Viva Latinoamerica!

Puerto Rican rap duo Calle 13 began their professional music career in 2005 after the release of their protest song named "Querido FBI"(meaning "Dear FBI" in English) in response to the murder of the commander-in-cheif of Los Macheteros, Filiberto Ojeda Rios.  Rios had been involved in the Wells Fargo depot robbery of 1983 and the FBI and though many Puerto Ricans did not agree with his political views - that Puerto Rico is solely a colony of the United States - his assassination on the anniversary of the Lares revolt, an unsuccessful but influential rebellion of the Puerto Ricans against Spanish colonial rule, outraged everyone.  With this vulgar and honest song to the government, Calle 13 succeeded in further unifying the country in the mourning of a terrorist who has been turned into a martyr.  This song was the beginning of Calle 13's success and today they still write songs inspired by current social and political issues.
 

In their most recent album, Entren Los Que Quieran, the song "Latinoamerica" also attempts to unify, but this time, not only within the country, but throughout South America.  This song also seems to be written with an American audience in mind.  As the chorus transitions into the song a matronly voice, sung by Brasilian, Peruvian, and Colombian singers, advises Americans that they are unable to buy the real things that make life what it is such as, happiness, pain, and the sun.  During the first verse of the song Residente, the singer of the two, describes the hardships of Latins, highlighting their strengths.  In the second verse, the discussion transitions toward a prideful tone.  Residente may only have raw products, but he is happy to have what he has and that is what makes him who he is.  The main message of the song is to point out how Latin American countries are being taken advantage of by Americans that use their raw goods without second thought to produce cheaper goods within their own country.  "Soy America Latina, un pueblo sin piernas pero que camina," Residente preaches - "I am Latin American, peoples without legs but we walk.