West Coast Latin Urban Movement Continues To Expand As New Artists Rise To The Occasion: It's Time For “ABUSIVO”

By: Lorenzo Fenix
(Los Angeles,CA -December 23, 2005)
In the music business, there’s always a product out there which comes once in a while to remind us that creativity has no limits. Abusivo, with his newest CD, represents a refreshing alternative to the rest of the sounds we find in the Latin Urban movement.

While on the West Coast, we caught up with him recently and, interestingly enough, there was no opposition from the usual suspects: bodyguards, representatives and an annoying entourage. His Publicist made it simple, just like Abusivo did with us. A really fortunate event for this interviewer, which set the tone for the conversation that follows.

LF: We couldn’t help but notice the smoothness of a unique West Coast flava in your music, which artists can you list as your influences?

A: My influences are so many, but I can tell you that a a music consumer I have no boundaries. However, I identify with The Notorious B.I.G. due to the fact that he is a storyteller and I focus on defining feelings, emotions, and significant moments for people trough my music. Hopefully, my message will be able to reach people and they will connect with my overall message. I also followed Slick Rick, and from my Mexican roots I have followed traditional bands like Los Yonics, Los Bukis and Cornelio Reyna.

LF: Those bands you’ve mentioned are big among Mexicans and other Hispanics in the US and abroad, how connected are you to your musical roots?

A: Since my parents were born in Zacatecas, Mexico, they have maintained their customs, and as you know, that includes, more than anything, their music. So I grew up listening at home, going to concerts in the local parks, buying CDs, watching them on Spanish TV, etc. However, I could not resist the Hip Hop rhythm and little by little I ended up developing my own approach to it.

LF: De Hotel A Hotel is the title of your newly-released album, where does it come from?

A: From being on the road for a long time, for losing track of which city I was at in certain moments, from the memories accumulated while traveling an against all odds, keeping the belief in myself and my talent. So, yes, the album title comes from being on the road… going through the sacrifices one has to make to be able to help his family. That’s how it is, many of the songs from this album were written in hotel rooms, each and every one of them has its own story behind it, on how they were conceived.

LF: It seems that you have traveled a long road in the music game from an early age, but you surely sound like a veteran, tell us about your musical background.

A: For the sake of clarity, I have to say that De Hotel A Hotel is not my first album, I did record one before but that was a time when I had to suppress the artist in me because the message, the sound, and the overall product had to be modified (and monitored) by the record label, so I didn’t feel free to create and express myself. However, being with Machete Music has allowed me the creative freedom and the opportunity to put together what I really feel. My musical background goes as far back as my enfant years, I have digested so much music in my lifetime, as a result I was able to do a lot of ghostwriting for other artists and help many people in the industry produce tracks, until I recorded the Regional Urban (Norteno) album under the name Don Abusivo. So you can understand why “De Hotel A Hotel” feels to me like my debut album

LF: Tell us about your humble ambitions…
A: …like I was telling you, my biggest ambition is to be in a better position that allows me to help other up and coming artists, I know what the hood feels like when all you have is ideas and dreams. I am like a “jornalero” who struggles everyday trying to break into a difficult business. But I can tell you, the pressure of being in the ghetto, with limited resources for your daily living, is real pressure. Now I have a different kind of pressure, but the fact that my lyrics come from my experience in the hood, makes it automatic for me to stay connected to where I’m coming from. That certainly keeps me grounded.

LF: We noticed some collaborations in your CD, who are your featured artists?

A: I feel extremely grateful and lucky to have this blend in my album, featuring artists like Luna, Spanish Hip Hop Group La Sinfonia, the super veteran Mellow Man Ace, Rapper PhastLane, Rapper TEA TIME and the Hip Hop group Locura Terminal. Also, the collaboration of David Salas was valuable, he produced 12 of the songs in “De Hotel A Hotel”, plus, Toy from Control Machete produced one track. The album has a total of 13 songs.

LF: I heard some buzz in regard to your music being adequate for East and West Coast alike, that the entire Latin Urban spectrum might profit from your flava… any remarks?

A:I feel like I represent music in a universal sense, the understanding of what it is to have dreams and aspirations, there are no boundaries as to how music can be a uniting force. But how could a humble artist like me be perceived as a catalyst for positive change in the business? Only time will tell. I am, however, humbled by your comments.

LF: Which tracks from “De Hotel A Hotel” are your favorites?
A: A true artist can not play favorites when it comes to his creations, but there is a lot to choose from for real music lovers. Some notable songs I can quickly remember are “Cuidala”, “Solamente Dios” “I Don’t Wanna Cry”, “Tu Mirada” and “Esta Noche”.

LF: Any last thoughts for our people on the East Coast, I think they’d like to know more about you.

A: (Laughs) I’ll be in New York City in January ’06 doing collaboration with some artists from the East Coast, sorry, I gotta reserve names for now…but it’ll be good. I know that whatever we do, it’ll be good because back in September I was performing in SOBs and Latin Quarter in NYC, and also in Brooklyn. And I can tell you I like the vibe people gave me up in there. I was one of the performers chosen for the Latin Rap Conference in New York, that was a great experience for me.

The quick encounter came to an end as Abusivo still pondered ideas which we’d love to put in writing, but just like his unlimited talent, we’ll have to find another opportunity to extract more from him.

Our impression is that Abusivo is well aware of his roots and is able to express openly where his writing and rhyming is coming from. A humble speaker who answers with a humility that elicits sympathy, his lyrics make you be amazed and thrilled, he can, perhaps unconsciously, trigger so many emotions through his lyrics and melodies.

His style is everything from danceable, to eclectic, esta bien “sazonado”. He is definitely ambitious because the energy behind this album is so strong that “De Hotel A Hotel” doesn’t suggest being anything short of a breakthrough for the current development of Hispanic Urban music.

Among the current noise inundating our airwaves and neighborhoods alike, De Hotel A Hotel feels refreshing, a refined piece of work. It does make a great holiday gift, just because it’s original…and also because Abusivo definitely knows “como echarle ganas”.


Album tracks highlighted:

I DON’T WANNA CRY — an emotionally charged song dedicated to his two daughters Tabatha and Leia, ages 5 and 3 respectively.

CUIDALA—a flavorful club music track, jumpy, ideal for first time dates.

TU MIRADA— Houston style rap, in here, Abusivo is at home. He’s easily led by this kind of beat, which he seasons very well with his particular style.

ESTA NOCHE— a party song, very alive, the kind of Saturday night song that keeps you humming way until Sunday night and sometimes until Monday morning at work.

SOLAMENTE DIOS— featuring Hip Hop group Locura Terminal, this is the depiction of a story from the ‘hood about friends who chose the wrong path.