The 31-year-old Colombian hitmaker has signed a record deal with 5020 Records.
Born Francisco David RoseroSerna, the singer-songwriter from Medellín, Colombia has made a name for himself due to his socially conscious, raw lyrics and a signature style that blends hip-hop with reggae and regional influences.
His latest album, HECHO M13RD4, includes collaborations with Ryan Castro, Gera MX and Santa Fe Klan.
“Joining 5020 Records is an important milestone in my career. This collaboration will allow me to reach even more fans and take my music to new heights,” Básico said in a statement. “I am excited about the future and the creative possibilities that this partnership brings.”
Sony Music recently launched 5020 Records out of Miami with a roster that includes Christina Aguilera, Kany García, Nathy Peluso and Residente.
Básico had previously been releasing his music via his own self-titled imprint.
“We are thrilled to welcome Nanpa Básico to the family,” added Rafa Arcaute, co-president of 5020 Records. “His unique voice and powerful storytelling resonate with audiences around the world, and we look forward to supporting his artistic vision and helping him achieve even greater success.”
“Having Nanpa Básico in our roster reinforces our mission to expand the possibilities for Latin music exponents who, like him, are committed to excellence and the values of our culture,” added Bruno Duarte, 5020 Records co-president.
News of the deal comes on the heels of Básico’s upcoming Duelo Tour, which includes stops throughout Mexico, including Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City.
René Pérez Joglar’s acclaimed feature film will open this year’s Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival.
The Latino Film Institute has set its lineup for the 23rd Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, with the 46-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter and filmmaker’s In the Summers set to open the event.
Perez Joglar, simply known as Residente in the music world, makes his feature acting debut in the film, directed by Alessandra Lacorazza, alongside Sasha Calle, Lío Mehiel and Leslie Grace.
The film’s accolades include the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award for Lacorazza at the Sundance Film Festival.
The film tells the story of Violeta and Eva who, every summer, visit their loving but reckless father Vicente, who tries to atone for the past by creating a world of wonder for them to experience. But old wounds do not heal easily and despite the fun facade, Vicente’s battle with addiction gradually erodes the magic, culminating in a devastating tragedy.
LALIFF will close with the World Premiere of Grassland, written and directed by William Bermudez and Sam Friedman and starring Mía Maestro, Jeff Kober, Quincy Isaiah, Ravi Cabot-Conyers and Sean Convery. The film explores the failures of the criminal justice system through the lens of a single Latina mother whose illegal marijuana business is jeopardized when her young son befriends their new neighbors.
The LALIFF will take place from May 29th through June 2nd at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood.
The complete lineup includes feature films, short films, episodic works, animation, masterclasses, panels, networking sessions, musical performances and LALIFF’s first film market. Tickets are available for purchase now on the festival’s site. Additionally, LALIFF is expanding by creating a new section, LALIFF Eastside, showcasing films by L.A.-based filmmakers at the Regal L.A. Live.
“LALIFF serves as a platform to uplift and highlight the remarkable contributions of Latino creators in film and television, and as the yearly culmination of programs under our institute’s umbrella. As we expand our footprint, we will continue to be driven by a simple but powerful goal: excellence,” said Edward James Olmos, Co-Founder of LALIFF.
“This is an incredible opportunity for studios, education professionals, and the artistic Latino community to come together,” Axel Caballero, CEO of LFI shared. “The generous support of our sponsors has allowed us to broaden our offerings with an expanded industry program, a new film market, and a second venue for our screenings. Supporting our community is always top priority, and this year we are hyper-focused on amplifying the work of Latinas in front of and behind the camera. We look forward to this year’s celebration.”
Here are more details on the lineup:
Features
Feature films from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, France, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, U.S., Uruguay and Venezuela make up the program of 22 films, 7 of which will be presenting their world premieres.
This section of the festival will feature a selection of female directors including multidisciplinary artist Mabel Valdiviezo with her latest documentary Prodigal Daughter, Mar Novo with Sisters, María Zanetti with Alemania, Gabriela A. Moses with Boca Chica, Antonella Sudasassi Furniss with Memories of a Burning Body, Carolina Markowicz with Toll, Ángeles Cruz with Valentina or the Serenity, and Lillah Halla with Power Alley.
Featured world premieres include the documentaries Paper Butterfly, directed by Rafael Medina Adalfio, a co-production between Venezuela and the U.S. and Speaking Out, directed by John Solis. The Strike, a documentary directed by JoeBill Muñoz and Lucas Guilkey.
The following titles complete the international selection: About 30 by the Argentinian director Martín Shanly; the documentary film Igualada, directed by Juan Mejia Botero; Bionico’s Bachata directed by Yoel Morales, from the Dominican Republic; and Rain, a Mexican film by director Rodrigo García Saiz.
LALIFF Eastside will celebrate four world premieres with screenings at the Regal L.A. Live. Eastside’s lineup includes F.L.Y., directed by Rafael Albarran and Trent Kendrick; Say a Little Prayer, directed by Patrick Perez Vidauri; The Unexpecteds, directed by Alejandro Montoya Marín; and The Wingwalker, directed by Alonso Alvarez-Barreda.
LIVE ACTION AND ANIMATED SHORTS The short film selection comprises 36 live-action and 12 animated shorts originating from over 11 countries. Out of the overall selection, 31 are directed by U.S. Latinos, 22 by women and 12 will be presenting their world premieres. The short films can be seen either as standalone screenings or paired with featured films.
Among the programs is “Nosotras,” featuring 9 shorts portraying women’s experiences, all directed by women. Notable is the Chilean film Yaya, directed by Leticia Akel Escárate. “Unhinged” offers a captivating journey through films exploring the loss of innocence, providing a compelling examination of the human condition. A highlight of this program is the Puerto Rican film Cousins, directed by Ricardo J. Varona.
“Spaces/Places” delves into the nostalgia for lost places and people, guiding viewers through an exploration of the reciprocal relationship between spaces and individuals. Anchoring the films on this program is Querido Pequeño Haití, directed by Diana Larrea. Carnívora, directed by Felipe Vargas, embodies the spirit of “Ocaso,” a program that presents a diverse array of fantasy and horror films, each featuring characters entangled in the allure of art, religion, family, death and the American dream.
The “Anímate” program showcases the work of Latino animators and the imaginative worlds they create. Highlighted in this program is The Other Side, directed by Niki López.
EPISODICS
The festival will present the World Premiere of ESPN Deportes’ Las Amazonas de Yaxunah, directed by Alfonso Algara, written by Tlatoani Carrera and narrated by Academy Award-nominated actress Yalitza Aparicio and the U.S. premiere of the animated action-comedy Rey Mysterio vs The Darkness, written and directed by Calavera Hermanos.
A selection of episodic shorts will include the world premieres of two titles. Dreams & Schemes, created by Dolores Rivera and co-directed by Daniel Fermín Pfeffer and Carlos Cardona, and Gringo Latino, created and directed by Eric Delgado. It also includes the U.S. Premieres of The LAnd, created by Andrés Orellana and co-directed with Brittany Anders Esparza, and Vida which is created and directed by Maria Valdez.
AWARDS
The Best U.S. Episodic Short will be presented by FX and the jury members for this category are: Shola Ajewole, Senior Vice President of Creative and Cultural Diversity for FX and FX Productions; Lynette Coll, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of The Rabble; and Anthony Nardolillo, award-winning film and television director and producer.
The Best Animated Short will be presented by LatinX in Animation (LXiA) with the support of Cartuna, and the jury members for that category are: Sydney Bright, Head of Global Animation at Wattpad WEBTOON Studios; Louis Gonzalez, animator; and Angeline Izquierdo, creative director.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
The festival will feature special screenings of all films created throughout the year by the LFI Fellowships, including the Inclusion Fellowship, the Spark Animation Fellowship and YCP Alumni Fellowship. The program will also showcase films from the 2024 NGLmitú x Walmart Filmmaker Mentorship Program, featuring directors selected in collaboration with LFI.
More than 150 short films will be showcased at LALIFF’s student festival within the festival. The Youth Cinema Project (YCP), one of LFI’s signature programs, works in the classrooms of public schools, integrating filmmaking with 21st century learning skills and utilizing a rigorous standards-based curriculum and a hands-on approach that integrates social-emotional learning and English Language Arts. YCP@LALIFF is a two-day event where students will take part in red carpets, panels, workshops, and masterclasses. The acclaimed YCP LiveReads, where Latinx Hollywood will take the stage to perform live readings of scripts written by public school students, will return this year.
LALIFF FILM MARKET
A brand new initiative from LFI, the LALIFF Film Market will offer a carefully curated catalog of commercially viable U.S. Latino films to sales agents and buyers for potential acquisition and distribution. Employing a meticulous selection process, the market will present a selected group of features that are in post-production during LALIFF 2024. Moreover, the market will showcase the U.S. Latino world premieres included in the festival’s official selection.
LALIFF INDUSTRY FORUM
The LALIFF Industry Forum will feature panels and workshops presented by Amazon MGM Studios, ESPN Films, Nickelodeon, Sony Pictures Animation, Starz, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Warner Bros. Discovery. The forum will also include three-day masterclasses on distribution and visual storytelling presented by Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo.
Bizarrap is back with new music featuring a Regional Mexican star…
The 25-year-old Argentine record producer, songwriter, DJ and hitmaker has partnered with Natanael Cano to release two singles.
The 23-year-old Mexican corridos tumbados pioneer and Bizarrap joined forces on “BZRP Music Session #59,” a two-song project officially released on Wednesday, April 3.
The new music is as explosive and raw as previous music sessions recorded by the likes of Residente, Arcángel and Young Miko.
According to a press release, “BZRP Music Session #59” was created following a “spontaneous” Miami meeting between the two artists in 2021, and is powered by Bizarrap’s innovative Argentine trap.
“Now that they know we’re on top, they think we haven’t struggled,” spits Cano in the first track, or chapter one, also being referred to as “Endiamantado.”
Chapter two, or the second song from this release titled “Entre las de 20,” fuses Cano’s corrido tumbado hybrid with synthesizers and Bizarrap’s signature style.
Kicking off with his prickly guitars, Cano sings about outgrowing a relationship; he’s on to bigger and better things. “There’s no trace of what you knew about me/ I told her we broke up, I don’t have time to spend. But I do have money to throw away.”
It’s not the first time Bizarrap teams up with a música mexicana artist.
Last summer, Bizarrap tapped Peso Pluma for “BZRP Music Sessions #55,” which peaked at No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart dated June 17.
Cano’s session with Bizarrap follows team-ups with Milo J, Rauw Alejandro and Shakira, the latter being Bizarrap’s most consequential session to date.
The dis track broke a handful of Guinness World Records and, when it dropped, held the title for most streamed Latin track on Spotify in 24 hours (14.4 million streams) and most viewed Latin track on YouTube in 24 hours (63 million views). It also won song of the year at the Latin Grammys.
Paramount+ will premiere the 44-year-old Argentinian-American award-winning journalist, executive producer, director and writer’s new docuseries De La Calle in the U.S. and Canada on Tuesday, November 7.
Across 8 episodes, Barili explores Latino urban music from the U.S. to Panama, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Spain and beyond.
The series takes a journey into the Latine diaspora to map the evolution of Urbano music and cultures that ignited the musical revolution of Rap, Reggaeton, Bachata, Latin trap, Cumbia and other sounds that influence music and culture worldwide.
Interviewees include Fat Joe, NORE, Residente,Mala Rodriguez, Nicky Jam, Nicki Nicole, Villano Antillano, Sech,Goyo, Nathy Peluso, Santa Fe Klan,Jessie Reyes, Feid, Aleman and Gente De Zona, among others.
“As a first-generation immigrant who learned how to speak English through Hip Hop at Malcolm X Elementary, I grew up straddling two worlds, speaking English at school and Spanish at home,” Barili, the project’s co-creator, executive producer and host, shared in a statement.
He continued, “I was influenced by El General and Calle 13 as much as E-40 and Outkast. De La Calle was created to explore how the seeds from the street that inspired Hip Hop are also present throughout Latin America and Spain. Going to the neighborhoods where El Movimiento was created, talking to the pioneers who were actually there and sharing the origin stories of superstars of today and tomorrow. I’m thrilled to have MTV Studios and Paramount+ as partners to bring De La Calle to the world.”
Residente is going the distance with Ricky Martin…
The 45-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter and filmmaker. whose real name is René Pérez Joglar, and the 51-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actor have joined voices to release the new track “Quiero ser baladista.”
More than a song, Residente’s nine-minute, seven-second long single is being called a stream of consciousness on tiradera (diss tracks), music, lyrics, performance art and entertainment value, where the music video –a bona fide short film—is as important as the music.
The black and white flick kicks off with Residente being shot dead in an elevator, as what sounds like a tinkly “elevator music” version of Ricky Martin’s hit “Vuelve” plays in the background. From there, Residente revives, brings down his assailants, and, over sparse chords, delivers one of his signature raps centering on his lyrical prowess and the fact that he’s the best (“I’m the wolf who upsets the henhouse”).
Then, things take a turn. Residente reveals that his tied up captive is actually Sony Music Latin Iberia chairman Afo Verde, auditions as a balladeer, in Ricky Martin’s voice, then shoots Verde.
In turn, Martin shoots Residente and channels the rapper, in a recall of Justin Bieber playing Drake in “Pop Star.”
The 45-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter and filmmaker, whose real name is René Pérez Joglar, has released the new diss single “Bajo y Bateria” via 5020 Records.
As Latin urban continues to significantly increase in popularity and consumption within the mainstream, Residente continues to stand at the pinnacle as one of the best lyricists in the rap game, with hardly any competition.
With a snarling, sardonic delivery that is as playful as it is vicious, Residente testifies to his unmatched lyrical mastery.
He knows this well, spitting verses like,
“Ya nadie en el género urbano sonríe conmigo que sus dientes me los puse de collar,” this time challenging fellow Puerto Rican rapper Cosculluela.
In March, Cosculluela pleaded guilty for domestic violence against his ex Jennifer Fungenzi. “Por más que reces, los puercos como tú no van al cielo,” Residente snarls.
In a wildly potent nine-minute diss track, the ex-Calle 13 frontman challenges the confines of substantial Latin pop with stunning and riveting wordplay that’ll make jaws drop.
The 45-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter and filmmaker has wrapped production on the indie feature film InThe Summers, in his acting debut.
He stars opposite Sasha Calle, Lio Mehiel and Leslie Grace.
Exile Content Studio, a Candle Media Company produced the project in association with Lexicon Development, alongside 1868 Studios and LUZ Films.
From writer and director Alessandra Lacorazza in her feature debut, In The Summers tells the story of Latine sisters, Violeta (Adult Lio) and Eva (Adult Sasha), who visit their loving but reckless father Vicente (Pérez Joglar) every summer. He creates a world of wonder but under the fun facade, he battles addiction which gradually erodes the magic, culminating in a devastating tragedy. Vicente tries to make up for the past, but wounds aren’t easily healed.
Grace portrays the character of Yenny. The character of Violeta will also be played by Dreya Renae Castillo (young) and Kimaya Thais (teen); young Eva will be played by Luciana Quinonez and as a teen by Allison Salinas. Additional casting includes Emma Ramos as Carmen; Camilla will be played by Sharlene Cruz as an adult and Gabriela Surodjawan as a teen; Indigo Montez plays Natalia.
“Alessandra is a visionary filmmaker and her script for In The Summers profoundly spoke to our mission at Exile to create content that uplifts Latin voices and tells rich, diverse stories,” said Nando Vila, Head of Exile Content Studio. “This is a powerful story, and we are thrilled to partner with Lexicon Development, 1868 Studios and LUZ Films on bringing In The Summers to life.”
“The moment I finished this screenplay I knew that it represented the kind of voice we set out to support with our mission at Lexicon,” added Alexander Dinelaris, founder, screenwriter and producer at Lexicon Development.
Academy Award-winner Alexander Dinelaris and Rob Quadrino are producing the film on behalf of Lexicon Development.
Bizarrap is back with another all-star collaboration…
The 24-year-old Argentine DJ and record producer has partnered with Rauw Alejandro on his latest collaboration, “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 56,” due out this week.
The track arrives only three weeks after Bizarrap released “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 55” with Peso Pluma
“What a joy it gives me to finally release music together my brother,” Biza expressed on his Instagram stories, tied to a short video announcement where Biza is seen surprising a select group of fans who are listening to the track for the first time in a booth in Madrid, Spain.
“Rauw Alejandro: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 56″—filmed in Biza’s blue-hued recording studio—is a catchy techno track where the Puerto Rican artist sings about two people who are single and desire each other.
“I’m alone and you’re alone / you want to taste me and I want to eat you all,” he chants in the sensual chorus. At the end of the track, the artists hint that a second collaborative effort is dropping this week.
“Rauw Alejandro x Bizarrap, ‘Baby Hello,’” reads the text with the June 23 date.
The new session comes on the heels of Biza and Peso’s heartbreak corrido that hit No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart dated June 17 and No. 5 on the Hot Latin Songs chart that same week.
Earlier this year, Biza earned his first No. 1 hit with the Shakira-assisted “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” a powerful EDM track where the Colombian artist didn’t hold back and is as blunt as ever about her ex, Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué.
The dis track also peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Rauw now joins a star-studded roster of artists who have dropped Bzrp Music Sessions including Arcángel, Nicky Jam, Residente, Nicki Nicole, Nathy Peluso, and Anuel AA, to name a few.
The 44-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, singer, and songwriter, whose real name is René Pérez Joglar, has teamed up with Academy Award-winner Alexander Dinelaris to co-write the new film Porto Rico.
Porto Rico is a historical drama based on the life of Puerto Rican revolutionary, José Maldonado Román, known as Águila Blanca, set on the island in the late 19th century. Maldonado Román fought against colonialism by leading a gang of ex-convicts to vindicate Puerto Rico as it sought its identity as a country.
“It has been amazing to work with Alex,” said Residente in a statement about the screenwriter he was introduced to by Alejandro Gonzalez-Iñarritu. “It took me a while to find a great writer because I was looking for someone who not only is talented but also connects with the subject matter. I found both in Alex, an amazing writer who is highly skilled at dialogues as was evident in Birdman,” he added.
Residente and Dinelaris found they shared a special cultural connection via Puerto Rico, the island where both Residente and Dinelaris’ grandmother were born. Dinelaris’ passion for his ancestral land helped cement the partnership.
“When Rene and I were introduced, I knew about him but wasn’t familiar with his body of work. When he sent me a treatment of his idea for Porto Rico, I was immediately hooked,” Dinelaris said. “My grandmother was from Ponce but I never got to meet my family there. I’ve always felt a connection to Puerto Rico, it’s where I often go to get away— and where I wrote Birdman and Still Life. I relish the opportunity to explore its history, my history.”
Along the way, Dinelaris has familiarized himself with Residente and his music, which helped him make the “easy decision” to partner with the artist. He said, “He and his work are defined by his courage, conviction, and artistry; which is also what I admire about Alejandro, who has been my mentor, brother, and partner.”
He continued, “I think we have an opportunity to tell a unique story and shed light on a corner of history that until now has been undiscovered by a large part of the world. It’s a story about the spectacular courage and resilience of someone unwilling to bend the knee at any price. I think that’s a story that now more than ever deserves to be told.”
The duo is already at work on the screenplay with plans to share bigger development news in the near future. In the meantime, Residente shared an update on how the story is shaping up.
“The writing sessions have been amazing so far, Residente said. “We’ve been taking our time shaping the story and focusing on being not only clever or interesting but also writing dialogue that generates an emotional connection, similar to how I create music.”
Porto Rico will be the first film from 1868 Studios, a multi-year joint venture between Residente and Sony Music Entertainment’s Premium Content Division that creates, produces, and globally distributes original content projects across multiple formats. Residente, who leads all creative aspects, focuses on properly representing cultural narratives on-screen, including Latinx stories, and most importantly for him, behind the camera.
Residente is a multiple award-winning Puerto Rican rapper, writer, filmmaker, and activist who has earned more Latin Grammys than any other artist as of 2022. In addition to music, he has gained recent success as a screenwriter and director. His projects include a self-titled documentary released in 2017 followed by the doc Rubén Blades Is Not My Namea year later.
Dinelaris is best known for his award-winning work as the screenwriter of Birdman, and as co-producer of the Academy Award-winning film, The Revenant. Additional credits include Benjamin Millepied’s filmCarmenas well as writing and directing the film adaptation of his play, Still Life.
The 45-year-old Colombian singer and songwriter is teaming up with Bizarrap for one of the Argentine producer’s hit-producing Music Sessions.
After teasing a new track on Monday, January 9), Shakira and Bizarrap both took to social media to confirm their collaboration.
Initially, the new single had been teased with release date of Wednesday, January 11 and a one liner: “a wolf like me doesn’t have time for men like you.”
Subsequently, they announced the collab, simply writing, “Tomorrow, BZRP Music Session #53.”
It’s the first time the pair has teamed up for a track. Shakira joins a number of artists — including Nicky Jam, Residente and Paulo Londra — who’ve jumped on one of Bizarrap’s zealously streamed music sessions.
His session with Spanish act Quevedo scored both their first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. Currently, it has more than 400 million views on YouTube.
This new song will follow Shakira’s Ozuna-assisted “Monotonía,” which peaked at No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart dated November 5. It currently sits at No. 1 on the Latin Airplay chart, where it’s ruled for four weeks.
Recently, Shakira shared a heartfelt message of hope to start off the new year. “Even if our wounds are still open in this new year, time has a surgeon’s hands. Even if someone’s betrayed us, we must continue to trust others,” wrote the Colombian singer. “When faced with contempt, continue to know your worth. Because there are more good people than indecent ones. More people with empathy than indifference.”
She continued: “The ones who leave are fewer than the many who stay by our side. Our tears are not in vain, they water the soil our future will spring from and make us more human, so that even while suffering heartache we can continue to love.”
The message came after a difficult year due to her separation from Spanish soccer player Gerard Piqué, the father of her children. The singer has spoken openly about the breakup since it was confirmed in June, and has posted material — including releasing the heartbreak song “Monotonía” — alluding to her pain.
Born Francisco David Rosero Serna, the singer-songwriter from Medellín, Colombia has made a name for himself due to his socially conscious, raw lyrics and a signature style that blends hip-hop with reggae and regional influences.
