The Rec Room promises to position itself as one of the most important rap events in Colombia. In 2023 they had already surprised with a poster made up of artists such as La Etnnia, Tres Coronas, Mañas Ru-fino and Penyair, among others. But for this year’s edition, the organizers decided that, in addition to having great references from the local scene, two international guests would join the concert.
So that, The Colombian artists who will make up the 2024 edition of the Rec Room are: Luis7Lunes, Granuja, Lianna, La Tinta del Caribe and La Eterna. Along with them, international artists Acru (Argentina) and the Spanish rapper duo Ergo Pro & Ill Pekeño will perform.
Who are Ergo Pro & Ill Pekeño?
From that moment on, their friendship was linked to this musical genre that, years later, has made them two of the emerging rappers with the greatest projection in Madrid; There are approximately 500,000 monthly listeners on the Spotify music platform.; They have two published albums, one solo each, and another together called ‘Ópera Fidelio’, but they attribute their success to their EP ‘Av. Rafaela Ybarra’ of six songs. This year, they will announce a tour of Spain and will perform for the first time in Colombia as part of Rec Room 2024, being the first Latin American country they visit.
In an interview with EL TIEMPO, the artists told details about their musical career, their vision of the rap scene, Ill Pekeño’s new album and their presentation at the Rec Room 2024, where They will be presented on June 14 at ‘El Deck’ in Medellín, and on June 15 at the Royal Center in Bogotá.
First time in Latin America. What does this step represent for your career?
Ill Pekeño (IP): It’s one of those crazy accomplishments that every rapper wants to cross off their list. The opportunity for two people from the neighborhood, from Madrid, to present themselves in other countries is very gratifying. I have never been to Latin America, but I have heard very good things about the public, everyone who has gone tells me that it is crazy.
They are going to perform in Colombia along with many local artists. Did you already know the scene in this country?
Ergo Pro: (EP) Yes. I in particular know Sison Beats and his group. They are very cool. We’ve also listened to Crack Family. As for the Rec Room artists, Luis7Lunes has one of the best rap staging, he raps and with his way of doing it he kills you. As soon as we met him I asked him for a collaboration and he accepted. The song is already recorded.
At what point did you decide to dedicate yourself to rap?
IP: It was a long process, but everything was happening. Ergo left his job and started first, it took me a little longer to take the leap because it meant leaving my job and taking risks. But we did it, then we released the album, we met our manager and everything happened very naturally.
EP: Yes. In the first events they didn’t charge much and everything went into paying for the music videos and the venues. Now things are better for us, but we have to remember that we are two rappers who carry families on their backs. The numbers on platforms may look very striking but that reflected in money is not the same.
This is a musical genre that allows many experiences to be narrated. What does the rap of Ill Pekeño and Ergo Pro tell?
EP: We tell our own stories. The experience of growing up in a poor neighborhood in the south of Madrid. We are not trying to say that our neighborhood is the most dangerous or something like that, but rather to give a message that generates class consciousness. My neighborhood is not the same as a neighborhood in the north of the city.
IP: I talk about what I suffer, I talk about what I feel, I talk about what I smoke.
What is the Spanish rap scene like?
EP: In Spain there was a belief in part of the movement that North American rap was not good. We have a different thought. Part of our currents are the nineties rap from Queens. As ‘C Terrible’ said: this is rap in Spanish, not Spanish rap. Rap is doing very well here, we have great references. Rap fills stadiums.
Their songs talk about experiences in Madrid. How to transmit your lyrics to people from other countries?
IP: The ‘Street rap’ brother. Although in Colombia there may not be a place called Avenida Rafaela Ybarra, or Avenida Andalucía, our lyrics are written in a way that can convey to anyone the universal experience of what happens on the street. Rap must tell it in a way that experiences are understood everywhere, beyond the place where they listen to us.
Although they are a duo, they also have solo projects. Let’s talk about Ill Pekeño’s new album…
IP: It’s called ‘PEKE: short height, huge heart’. It is a project in which I allowed myself to make various rhythms and even sing. As for lyrics, I am always inspired by my neighborhood, by the people I have lost, by betrayals. I think that drives the album. To whoever reads us, I recommend songs like ‘QB players’, ‘Buscavidas’ and ‘Alzheimer’.
Finally, what are your next projects?
IP: We want to continue filling very large rooms. Now we are thinking about this event, but we have our ‘Forever bros tour’ in Spain and things are also coming from my brother Ergo and an album together.
GABRIEL ÁVILA – SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM EL TIEMPO
IG: Gabo.avila23
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