HOTSPANIX HISTORY
A QUICK PERSPECTIVE ON HOW A MOVEMENT FOR LATIN ARTISTS IN PHILADELPHIA WAS FIRST PRODUCED.
In September 2008, during the Puerto Rican Parade Day Weekend in Philadelphia, our team released NP HOTSPANIX: Latinos Takin' Over Philly.
We wanted to create a project that would help show that there are Latin Artists in Philly too. With the platform of MySpace and other social media outlets, we promoted the fact that the Philly Hip Hop Awards (who was ran by 360 Entertainment in 2008-2009) missed the ball on a myriad of great Latin artists and entertainers in North Philadelphia. The very limited amount of Latin artists that were featured as nominees in the PHHA included the legendary (yet incarcerated) Peedi Crakk and an upcoming producer in Raymond "Sarom" Diaz, who would both go on to win Best Latin Artist and Best Producer awards, respectively. Peedi went up against, relatively unknown artists in Rican Bull, myself, and the others that never were heard from again. Due to Peedi's absence, DJ Mackie would take the award on his behalf. I joined Sarom's victory party with his family and friends.
Joey Caraz started a podcast called Boycott Radio with Lee Jason that was going to feature unsigned and independent artists that you wouldn't hear on regular radio waves. I was already winding down and grew tired of aspiring to become a rap artist, but I felt networking was still a way I could try to give back or gain a comradeship with many deserving Latin Artists, who still have talent to fulfill the dream. That summer in 2008, I decided to take a stand and worked heavily with Joey regarding a compilation project that would comprise of Hispanic artists from our part of the city.
I got tracks from Eddie 'Etunez' Fonseca, who was working frequently with artists such as Frank Mula, Shizze Robertino and The Ghost Writaz (Myke Storm, NOX & Rockie Reyes). We had already hooked up with Murda Mics for the radio show. Strugz (Now DJ Strugz) was my partner in Team Wreck and had hits with Trip-Hop producer and artist Strophic. We even sprinkled a little bit a Reggaeton to the mixtape from Rigo and Delio y Misterio. We rounded out the mixtape with more street artists like Known, H-Pain G-Dash and the former Squadaz, SAGA & Prophy. Strugz also helped create quick cover art; using a map of North Philadelphia in the background.
After moderate social media promotion and handing out hundreds of copies in the middle of the PR Parade Festival in the middle of 2nd Street, the mixtape was nominated for Philly Hip Hop Awards the following year. Not just for Best Mixtape, but also for Best Group.
SUPA handing out copies of the first Philly Hotspanix mixtape in Sept. 2008.
The outcry for raising awareness for Latino and Hispanic artists in the city was heard. More than a dozen Latino artists were nominees at the 2009 PHHA show as well. Most of them would be featured in our September release Philly Hotspanix 2: Latinos Still Takin' Over the City!
Philly Hotspanix 2 Cover (featured from left to right: Prophy, Rockie Reyes, Sarom, Nox & Saga)
This compilation would include artists featured in the first mixtape, but also some we missed like Philly's Rap Princess Mz Lynx and underrated co-founder Joey Caraz. We were also able to feature new artists that started to scratch the surface such as Sarom's protege Young Reek (2009 PHHA Winner for Best Latin Artist), R&B singers Richie Nunez and Ariel; street artists Darah the Guala, Drugz, Semi & Keat; backpack rap group Loud Speakaz and the outspoken and well-connected DJ Set, who was now helping to manage members of the Squadaz.
DJ Set and SAGA laid out an awesome introduction track for us ('Money, Bitches, Paper') where they shout out and reference groups and squads; representing some of the unity we wanted our project to be about. With help from another good friend, Jonathan 'J.R.' Rosa, we had more access to artists and their work, making Hotspanix 2 a fun project to work on. The bloody artwork by Visdecre assisted in making the project stand out as well.
We would make 2 more mixtapes in 2010 and 2016, and continue to promote artists through our social media outlets, mainly Instagram, Facebook & SoundCloud. Through many changes, whether it's style, fashion, genres, sound or artist development, I've kept the same objective and direction in just giving the extra boost of encouragement and awareness for any local Hispanic artist and we're always brainstorming ideas for the next level.