Brown Boy

Reppin' Latin rap since the early 2000's, Brown Boy is one of the most successful independent rappers to come out of California since Kid Frost and Lighter Shade of Brown. Combining alternative hip-hop with Chicano rap, Brown Boy had a massive hit with Superman off his Livin' Shady album, a romantic jam that cracked Billboard's Top Rhythmic 40 in 2006. He followed with the album Chicano Rap Riderz and most recently released So Radio.

We hit up Brown Boy to talk about how his music fits into Latin Hip Hop.

What music are you most influenced by?

I'm most influenced by R&B. Artists such as Keith Sweat and groups Like 112 and Jagged Edge have influenced me greatly. I love records that deal with emotions and feelings. What can I say? I'm a lover not a fighter.

Your music is filled with club bangers and love slow jams. Which represents you the best?

I would definitely say the slow jams. I love to cater to my beautiful Latina women. I guess you can say I'm just a romantic type of guy. Another reason why the slow jams best represent me is because so much music out there is so negative towards women. I have to give my Latinas music they can relate to so they can see there are artists like me who make good, clean, positive music for them.

You've got classic Chicano artists in your new album, "So Radio." How did you decide who you wanted to team up with?

It was easy. I had always been a fan of their music. Lighter Shade of Brown and MC Magic are pioneers of the game so I knew I wanted to team up with them the moment I got in the business. Nino Brown was a no-brainer. He's got that tight OG flow so I knew I had to get him on a verse. Everyone else on the record that I teamed up with had talent and were friends of mine such as: Big Gemini, Zig Zag, and more. I knew we would make good music together.

How are you able to rep brown pride without alienating your more mainstream fans?

I guess I just stay me. I stay humble and keep doing what I do. I love all my fans because they're the ones that make me. I guess when I rep for the raza during my show I don't exclude any of my fans on my shout-outs.

We know that for you, family is the biggest source of inspiration as an artist. What other type of inspiration do you find in everyday life?

My main type of inspiration would be just Life itself. It helps me write music from the heart on everyday life experiences. Whether it be losing someone to loving someone.

Do you consider yourself a Latino/Chicano rapper or just a rapper? Do you think there's a difference?

Neither. I consider myself an entertainer. That's what I do. I entertain people while I'm on stage. As far as my music goes, I guess you can say it's rap but to classify myself as a Chicano/Latino rapper, I would be just be separating myself from music, period. Just because I'm Mexican I can't classify myself as a Chicano rapper because music is music. The type of music I make is for everybody to enjoy and relate to whether you're white, black, purple or Asian. I support all positive music no matter what they call it.