Rating 10.0
The ever-controversial latin hip-hop duo, Calle 13, debuts their fourth studio album. If what you like is that pop-reggaeton/hip-hop for mainstream radio, this is not for you. If you like good quality music and lyrics, this is what you're looking for. Simply put, vocalist/lyricist, Rene Perez (El Residente) puts it like it is. He's never shies away from stirring up controversy with his lyrics. In his previous albums, he attacks other artists for producing low quality "art". Also, he attacks corrupt politicians and governments; basically, no one is safe. Calle 13 is also known for their sexually explicit content (see Atrévete-te-te and Se Vale To-To). Slowly, however, they have turned their focus on the social issues that plague the world, namely Latin America. Calle 13's style is marked by their signature clever, witty, and humorous lyrics, unlike anything out there today. Ironically, mainstream artists such as Nelly and Shakira have asked Calle 13 to appear on their singles. Sticking to his true nature, in his recent song with Shakira, he criticizes her for dying her hair blonde.
In Entren Los Que Quieran , Calle 13 stays completely away from reggaeton rhythms and, as they always do (masterfully), blends genres from all around the world, especially Latin America, like few artists do today. This album brings elements from genres originally from India, Hawaii, South America, etc... Musically, it is one of the most ambitious albums I've heard. However, Calle 13, is not your typical Latin-market artist. They discuss the themes that one one dares to talk about: artists buying airtime and perhaps their own records (saying that not even the Beatles had as many songs on the radio as artists do these days), corrupt politicians, their own record label, the media, etc... The list goes on and on. La Bala
(The Bullet) is a prime example of what this album is about. A simple topic is turned into a full-out social-commentary assault. The Bullet is used as an analogy and theme that transcends its simpleness. The simple journey of a bullet from the time it is fired up until the moment it impacts and kills a person, is such a powerful metaphor that makes people think. That's the key here, this music makes people think, unlike the diluted sounds on the radio today. Sure, Calle 13 is more "mature" compared to what they were 4 years ago. But Calle 13 speaks for the people, the working-class people. They even had their fans collaborate with them in writing the song El Hormiguero, over Twitter.
After touring the poorest corners of Latin America throughout the last five years, and for their travels for their soul-searching documentary Sin Mapa, it shows that what they see pours out onto their music. One song that, unfortunately did not make onto the album was even written in an insane-asylum in Argentina.
If I was to sum up the album with a few lyrics from the songs (an impossible task which would not serve justice to this masterpiece) I would pick the opening lines of the album from:
'Intro': "Directamente desde Puerto Rico, la colonia más importante del mundo, y el unico lugar en donde le prestan más atención a Miss Universo que a la educación"(Directly from Puerto Rico, where they pay more attention to Miss Universe than to education) and the people's anthem,
Calma Pueblo (Be Calm My People): "Calma pueblo que aqui estoy yo, lo que no dicen lo digo yo, lo que sientes tu lo siento yo, porque yo soy como tu, y tu eres como yo" (Be calm my people for I am here, what they don't say I will say, what you feel I also feel, because I am just like you, and you are just like me).
'Latinoamérica':
"Un pueblo sin piernas pero que camina"
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