though i just started listenin tuh jukebox, i gotta say sat this hip hop rappin Cuban female gotta goin on. bbbaaaddd!!!

and since this is my first response, lemme say, thanks ever so much for doin this–a wide range of music, respectfully given, informative commentary, and open space for listeners to say whatever. thanks again.

Mtume, I used to have the same feelings about music. However, after listening to a Hip-Hop duet with MC Solaar (French) and Guru, my ears and english speaking mind was opened to International Hip-Hop. It can be a little challenging to listen to at times, but that struggle is just your brain developing a cognitive appreciation for something that isn’t familiar to you, LOL!

This track by Telmary Diaz is mellow and smooth, but she doesn’t have quite the cadance of a rapper. Which is not a bad thing, because it makes this track more of a Hip-Hop groove than typical American Hip-Hop.

Music is more than mere lyrics in one’s native language. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have appreciated my pre-school and formative years singing such non-English classics as Frere Jacques, La Cucaracha (thanks to Speedy Gonzales), any French song sung by Pepe Le Pew, O Tannenbaum (German), etc.

Finally, a few weeks ago, you guys showcased Sara Tavares. I never heard of her before coming to this site. I was so intrigued by her sound that I bought ‘Balance’. Still don’t formally know Portuguese, but the more I listen to it, the more familiar it becomes, and the more I have sought out a translation of what she is saying. Once again, I’ve never heard of Telmary Diaz until now, but I will do my own research.

Basically, folks may not like music in a different language at first, but the more you listen to it, the better you can appreciate and identify it. So Mtume, KEEP LISTENING!

        Mtume says:       

Qawi, I didn’t say I don’t like music in different languages. I said I usually don’t like hip-hop music in other languages. I listen to and enjoy music in many, many languages. Certainly, in all of the Romance languages. And I like many kinds of African music. Arabic sounds good to me. I have an album in Mandarin (Chinese) that I like a lot. Kalamu even showed me that I can like R&B sung in German if it’s done well enough (and by ‘done well enough,’ I mean, done by Joy Denalane). Truth be told, I like music sung in languages so unknown to me that I can’t even narrow them down to continent of origin. I’ll listen to just about anything that moves me. But hip-hop in other languages tends to leave me cold. The only exception that readily comes to mind are the Creole tracks Wyclef had on his first album; I did dig that.

And it isn’t "just [my] brain developing a cognitive appreciation for something that isn’t familiar." That’s why I mentioned the issue of British MCs. The language is quite familiar, obviously, but for some reason, it still doesn’t work.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that some languages simply aren’t built for hip-hop. That doesn’t mean a good enough MC couldn’t make it work, but it would take a lot. For example, (going back to singing for a moment) the average Brazilian singer sounds ‘better’ to me than the average, say, German singer. German is not a language that lends itself easily to sung vocals. Portuguese, on the other hand…. That language is almost song-like even when spoken. It just plain ‘sounds’ good.

To go back to hip-hop, MCing is rhythm. The language should therefore be both pliable enough to allow for variations in cadence and also ‘dry’ enough to allow the rhymes to stand out. Think about MCing in Spanish. One of the reasons I don’t usually like it (even though I like sung vocals in Spanish) is because the prevalance of vowel sounds makes every other word sound like it rhymes. You mentioned French (MC Solaar). You’re right about that: I have noticed that French MCing has a decent sound and feel. But French also has a slippery, nasal kind of sound that I don’t like…except for the sake of irony, a la Mike D (of the Beastie Boys…and yes, I’m aware that he doesn’t rap in French). Which, I guess, is one of the reasons why Wyclef’s patois works for me: it’s got the parts of French that do work, but it also has a ‘denser’ sound, with more ‘traction’ (so to speak).

Anyway, I said all this to say, it’s not just a matter of unfamiliarity or of needing to listen more. I’ve listened to (or tried to, at least) a lot of international hip-hop, and it just doesn’t work for me. Not that I’m trying to talk you, Kalamu or anyone else out of digging it. Do your thing.

Cool Mtume. Much respect for your response. I personally wasn’t trying to suggest you don’t appreciate International music. Since musical appreciation is in the eye of the beholder, besides Hip-Hop in the Romance languages, check out South African (Kwaito) or Japanese Hip-Hop. They are more than just imitators, some have real skills. Better yet, read the following as a International Hip-Hop primer – http://www.globalvillageidiot.net/hiphop.htm

And BTW, as we all know, even American English Hip-Hop can sound annoying too. MC’ing is about rhythm and synchopation. However, we have the equivalent of Ornette Colemans or even Billie Holidays (singing behind the beat) in Hip-Hop. Pete Rock and Mase come to mind.

Much thanks to both you and Kalamu for this weeks’ jukebox.

I was reading something else when this selection came on, but within minutes of the music starting, I was back here trying to get the lowdown. When I hear an MC mentioning Orishas, let’s just say my interest is piqued.

I like this.

I speak fragments of other languages but not enough to understand hip-hop in any language other than English. I must say that it is this that usually prevents me from really getting into more hip-hop that isn’t in English. The lyrics are so important to me and i just don’t like the idea that I could be listening to some crazy !èè§ in another tongue and don’t know it.

I do like Wyclef’s stuff on the first album, i do like MC Solaar, and Saian Supa Crew (dope live show!!!) are waaaay off the chain.

French does lend itself to hiphop. Good point, Mtume.

anyhoo, thanks for this.

one love,
Ekere

All i have to say is that Kalamu you are right about her music and her talent. She brings her knowledge and respect of afro-cuban music with the roots of afro & hip-hop together. I had the pleasure to play with her in Montreal and what a talent! Improvises on the spot and i am looking forward for a nice jam on may 5th/06 with her. I hope she stays here!!!

hi,soy telmary,es muy gracioso para mi leer todo este debate tan abierto sobre mi musica y mis raices,aprecio todas las criticas que puedan ayudar ,las otras simplemente saben que hacemos con lo que no ayuda o aporta,solo quiero decirles que estoy muy feliz con mi disco y con lo que defiendo en el ,mis raices,mis ,ancestros,mi linda musica cubana mi isla tan dificil y tan sabia.solo queria decirles que la musica no tiene fronteras ,ni idiomas preferidos,la musica es un lenguaje universal,yo primero que todo soy poeta,tengo la suerte de defender mis ideas y mi mundo con grandes y talentosos musicos cubanos que saben que la musica es universal,esa es mi paz,por eso no les escribo en otro idioma porque creo que mi musica lo dice todo.gracias a todos por sus opiniones,los saludo y si estan en toronto el dia 9 de mayo los invito a mi descarga en el concord cafe a las 10 de la noche ossington bloor.mucho ache y buena musica ,pazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Telmary tu eres la mejor, cuando te vas a presentar por aca por Cuba? Te extrañamos!

Telmary los matastes!!!!!!!! jajajajajajajaj
Yo no soy amante del hip hop, pero tu letras me ensenaron a valorarlo y darle eel lugar que se merece, hay que ser bien semi(n)oco para no saber que el arte es universal.

un Beso grande para ti.
Mija cuando conio vas a venir a california, USA

hola a todos ,ahora estoy en toronto,defendiendo a diario con toda mi fuerza,jesus va a demorar mi regreso a cuba pero seguro para fin de anio estare alla y dare un concierto.espera un poquito¡¡
erwin.me encantaria ir a california,mirs a ver quien quiere que yo de un concierto por alla ,estoy cerquita en canada¡¡bueno mucho ache y pazzzzz para ustedes.
un besola telma

HOLAAAAA BELLA:
ASI QUE EN CANADA POR FA ESCRIBEME UN MAIL, QUIERO SABER COMO VA EL ARTE, LA VIDA, EL AMORRRR
DIME…. LA EMILAEM ESTA VIVENDO HACE POQUITO EN TORONTO, MAIL ME, PLEASE….
BESOTES

Hola telmary:

espero que todo te va bien por canada.
estoy contactando un amigo mio aqui que tiene una banda. El es de la liga de Habana abierta ( que me parece que estaran por aqui este ano ) y interactivo, asi que pienso que es posible que puedan hacer algo juntos ( ademas que el es el que te podria “invitar” a tocar aqui ( cosa de la que yo no tengo idea de como es )

aqui esta mi E-mail por si acaso
erwn11@yahoo.es

Besos y espero respuesta.
PD: mi casa es tu casa

Telma, eres vida eres energia eres el principio y eres el final, tu musica me esta dando la razon, lo supe desde la primera vez que te vi, grande sigue asi rompe las fronteras que tu sabes como hacerlo!!
Brido quiere comunicarse con la Luna dame el medio como hacerlo

mickypaz@hotmail.com

Hola Telmary!
Para mi también fue gracioso leer este debate de idiomas y bla bla… cuando a mí lo que más me cautiva de tu música es esa mezcla candenciosa de los ritmos, las provocaciones, las alegrías, los tambores y esa cosa cubana que transmites que acá en el sur del mundo (Chile) llama mucho la atención.

Algún día, cuando recorra los climas tropicales, te encontraré y cantaré y bailaré.

Muchas congratulaciones por tu arte.

Daniela.

Telma soy cubana y vivo en Rep Dom,la verdad es q eres lo maximo,lo que esa boca dice es electrico.Y q bueno q te tenemos,no?
Amor pa ti y acheeeeeeee
Besos

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