin America has become a part of the world that is looked down upon because of its poverty. Calle 13 fights against the social stigma of Latin America being an area people should feel sorry for. They define social justice through their music by making sure that L.A. isn’t being degraded by the rest of the world. The United States media has portrayed Calle 13 as the

most. politically outspoken music group in Latin American. When Calle 13 is spoken about in the media, it is because they are getting politically and socially involved in L.A. or because they are they are deliberately taking a stance against the United States.
Calle 13 is a Grammy award winning Latin American music group that is socially and politically involved in LA. Calle 13 is made up of 2 men who were step brothers and when their parents divorced they still stuck together. Rene Perez who is also known as Residente is the singer and song writer of the two. He was born on February 23, 1978 in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. Perez developed a love for writing poetry and music at a young age. On the other hand, Eduardo Cabra also known as Visitante is the composer of the music. Cabra is the one who plays the instruments and makes all the beats to the music while Perez does the lyrics. Cabra was born on September 10, 1978 in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He grew up learning how to play the piano and was rumored to be taking lessons from a very famous piano player in Puerto Rico. Moreover, as he grew older, Cabra mastered the saxophone, flute, piano, and later taught himself how to play the guitar. Growing up together, Perez and Cabra connected with their music and never stopped being together. After the divorce of their parents Cabra would walk to Perez’s house which was on 13th street (Calle 13) and would need to present himself to the security as “Visitante” in order to visit the “Residente” Perez. Together they decided to create a music group between themselves and start producing music for the world to hear.
Perez and Cabra started to make music in 2004 and sent it to local radio stations for people to hear. After a year of making music they decided to send what they had to a small reggaeton label named White Lion Records. They sent a total of 4 songs that contained two very well-known and popular songs in Puerto Rico. Fortunately, Calle 13 was signed and ready to start producing music for a larger audience. In 2005 they released their first album named “Calle 13” featuring their most popular songs “Se Vale To-To” and “Atrevete”. Their first album had a lot of publicity and the songs that were already popular in Puerto Rico was now being listened to in most parts of Latin America. It wasn’t until their sophomore album that they started their political and social movement. In 2007, Calle 13 released their 2nd album called “Residente o Visitante” which sparked their career long movement to speak for the voiceless in Latin America.
The reason behind their movement is to express and inform the world about what Latin America is and what they have gone through.

Most if not all Calle 13 songs address what life is like in Latin America, however, their songs are not to make people feel bad for LA but for the people of LA to be proud of who they are and where they come from. For example, in the song “Latinoamerica”, Calle 13 sends a message to the world proclaiming that LA may look poor yet they are rich in spirit. They remind Latin American people about where they come from and let them know that they should be proud of their roots and culture. Calle 13 constantly reminds LA that they shouldn’t let the world look down upon them because they are just as great as anyone else. Also, in the song “Pal Norte” Calle 13 recognizes the struggles people in LA are going through. They let the world know why a lot of people have no other choice but to migrate to the U.S. and have a better life. Calle 13 speaks for those with no voice because there is no other way those people can be heard.

Calle 13 has been recognized several times for their influential music and have been awarded at least 19 Latin Grammys since their start in 2004. The United States media began to follow Calle 13 and realized that their lyrics are not just lyrics but they are backed up by their actions. In other words, the media saw how passionate and authentic Calle 13 was about their people and music. In an article on the Los Angeles Times titled “The politics of Calle 13, to the beat of reggaeton”, the media acknowledges the political power and movement Calle 13 has on Latin American people. Also, the article

states
“When he co-hosted the 2009 MTV Latino Music Awards in Los Angeles with a visibly uncomfortable Nelly Furtado, Residente hurled insults at Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Mexican President Felipe Calderon. He also took a moment to propose Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez” (Los Angeles Times).
Rene Perez “Residente” is the most outspoken between him and his brother since he is the one who writes the lyrics and sings their songs. Whenever Calle 13 has the chance to be heard nationally they are not afraid to speak about what is going on in LA. In an interview conducted by Fox News Latino, Residente told the reporter “We want to go to Ecuador to visit the zone where the indigenous people are, to learn about the Chevron situation,” (Fox News). Perez’s comment about Ecuador goes to show how involved he loves to be with all Latin American countries. The people in Ecuador were battling Chevron because of the pollution they have caused for years that has endangered lives of the indigenous people. If Calle 13 can do anything to help they will do it because they do not only care about Puerto Rico, which is not a country, but for all Latin American countries that are going through struggles.
Being the voice for Latin American people also involves criticizing the United States since it plays a great role in the lives of people living in the Americas. When Calle 13 has something to say about the United States, it is never pretty. So, other than writing about how politically and socially Calle 13 is involved in LA, the media focuses on the criticisms aimed towards the United States. Calle 13 being from Puerto Rico, a US colony, has had plenty to say about the US and how it runs its government. One of their most controversial and politically aimed songs towards the US is “Querido FBI”. The song accuses the US government of assassinating Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, the leader of the Macheteros. The Macheteros is a group that advocates Puerto Rico independence through armed struggle; “the song castigates local authorities for not protesting vigorously and threatens revenge” (NY Times). The New York Times also states that the Macheteros have taken responsibility of killing a Navy sailor and some bombing in the US. However, the brothers (Calle 13) say “Our ideal has always been that Puerto Rico be independent” (NY Times). Also, there was another huge controversy when Calle 13 performed “Querido FBI” in front of the American quasi-embassy when at the time there was a campaign of the Cuban government. The U.S. media didn’t hold back from pointing out all the controversies that surrounded Calle 13 portraying them as an unstable and outspoken Latin music group. Yet, Calle 13 has never had intentions to create violence but to speak what they believe in.
Despite the criticism surrounding Calle 13, it is no uncertainty that they are standing up for Latin America. The US media portrays Calle 13 as an unstable outspoken political music group but that does not stop them from using their talents to send messages to around the world and have no other intention but to speak for the voiceless. Unfortunately, Calle 13 has taken a pause, however, Rene Perez (Residente) and Eduardo Cabra (Visitante) are individually still creating music about social issues surrounding Latin America. Still both brothers continue to be recognized by their musical talent as Residente has the No.1 album in Latin music right now and Visitante is nominated for best new artist of the year. What Calle 13 stood for was not for publicity, they spoke their minds because they strongly believed Latin America is “Un pueblo sin piernas pero que camina” (Latinoamerica).