Director Kyzza Terrazas spent three years working on this geographically-rich documentary about Mexico’s hip-hop scene. Somos Lengua focuses on male and female participants in Aguascalientes, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Torreón, Ecatepec, and other parts of the country (unfortunately, none are identified until the end credits). When they aren’t talking about their lives, the subjects are seen performing in groups with live instruments, solo freestyle sessions, and rap battles in front of rambunctious crowds. One rapper, Lobo Estepario of Distrito Federal, even performs on subways trains as a regular part of his routine. While hip-hop originated in the United States, these musicians put their own stamp on the genre, and since they rap in Spanish they also gravitate towards Spanish-language music samples. Through their lyrics, they comment on drugs, gangs, violence, and other concerns from a distinctly Mexican perspective. Two of the more forthcoming subjects, Giro from Aguascalientes and Loco Neto from San Nicolás de los Garza, talk about their past lives of lawless behavior, crediting hip-hop for providing them with a productive outlet for their fears and frustrations about life in a perilously unstable economy. The unavoidable influence of American hip-hop manifests itself through lyrical references to north of the border acts like KRS-One, Tupac, Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, and Wu-Tang Clan (and through the t-shirts and posters that appear in the film). Just as in the States, hip-hop isn’t only a sound, but part of the larger b-boy culture, and Terrazas’s subjects also participate in non-musical activities like breakdancing and graffiti-painting. While there is not a lot of context here, the director definitely captures a street-level feel for the scene. Extras include "Rap in Mexico: Informational Videos." A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)
Somos Lengua
(2017) 83 min. In Spanish w/English subtitles. DVD: $29.95. Kino Lorber (avail. from most distributors). Volume 33, Issue 3
Somos Lengua
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