Orishas is an innovative Cuban hip-hop group formed by four musicians from Havana. Although they met in Paris, the group now resides in Spain, where it has one of its biggest markets.
The story began when French rap producer, Miko Niko and Cuban rapper Liván "Flaco-Pro" talked about developing a new project. Long time fans of the traditional music of Cuba, Liván and Niko hit upon the idea of forging a marriage between the two worlds. Rather than rely on samples, however, they decided that the only way to approach the project was to keep it real and get a flavor of the real Cuba.
Looking for traditional Cuban musicians, DJ Niko and Liván opted to check out a traditional Parisian brasserie called La Coupole. The reason was simple. This is where the Latin population of the French capital city congregates to enjoy traditional music, and it was here that the duo met up with Roldán Rivero, who was performing with one of Cuba's classic traditional bands.
The final part in the Orishas jigsaw fell into place with the arrival of Cuba's premiere hip-hop outfit Amenaza in Paris. As the first people to create homegrown hip-hop Amenaza, from Cayo Hueso, were already legends in their home country. When in Paris however, the band's rappers Hiram "Ruso" Riverí and Yotuel "Guerrero" Manzanares agreed to record some demos with Niko, Liván and Roldán. It was the first time the collective had worked together but they instantly felt a common bond. Orishas was thus born. For the recording of the group's first album, A Lo Cubano , real percussion percussion was used and it was performed by none other than Miguel Ángel "Angá" Díaz, Irakere's former percussionist. EMI signed the group right away.
The great skill in A Lo Cubano came in the way that Orishas combined the disparate sounds of the separate cultures to create something which sound perfectly natural.
The name Orishas comes from the Cuban religion Santeria, which was introduced into the Cuban culture by Nigerian slaves. Orishas is the term given to the half-Gods of Santeria. During the group's concerts, the musicians dress in white and and wear numerous collars to affirm their identity as follower's of Santería.
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Son cuatro, y vienen de La Habana tras un paso fugaz por París. Dos de ellos, Ruzzo y Yotuel, militaban en Amenaza, uno de los grupos de rap -sin lugar a dudas el género más prometedor de Cuba para elfuturo próximo- descollantes de la isla (se llevaron el Gran Premio en la 3ª edición del semiclandestino Festival de Rap Cubano). Liván, precursor del proyecto Orishas, se unió a ellos tras su experiencia en Sargento García (junto a P.18, una de las grandes apuestas francocubanas del momento). Detrás vino Roldán, guitarrista sonero que aporta el lado más ortodoxo al cuarteto. Trabajaron un año en la capital francesa junto al productor de rap galo Miko Niko, y llegaron a la conclusión sonora que es este disco "A lo cubano".
Con él, Orishas se integran a una escena hispanocubana que acogelo más grande de la nueva generación de la música de allá. Como Habana Abierta, Athanai Castro o Nilo Castillo exploran nuevas temáticas, nuevas inquietudes, otros modos de expresión. Más que ninguno de aquellos, mezclan. Y se integran, más allá, en la corriente rockfunkrapera de los nuevos grupos iberoamericanos de vanguardia. Como grupo de hip hop le incorporan cubanía al género (y eso de lo culturalmente propio al hip hop no es algo de lo que puedan presumir muchos). Como grupo cubano contagian -¡¿ y por qué no?!- su música en el mejor de los sentidos.
