Miami Florida -. Cuban rapper Eliexer Márquez Duany, known by his stage name El Funky, has released a challenge on his Instagram account, designed especially for rappers residing in Cuba, and with the aim of supporting the national strike initiative, promoted by the opposition Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat
He challenge It consists of presenting at least one verse to complement the chorus of the original song “Cuba lo que tiene es un parón”, composed by the rapper.
Three cash prizes will be awarded.
To know more details about the contest, CubaNet talks with the exiled artist.
How did the idea for the song come about?
The idea came from Orlando [Gutiérrez-Boronat], with his national strike campaign, in which we were discussing his campaign and how many people in Cuba are joining, and I gave him the idea of making a topic about it. Well, I can contribute something to this, and what I can do to you is about my art. Let’s make a song for the National Strike.
He tells me: perfect. I started working with my producer, the producer here in the United States, and the song came out in three days. I showed him the model, he liked it a lot, I made some arrangements, I incorporated voices of people in Cuba asking for a national strike, and then it was complemented and the final product came out. People are super happy with the song, it has been well received, despite it being one of the songs that people, you know, don’t consume much, but when you hear a song it is different.
I think this is a very important way to reach more people. The art is super good in this sense.
And when we talk about a national strike, what are we talking about in Cuba?
When we have a national strike, nobody goes to school, nobody goes to work, the system collapses, and everyone, for example, as I say in the song, “let’s all go to the boardwalk,” and everyone congregates. that mass on the boardwalk, and no one works, no one does anything. You see, it’s time that that’s going to collapse. And there will be, of course, the social outbreak.
I think it’s a super good idea.
And how is the song reaching Cuba? How does the message reach Cuba?
The song is in Cuba now. In fact, many people have written to me, told me, brother, thank you for what you are doing.
I listen to the song and I feel very encouraged, it makes me angry. And here it goes, you know that in Cuba everything moves very clandestinely, music moves through mp3, through flash, and this one passed it on the phone, on WhatsApp to another, and that’s how things go. At least in the world of the rap genre, the song is on.
I mean, everyone is listening to it. And more now with him challenge What are we doing with it?
Tell us about challenge. How are you going to do? Where can Cubans who want to join, inside and outside the island or anywhere in the world, participate in the challenge?
He challenge It also occurs to me because this helps more people join, more independent artists in Cuba, for example. And we decided that the competition, that is, we are going to give him a gift, or they are going to have a position of three places, of course, like a festival, like a contest, but they have to be from Cuba. We already have seven competitors from Cuba, that is, they are joining, this has already started.
But so that people do not feel left out, we also give those who are outside of Cuba the opportunity to make their challenge and we upload it. I’m doing this on my Instagram, @elfunkycuba, you can search for it. And that’s where I’m uploading all the videos.
Now, this closes on May 10th. We gave a month for people to have their time, plus people in Cuba, you know, the need, the internet. And nothing, I think this is a very effective way for people to connect with the topic, not only because of the song, but the message, which is clear.
“A break, what Cuba has is a break”: and it repeats and repeats itself, and you know that this is creating the mania, and you are going to wake up saying “Cuba has a break.” That’s a strategy.
We are going to explain to the Cubans on the island that it is a challenge. How can they do it? How can they upload the video? What do they have to do?
Look, for people in Cuba, you have to look for my profile, @elfunkycuba. All the requirements are there. To the first place, we are going to give 300 dollars. To the second, we are going to give 200. And to the third, we are going to give 100.
But we are going to take out a fourth, which we are going to put as something special, a special mention, that is, we are going to choose four places.
It closes on May 10, write to me at a number where the requirements are, go to my profile, all the requirements are there, and you will see a WhatsApp number, that is where you will write to request the clue so that You can make your video and send it to me at that same number.
And what does the video consist of? What do you have to do?
Nothing, there is simply the track with the space where you can interpret what you want, you can rap, you can sing, you can write poetry, it all depends on what you want to do. There is no, what is it called? There is not limit.
You set up, you record a video on the phone, it’s nothing specific with a camera, you put the track on a computer, you put the phone to sign, you record your part and send it to me. As simple as that. Give an example of what they have to send. The song says, what do they have to add?
The issue is a national strike, you cannot leave that context, that is the idea, that is the crux. The rapping, the body, the space can be 16 bars or more. If you want, maybe you tell me, Funky, I want to rap more, I need more space.
You tell me, we lengthen the track a little more, we send it to you again so that you feel comfortable, and you send it to me done. That is, you record yourself. Let’s see, you know, people in Cuba with few resources may say to me, Funky, but I don’t have a studio, I don’t have a way to record.
So, you don’t need to go to a studio, you just need to play the track from one phone and record yourself with another. I’m going to value that more because if you didn’t have the opportunity to go to a studio, you’re doing it with the few resources you have, you know what I mean, heartily. And record yourself with your phone and send me the video.
What matters to us is the message that you are going to give and the courage with which you are going to do things, because we know that in Cuba they are the people who most…
Can’t they just record the video themselves and send it to you?
Yes, of course, you can record the video and send it to me. That’s the logic. That is, they don’t necessarily have to create an audio track.
I send you the clue with the space, that is, with the hole.
And there in that gap is where you are going to interpret what you want to do. You record yourself, you have to play the music to be able to record yourself. You play the music, which in this case is the track, with the space.
When you record your part with a phone, you send that video to me.
In fact, beforehand, we already have over 30 contestants right now and 7 of these contestants are already in competition. who are in Cuba. From Holguín, from Manzanillo, from Santiago, Havana, from Vedado, and now this last hour that was from Villa Clara. So he’s walking.
Can you tell us about the change you have had in your life since you left Cuba?
Yes, of course, it has been a fairly extensive change in these two years. Of course, I am already in a country where there is freedom, where there is a future, where you can work according to your dreams, your objectives. And the change is abysmal, totally. Aside from the way I arrived, right? Imagine, leaving Old Havana and arriving on a red carpet, nominated for a Grammy.
I’m still dreaming, really. I’m still dreaming that part. A dream fulfilled, although I still have one of those dreams to complete, which is having my brother by my side.
Maykel [Osorbo] and I always dream of saying, well, we are rappers and one day we would like to be in a place where millions of people see us, know us, where we can offer our songs to people. That is the dream that has not been completed. That is, it is the same dream, but it has not been completed.
But, nothing, I thank the North American Government for all the support, the help, the dignified way of living, as a human being, very important. And in these two years, of course I have learned a lot. I have learned and seen that I come from the age of the dinosaurs.
We Cubans are on a dinosaur island, brother.
Did you spend a while without rap? Because?
I didn’t make music for a while because my son was born. Rap is a music that not only in Cuba – but well, imagine in Cuba, you doing rap – is making music for the love of art. And at that time, my dad had made a cafe in my house where we sold pizza, coffee, whatever came along. Which in 2013 Maykel got me excited to record again. And until today’s sun, bro. I realized that it was my path, that I was born for it.
I say, well, I’m a rapper, yes, but no, it’s your way. And life itself is giving you the path where you know you have to take that path, even if you don’t want to. It is your way, it is your way of facing life in the sense of your art, it is your talent.
That is, your talent. Everyone is born with a talent, and I realized that that was mine, really.
Have you had the possibility of starting a life as a new immigrant, of doing other things, of looking for other paths, however, you continue to bet on the freedom of Cuba, you continue to bet on the contribution like this of the song to projects like the strike national, why have you decided to continue that path?
I think it’s a commitment and that people have to be, how do you say the word? Say, I am black and you have to die black. You can’t say I’m black and tomorrow say you’re pink. Consequent is the word, right? And most of all, as I told you before, this is part of a dream with another person, with a brother of mine who is currently in prison. I would be incapable of not raising my voice being in a country of freedom when I did it in Cuba.
You understand? So, it’s my path, it’s my backpack to carry, it’s my commitment, and I believe that, of course, there will always be a radical Funky against the dictatorship making music, making art and making complaints, more than anything.
A Maykel Osorbo and Luis Manuel Otero, what message could you give them?
I always ask the brothers to have strength, courage and that after the darkness the rays of the sun will always be there and the sun will rise. Darkness is not forever, as the great Payá said.
What would have become of Funky if he had stayed in Cuba?
I don’t know, brother. I don’t think I was having a good time because even though I was left alone, my brothers were imprisoned, my father just died… I think it would have been torture because they had me under siege and wouldn’t let me move, they wouldn’t let me move
And I am a person who is always on the street, you know? I’m quite a walker, and I know that that would be too shocking, if Funky wasn’t here, Funky was in prison, brother. That is real.
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2024-04-23 19:08:45
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