Ricanstruction

Ricanstruction is a New York City based Puerto Rican punk/hip hop/salsa/jazz/reggae fusion musical group and artist collective. The band consists of lead vocalist Not4Prophet (also known as N4P, formerly known as Alano Baez, born in Ponce, Puerto Rico), bassist Arturo "R2O" Rodriguez, drummer Joseph "SickFoot" Rodriguez from Harlem, and guitarist Eddie "Alsiva" Alsina. Other members of Ricanstruction through the years have included vocalist Taina Asili (formerly of the punk band Anti-Product), percussionist Roger Vasquez (who left the band to join Latin Rock band Ill Nino), and guitarists Fidel Paulino and Steven "Albizoo" Maldonado.

History

In the mid 1990's, brothers Arturo Rodriguez and Joseph Rodriguez met with Alano Baez (Not4Prophet) in order to start a new recording and live-performance project based on an all-Puerto Rican "Salsacore" (hardcore rock/salsa) band they started in the 1980s called 'Strange Seed', which featured the Rodriguez brothers as rhythm section, Eddie Alsina on guitar, and vocalist Gary Cintron (since deceased). They would later work with John Joseph of the Cro-Mags as vocalist. The Rodriguez brothers continued to compose their impactful brand of salsa infused rock music, now melding it to powerful effect with Baez' political lyrics, soulful, punkish, and hip-hop infused vocals. Ricanstruction made their mark on the underground hardcore scene in NYC and became something of a cult band. Due to multiple circumstances arising over the years (creative, personal, intra-personal, artistic, alienation from and by corporate and independent labels), the band Ricanstruction performed for the last time on 23 September 2006 at a United Nations rally, demanding independence for their homeland, Puerto Rico.

Gigs and tours

Ricanstruction began to gig in local NYC clubs in the mid 1990s at places such as CBGB, The Continental, ABC No Rio, Webster Hall, The Knitting Factory, Downtown Beirut and many other venues. They developed a loyal cross-cultural following in New York and were soon signed to CBGB Records by club and label owner Hilly Kristal. They began to tour in support of their albums while continuing to gig at local NYC clubs, empty lots, and block parties as they felt it important to reach the common people. The band played shows in Central America, the Caribbean, and across the United States.

Activism

÷= Controversy =

Due to the band activism and lyrical content, Tower Records Japan decided that the band was too radical for the Japanese market and banned the stock and sale of Ricanstruction albums. Tower Records in Miami, Florida followed suit shortly thereafter.

Musical influences

Ricanstruction band members' lists of musical influences are lengthy. However, names common to all include but are not limited to Bad Brains, Fishbone, Bob Marley and the Wailers, La Protesta, Hector Lavoe and Willie Colón, Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions, Santana, Arthur Lee and Love, Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Clash, Dead Kennedys, John Coltrane, Public Enemy, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, and La Sonora Poncena.

Albums

*"EPB" (1997)
*"Liberation Day" (1998)
*"Abu Jamal (1999)"
*"UnAmerican (2001)"
*"Love+Revolution" (2004)

References

*1. http://weeklywire.com/ww/07-06-98/boston_music_2.html
*2. http://awol.objector.org/artistprofiles/ricanstruction.html
*3. http://www.ricanstruction.net/manifesto.html
*4. http://www.cbgb.com/cbgbrecords/ricanstruction.html
*5. http://atrain.gnn.tv/articles/2244/In_Filiberto_s_Wake_a_Free_Puerto_Rico
*6. http://www.thevillager.com/villager_117/puertoricanpunk.html
*7. http://www.selfeducation.org/html/2002.html
*8. http://www.undergroundfilm.org/films/detail.tcl?wid=1000685
*9. http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0509&L=poetics&D=1&P=61014
*10. http://www.machetero-movie.com/1659.html?*session*id*key*=*session*id*val*
*11. http://redalyc.uaemex.mx/redalyc/pdf/377/37716216.pdf

External links

*Official band website: http://www.ricanstruction.net/index.html
*CBGB Records: http://www.cbgb.com/cbgbrecords/ricanstruction.html