Low-G took the Texas Latin Rap Awards' "Best Spanish Songwriter" in 2009 and twice before that. For those whose assimilation swept them away from their native language and could only take with them a handful of words in the process, or those like us, who were born three, four or five family generations into the United States and didn't have the opportunity to learn it, but wanted to, Low-G's work gives you the only precious chance to know Spanish for a few bars and sound cool speaking it. Whether he knows it or not, that means the world to so many not Mexican enough or not American enough - those trapped in the middle. It's a gift of temporary belonging and cultural pride.
"When I started rapping, I felt like I had to rap in English to defend myself and be equal," Low-G tells Rocks Off.
But SPM encouraged him not to hide his accent, not to feel compelled to rap in English. Low-G was bringing something new to a community of hip-hop where Spanish was fast becoming lost or extremely diluted and the people needed to hear it so he gave it to them and it's become his trademark.
And as we predicted, we changed our mind about the hardest Latino rap track to echo the blocks of Houston. We'll leave you with a blast from the past. It's called "Que Onda," and yes, Low-G wrecked that hoe, too.
Low-G and Rasheed - Que Onda
Follow Low-G on MySpace and Twitter, and keep on the lookout for tour dates for the Dope House Records Family Reunion concert series featuring Low-G, Baby Bash, Juan Gotti, Lucky Luciano, Rasheed, and Grimm.
Rolando Rodriguez is the managing editor of www.redbrownandblue.com. Follow him on MySpace and Twitter.