Considered by most, as the Mecca of socially conscious Hip Hop, the Bay Area is also home to legendary MC Rico Pabón. After a year in the studio, Rico is set to release his 4rd and most powerful album to date, Louder Than Fiction on revolutionary-label, Hard Knock Records this Spring.” Reflecting on the concept of the album, Rico states, “Life is louder than fiction. There wasn’t any need for me to use my imagination when writing the lyrics to this album because every word of it is true."
One major factor that distinguishes Puerto Rican rapper Rico Pabón from many of his Reggaeton and Hip Hop peers is his lifelong mission.
"Through my words and music, I seek out righteous action, raising a fist for activists and challenging oppression and injustice everywhere." This outlook may be unique in Hip Hop, but for Rico, his activism and art go together like red rice and beans.
Rico Pabón's own experiences have proven fertile ground for exploring human truths -- and for crafting diverse soundscapes. Rico's mother was 15 years old when she had him. Rico was born into a family of Salsa musicians in Queens, NY and was constantly shuttled between the East Coast and the San Francisco Bay Area. Each new home had two things in common: financial tribulations and music. He soon understood that hardship and art were two sides of the same coin.
"The most beautiful music has come out of those periods of time when we were enslaved, or our condition of living had just changed from bad to worse. Maybe it's because song is our survival during the hardest times. It's not something we do for money, fame or recognition. Music is really, truly an expression of our emotion, and pain is one of those energies that, if you don't let it out, can destroy your soul."
Rico Pabón has kept his soul intact through music as the lead member of Prophets of Rage (POR) and as MC for San Francisco Bay Area Afro-Latin Hip Hop band Agua Libre (formerly O-Maya). 1994 saw the first release from POR, No More Patience. In 1997, after the release of their sophomore offering, Brand New World, POR seemed poised for a national breakthrough. Their single, Memories, was in heavy rotation at urban radio stations around the country, including San Francisco's KMEL. Unfortunately, despite airplay and critical acclaim, national prominence eluded the group as their music was buried in the rubble of music industry restructuring.
Undeterred, Rico went solo and hooked up with Headnodic (producer of Hip Hop act Crown City Rockers) to record Rico's solo album, My Power. This album was dedicated to Puerto Rican freedom fighters and featured Puerto Rican poet Piri Thomas. In 2003, Rico's song, Yo Naci, was one of the standout tracks on the acclaimed Hard Knock Records anti-war Hip Hop compilation, What about Us? During this time, Rico also joined Afro-Latin Hip Hop band O-Maya to record their self-titled album. In 2003, O-Maya was voted Best Latin Band in the Bay Area at the SF Weekly Music Awards. Rico still performs with founding members of O-Maya in a new group called Agua Libre.
No matter which musical configuration Rico finds himself in - whether Salsa or Hip Hop -- his poetic lyrics are bound by the theme that struggle feeds beauty. This theme combined with his rhythmic delivery make him one of the Bay Area's most dynamic MCs. Rico's international flavors have allowed him an opportunity to share the stage with other international artists such as Damian and Stephen Marley, Ozomatli, Buju Banton, Femi Kuti, John Santos, Zap Mama, Meshell N'degeocello, Maxi Priest and Sizzla. Rico has also performed with Hip Hop icons such as Run DMC, Wu Tang Clan, Zion I, dead prez, Big Daddy Kane, and Kurtis Blow.
Rico is also a devoted husband, a new father, a community leader, and a business owner. Rico and his family own and operate Sofrito, Oakland's only authentic Puerto Rican restaurant. Just like his music, Rico's establishment has become an anchor in the Puerto Rican, Hip Hop, and Salsa music communities.
Louder Than Fiction is a “balanced blend of stories from different times in my life, social commentary, and reflecting on the state of Hip Hop and humanity as a whole. Of course, beats that bang throughout, but with gritty soul, the way it was back in the days”, states Rico. The album features dead prez, Zion I, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Kimiko Joy, Destani Wolf, Inti Illimani, Binghi Ghost, and Luqman Frank, among others. Production on LTF is shared by: Rico Pabon and Headnodic of Crown City Rockers, with extra instrumentation/ production by Mike “Tiger” Auberg, keyboardist for Goapele’s band.
For more information, please contact:
Nick Huff at Hard Knock Records
nick@hardknockrecords.com
Rico Pabón "Louder Than Fiction" IN STORES NOW!!!
Influences
Mi mama, uncles and aunts, KRS One, Stevie Wonder, Rakim, Johnny Pacheco, Prince, Public Enemy, Ismael Rivera, Hector Lavoe
Sounds Like
The truth.
Record Label
Hard Knock Records
Type of Label
Indie
Rico Pabon of Prophets of Rage and Agua Libre's Latest Blog Entry
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"Louder Than Fiction is conscious, politically charged hip hop, full of fire, fueled by Pabon's captivating, wide-ranging flow. Strong all around."
-- Scratch Magazine
"Certified dope MC Rico Pabon mixes contemporary consciousness with vintage hip-hop production. It's a soul-drenched recipe frequently employed by stalwarts like KRS-One & Mos Def. It's clear throughout the album that he's orbiting a few universes past standard. Polished gem of an album."
-- SF Guardian
"Big Pun, Q-Unique, Cuban Link, Termanology and now, more than ever, Rico Pabon. The Bay Area via the East Coast MC's game jersey should be hanging from the roof alongside those of his linguistically gifted Latin contemporaries."
-- YRB Magazine
The first single from this former front man for Prophets of Rage, "Lay 'em Down" should be booming everywhere from the Bronx to San Jose. Strong Latin melodies and guest vocals from Sticman of Dead Prez make this my summer joint of the year."
-- XLR8R Magazine
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June 27th Come Join us for a day of Family Fun in the park at the Sacramento Unity and Diversity Music Festival. DoubleLion XSample and King Hopeton, Butterscotch and Messenjah Selah will be performing along with many other great bands from the surrounding areas. Tell your family and Friends, Make this a Date For all of Sacramento and Arnold to Remember. Tickets on sale at www.ticketweb.com, the Beat Record Store on 17th and Jst in down town Sac for 13.00 or at the gate for 20.00. Hope to see you there ROOTS ROCK REGGAE, ALTERNATIVE, JAZZ, DANCE TROOPS, R&B, SALSA
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Gramps Morgan of Morgan Heritage and Double Lion performing Thurday May 28th at Image Vip Lounge located at 7th and Jst downtown Sacramento... Tickets selling fast..Hope to see you there
CalWest Cultural presents the 1st Annual Sacramento Unity & Diversity Music Festival on Saturday, May 2, 2009 in downtown Sacramento, California. This event is an attempt to continue the efforts towards encouraging unity in Sacramento and the surrounding area. The event is set to begin early that Saturday hosting local artists such as Butterscotch, a Sacramento/Davis native who gained popularity as one of the finalist on the 1st Season of America’s Got Talent. Mystic Roots, a talented reggae band from Chico, bring the vibes with a 45 minute show closer. You won’t want to miss this it, for these are just two of the 11 and some acts set to perform this year.
Tickets On Sale Now through Your Ticket Pro $13 Adults (14 & older) $20 At the Gate $6 Kids (11-13) KIDS 10 & UNDER FREE ADMISSION
Big Noise Radio is the online radio station that streams Free Hip-hop Music whenever you want to listen, giving you the real radio experience that seems to be missing from many other online stations. Radio shows are about 7 hours long and shows are changed every night. At bignoiseradio.com we provide some of the best independent hip-hop music on the planet. You’ll find artists like Black Milk, Rasco, Elzhi, One Be Lo, Common, Guru, Little Brother, Madlib, J Dilla, Jake One, Kev Brown, Planet Asia, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, 9th Wonder, Murs, MF Doom and many more…BIGNOISERADIO.COM!
Big Noise Radio TOP 20 Songs / Emcees for March 2009:
1. Zion I ' All The Way ' 2. SoulStice ' Still Love ' 3. Rebels To The Grain ' Breakbeats & Rhymes ' 4. Dead Prez ' HAPPINESS ' 5. Talib Kweli & Madlib ' Happy Home ' 6. Lord Jamar ' Advance The Game ' 7. Little Brother ' Say It Again ' 8. The Regiment ' They Dont Know ' 9. MEDIAN ' How Big Is Your World ' 10. Tony Vic ' That’s The Shit ' 11. ICEWATER ' What U Say ' 12. Blu & Exile ' So-ul Amazing ' 13. Filthy Feddi ' Bayground Bullys t03 ' 14. RASCO ' Lighten It Up ' 15. Kev Brown ' Say Sumthin ' 16. NEMESIS ' No Chain Music ' 17. Muneshine ' FAREWELL ' 18. eLZhi ' Keep On ' 19. The Tones F-Major ' Beautiful ' 20. Theory Hazit ' GHETTO '
CalWest Cultural presents the 1st Annual Sacramento Unity & Diversity Music Festival on Saturday, May 2, 2009 in downtown Sacramento, California. This event is an attempt to continue the efforts towards encouraging unity in Sacramento and the surrounding area. The event is set to begin early that Saturday hosting local artists such as Butterscotch, a Sacramento/Davis native who gained popularity as one of the finalist on the 1st Season of America’s Got Talent. Mystic Roots, a talented reggae band from Chico, bring the vibes with a 45 minute show closer. You won’t want to miss this it, for these are just two of the 11 and some acts set to perform this year.
Tickets On Sale Now through Your Ticket Pro $13 Adults (14 & older) $20 At the Gate $6 Kids (11-13) KIDS 10 & UNDER FREE ADMISSION
MUCH LOVE n RESPECT!! HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT 2 OUR SHOW this WED di 25TH!!
MARCH MADNESS LiVE DANCEHALL ShoW! @ COO-YAH Wednesdays in SAN FRANCISCO
Alongside …BADDEST HOT GYaL SELECTAs DJ DANEEKAH & GREEN B
BRuNoS CLuB SF 21+ NO COVER!!! BODiROCK DANCERS & EMCEES LIVE!!!
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& DANCEHALL BGYAL QUEENS D ROCKSTARRR / M. BUTTAFLY / DOCTA SUSS !!!!!
