Reggaeton News:
Fat Joe Brings Libertad to the People
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You are Latino and live in the U.S. Chances are
that you love Reggaeton, go crazy for Hip-Hop and get down to Bachata.
You are looking for a festival that combines all the music you love.
Needless to say, you feel a little frustrated. There’s nothing
out there that really fits your diverse music taste. Right? Wrong. Get
ready for Libertad 2005, a new breed of music festival.
Fat Joe on Stage at the Libertad Music Festival in Bayfront Park Miami
A Day To Remember
This past Sunday at the Miami Bayfront Amphitheater, thousands gathered
to be part of the first annual Libertad Music Festival. The Miami crowd
was witness to an impressive line-up that combined Urban Latin Hip-Hop
artists with their Reggaeton counterparts. For many,
it was a rare opportunity to catch all their favorite artists performing
on the same stage.
Libertad is the brainchild of NYC rapper Fat Joe,
who in association with Catalyst Entertainment, wants to reach out to
the previously overlooked demographic of young Urban Latinos. Backstage,
Fat Joe spoke with Barrio305 about the new wave of urban Latin music.
“I mean it’s amazing,” declared Fat Joe. “We
are trying to do something called Libertad. So all of us Latinos, can
get together and make concerts around the whole country.”
With a line up that includes Miami’s PitBul
and Reggaeton favorites like Zion y Lennox, Fat Joe
feels secure in his ability to draw the masses. “We are doing
something that takes a Hip Hop artist like me and mixes it with Dominican
Bachata artists like Aventura and Mexican stars like the MB Rydas.”
The goal is to bring every possible Latino music genre and place it
all under one roof. “And of course we got all the Puerto Ricans
representing Reggaeton.” Adds Fat Joe with a
smile.
A New Morning
Fat Joe has worked hard to make people aware of his Latino ancestry.
Even in the early days, when it wasn’t fashionable to be identified
Latino, Fat Joe was proud of his heritage. “When I started I was
told to keep my roots to myself, to lie and say that I was something
else - anything but Latino” reveals Miami’s new resident
rapper.
Many fans out there are worried that, like in past
times, Latino artists will fall victims to the unscrupulous business
practices of the music industry. But the artist best known for his 2004
hit Lean Back wants fans to know that things are changing for the better.
“Believe me guys are getting smarter and smarter. There’s
nobody going to be taken advantage of, the Latinos are very smart businessmen
and no one is being taken for a fool.” Promises a positive Fat
Joe.
Forward Thinking
What’s next for Reggaeton and Urban Latino Music? Fat Joe feels
that to answer such questions, you need something akin to a crystal
ball.“ What you got to understand is that I can’t predict
it; only God knows what’s going to happen with our music. But
its looking like it’s getting so big. Only God can see what’s
going to happen next”
Whatever happens next, Fat Joe will keep on playing a vital role in
pushing the Latino movement forward. “I’m very, very proud
of mi gente Latina. We are really getting strong. Latinos are really
moving up there! We are selling so many records. We are coming up”
And what about the Libertad Tour? Will it be back next year? ”Yeah.
I love what’s going on. Libertad tour 2005 to 2025!” And
that will come as great news to the thousands of Miamians fans who inaugurated
the festival.
Barrio 305
©Barrio305.com
