Big Ballin'

by Alex HendersonBack in the 1980s, the term "Latin hip-hop" was coined to describe freestyle singers like the Cover Girls and Nayobe. But while such artists have been influenced by the beats and rhythms of hip-hop (as well as salsa/Afro-Cuban rhythms), it's best to call their music Latin freestyle instead of Latin hip-hop because they aren't MCs -- they're dance-pop singers. Latin hip-hop in the true sense isn't Nayobe or the Cover Girls; it's Latino rappers who range from Puerto Ricans in the Big Apple (Mesanjarz of Funk, Hurricane G) to Mexican-Americans in Southern California (Kid Frost, Cypress Hill, Lighter Shade of Brown, the Mexakinz, Proper Dos). Given how long Latinos have been participating in hip-hop, it makes perfect sense for the L.A.-based, Triple X-distributed Hit a Lick label to be specializing in hip-hop by Latinos. One of the Chicano MCs who was on the Hit a Lick roster in 2000 was Lil' Blacky, an L.A.-based gangsta rapper who shows some promise on his debut album, Big Ballin'. Much of the CD is devoted to the usual gangsta rap themes of urban crime and life in the hood, but instead of talking about South Central L.A. or East Oakland, Blacky's focus is the dangers of barrio life. The tunes are generally catchy, if conventional and derivative, and Blacky comes up with his share of infectious hooks. Occasionally, Blacky gets away from gangsta rap and detours into more pop-minded material. "Only You" is among his more commercial tunes, and the affectionate "Lowrider Girl" is arguably a Chicano equivalent of L.L. Cool J's "Around the Way Girl." Big Ballin' isn't perfect, but the decent CD has more plusses than minuses and indicates that Blacky (who was only 19 when it was recorded) is worth keeping an eye on.