It's that Latin Lingo, Baby    -Cypress Hill-

 

 

The lyrical world of Hip Hop Rhetoric illustrates the border on which much of Latino Hip Hop exists.  Three of the main dichotomies that make up the bridged existence of this discourse are Latino vs. United Statesian, Spanish vs. English, and Rich vs. Poor.  Borderland Hip Hop is culturally and linguistically mixed and economically schizophrenic.

 

 

Spanglish and AAVE

 

A major charactersitic of Borderland Hip Hop is its use of both Spanish and English (Spanglish).  This may take the form of intermixing Spanish and English words (e.g. First I claim my city, puro Los Angeles) or using Spanish-ized versions of English words (caro). This linguistic interplay is many times an everyday reality for those living on the border, or in places where the border existence has moved into non-border regions (Los Angeles, Houston, etc.).  To add to this dynamic,  African American Vernacular English (AAVE), otherwise known as Ebonics, is also a major piece of the linguistic collage that is Borderland Hip Hop.  Because African American experience and discourse is the template from which Hip Hop was created, and continues to exist, the influence is extremely strong and vivid.  In the following example from rap group Cypress Hill, we see the linguistic interplay of Spanish, English and AAVE.  This excerpt is from their song "Latin Lingo":

 

[Sen Dog]Freak to the funk that no-one else is bringin'

 

Sen Dog with the funky bilingue

Yeah that's the nombre, heard the homie

Peace to Mellow and Frost en el deporte

Sen Dog is not kid of veterano

I'm down, another proud hispano

One of the many of the latins de este ano

And I got plenty for the Jennies tryin to hound dog

But wait, they're clownin on me 'cause of my language

I have to tell 'em straight up, it's called Spanglish

Now who's on the pinga, tha gringo

Tryin to get paid, from the funky bilingual

 

[Chorus: B-Real and Sen Dog]

 

Latin lingo baby (funky bilingual) funky bilingual

Yeah, funky bilingual!

Latin lingo baby (funky bilingual) funky bilingual

It's the latin lingo!

 

[Sen Dog]

Cuando entro, when I come in, suckers fronted

Me mira another bilingual from villa

Vengo con un ejemplo, check the tiempo

Ahhh... esta chingon el instrumental

Ya oiste, como somos

Yo no jodo, I gots the soul dose

And you can hear it, en las congas

Tribal ceremony as the Hill gets stronger

Don't be such a leper, what u got for la cabeza?

Hey homes, pass the cervaza

Before I have to go and push up on your esa

Hhhmm she's fine, son, que fresca

Here homes, have a hit of this yesca

Di yo enseсo the leсo lo prendo

Now you know, that I am in the centro

Where you live, si tu puedes

Nowadays you ain't shit without your quetes

Something like it's gangbang, vatos quieren BANG BANG!

Could of hung out with them, now you callin me a insane

Salte de mi cara, sal de mi camino

Make way, for the the funky bilingual

 

Cultural and Economic Double Consciousness

 

An important characteristic of Borderaland Hip Hop is its existence between the world of Latino Culture and White, United Statesian culture.  Many invovled in this genre live between two more clearly defined worlds.  Like a bridge of sorts, Borderland Hip Hop is influenced by both sides of the terrain which the bridge touches.  And as was the case in the discussion of the linguistic diversity of Borderland Hip Hip, its cultural diversity is also influenced by African American culture.  Borderland Hip Hop, like much of Hip Hop in general, seems to be economically schizophrenic as well.  On one hand, many from the border, and in Hip Hop, are proud of the fact that they aren't rich.  Their lower economic status is a symbol of struggle and counter to the perceived notion of rich, arrogant (stereotyped as White) people of society.  Being part of the lower socioeconomic ranks creates a sense of solidarity.  But, at the same time, many in Hip Hop want to break out of poverty and live like the rich do.  This creates a schizophrenia of sorts where persons born from border poverty want to have the money but keep their barrio/ghetto roots.  They want the mansion and Benz but want to "keep it real" and not be perceived as sell out.  Thus, Borderland Hip Hop naturally incorporates White, United Statesian, Black, Latino, rich and poor culture.  A short example of this comes from rapper South Park Mexican.  In "SPM vs. Los" every other stanza is rapped by either Carlos/Los (the rapper's given name) or by South Park Mexican (Carlos' alter ego who is focused on money and power):

 

[SPM]

I was raised on beans and rice

and if you shot up my crib I wouldn't be surprised

Mama used to trip cuz I fed the mice

I'm the one they sent home cuz my head had lice

I'm the kid that lost my sanity

I'm the kid that had the toys with no batteries

Mama sat me down for some serious talks

On how to keep the rats out the cereal box

 

[Los]

I feel you homie nigga I lived that shit nigga I felt that shit

We never felt so rich those were the good ass days bro

Sure we was broke but we was b-b guns havin' hella fun on natural dough

When you started to smoke that's when you changed

The weed hit the brain and the man thought he came

It was joint, after joint, after joint, after joint

In one month your fuckin' brain was destroyed

Now you got children and a beautiful wife

The kinda money that you make nigga you set for life

Enjoy your self man you only live once

Take your family vacation and relax for a month

 

[SPM]

Ima smoke 'till I croak nigga fuck bein' broke nigga

I need seven bedrooms and my boat nigga

Watchin' rats with eighty seven new gats

The penitantary's the only place when I can relax

I want some hoes in they heads they pushin' me to the edge

The only thing Ima miss is my beautiful kids

I'm just sippin' but thrown I handle shit on my own

I got a camera for every fuckin' inch of my home

It's in my blood to be a drunk and not give a fuck

I do a drive-by in my grandma's truck

A G since daddy left me at the age of three

Now every South Side crack-head pagin' me

 

[Los]

Chill homie cut dad some slack

Sure he left our ass but that was way the fuck back

You all cot up hearin' blastin' on dub

We was only seven when our house got shot up

Mom was all bloody I saw that shit

It was just glass from the mirror it's alright kid

You blessed by God man you can't give up

And run around town not givin' a fuck

...

 

Below: Cypress Hill Music Video "No Entiendes La Onda"

 

 

 

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