Orishas
is the most successful group of Cuba today. The three Spanish-speaking hip hoppers are celebrated around the world as the «Buena Vista Youngsters» and received a Latin Grammy in 2004. Even Fidel Castro invited them to his house when he wanted to know who these guys were, whose songs are blasting out of every radio in the country.
I always come home drunk. So when my wife is driving home I’m asleep beside her snoring.
Reggae, of course. You know why? Go figure! Haha....
My iPod is full with good rock music. I like to be open minded about music and take in all different influences there are. In Cuba we have just one radio station and they play every kinda of musical style. So I grew up listening to such a wide spectrum of music and it definitely has its effect on my productions. All the music I ever heard in my life I’ve taken in and can be heard in what I do nowadays. If you take out the hiphop in our music there’s lots of different things – Cuban music for instance, or also rock music.
Well it depends on the night. If I go out with my wife we eventually go to a Jazz club. On other nights I like to go to a hiphop club, or listen to Reggaeton.
Oh, I love to cook. It’s such a creative thing for me. So when I cook I always come up with new ideas for my own songs or productions. Since I have my studio at my house I tend to switch constantly between cooking and producing. This can get quite chaotic at times. I put something on the hearth and then have this great idea for a song, run down to my studio and forget about the boiling pan. Then I have to start all over again.... For me cooking and making music is almost the same.
Maybe hiphop. Or some aggresive rock music.
I usually drive with my wife. We listen to quiet music, everything with some sort of latin vibe to it.
Since I go harpoon fishing I can’t really listen to music while doing it.
The only girl I watch walk on by is my wife.
The same stuff I listen while riding a bicycle.
Well, it’s been a long time since. But I don’t like to hear music when I’m heart broken. I don’t want to suffer even more or try to distract me. I’d rather talk to people.
It’s the same as in the car: Quiet music. I need to be quiet in my mind and have speed in my body. I don’t like to have speed in my mind and tranquility in my body...
Definitely Cuban music. You need to listen to Cuban music when you work in Cuba.
Cuban music.
Dr. Dre
I need lots of music on a plane. I’m very nervous and scared of flying. So I put my headphones on and listen to tunes that distract me. 50 Cent or Dr. Dre make me forget all my fear and I’d probably still be bumping in my seat while the plane crashes.
Oh! I listen to the ghosts, of course. I really like ghosts. In my religion, Orishas are the spirits of the dead. We believe that ghosts are here to help you and tell you things about your life. The dead souls are not remote; on the contrary, they are very vibrant, and can take an active part in everyday life, they can help you with day-to-day problems. I’m not a fanatic, but very serious about my beliefs and my religion. I think you need something to believe in and something that can help you to get thru life.
Anything from roots reggae to new stuff. If you’re stoned you understand more of the words.
I never take the subway. Because when I was once in Paris with Ruzzo and we should have had this place to stay we ended up sleeping in the subway. So I really have bad feelings about it and avoid it.
It’s important for me to get up in a happy mood. And therefore I need music to get me started. I probably kick off with one of my own productions to brush my teeth to, then put on «Crazy» to hype me up even more while getting dressed. Next would be «Feel Good Inc.» when I leave the house and I’ll definitely be in a good mood to start the day. I really can’t be without music. I always listen to music. I even listen to music when I’m asleep. Having headphones on and dreaming about producing music. When you mix music with life it really makes you feel better!
I listen to the sound of the water. Since I only wash my hair once a year.
