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The Insurgent Juan Zarate | U Rap for Money... I Spit for Change

The Insurgent Juan Zarate

Where were you born and raised at?

I was born in Tijuana, Baja California Mexico. My family and I moved to Chicago when I was about 3 to 4 years old. I've lived around the South Side of Chicago ever since then.

How's life growing up in Chicago as a Mexicano?

Well the Mexican community is huge over here, so I never felt like I didn't belong. Chicago is one of the most segregated cities you could ever find. In general it's a melting pot, but look closely and it's a Mexican hood, a black hood, a Puerto Rican hood. The gang culture is deeply rooted, sort of like Los Angeles. They call this the "hater" city, just because it's tough to get any type of love. Everyone's just on their own shit. But it's nothing out of the ordinary. We struggle here just like most Mexicanos are struggling. The ICE crew makes their runs, the police target us, the leader of the Illinois Minutemen is a Latin chick, Rosanna Pulido, but we get by...

When did you first get involved with the hip-hop culture?

I remember when we first came to the United States our only form of income was selling huaraches sandals, Mexican leather goods, fruits and even birds at festivals in many states. At these festivals I started seeing cats performing rhymes and b-boys battling. I can't remember everything I got this past Christmas, but I remember the first time I saw a cat doing headspins while his homie kicked a flow. That's when I fell in love with hip-hop.

How did you meet and connect with Skribe of Kinto Sol?

I've known Skribe since about 1994. My pops had a lil tape shop and Skribe would bring the mixes he and DJ Payback Garcia would put together. We formed a friendship over the years, and I saw him do his thing from the ground up. I never really told him at first that I used to kick rhymes or whatever. I was gonna try to do it on my own, and I cut an underground album around 2002. Before I was about to release it I showed it to him. He must of felt it because we linked right after that. That album never saw the light of day, that's a good thing though...

Was the "El Hijo de la Calle" album released through Virus Entertainment your first official album?

�El Hijo de la Calle� was my first official release. Like I said, I did stuff before that, mixtapes and compilations... But that was my first offering.

You spit mostly in Spanish on that album, now you are dropping two mixtapes one in Spanish and the other is English at the same time.

Yeah, when I first started I was in a group called Live Poets Tribe. We did stuff mostly in English. I started doing my own thing in Spanish and hadn't done any English since. "El Hijo de la Calle" came out in early 2006, so it had been a minute since I dropped anything. I knew my next album with Virus Enterprises wouldn't drop till 2008 so I got that lil itch to record. The Spanish Mixtape, "Radio Rebelde", was composed throughout the year. "The Anti Hero" mixtape in English was basically done in October 2007, I was a little inspired that month.

What's the difference between "Radio Rebelde" and "The Anti Hero Mixtape"?

I once heard "Revolucion" is born either through inspiration, motivation, or desperation. �The Anti Hero� was born out of desperation. It's basically a response to the system of imperialism, conservatives, the Minutemen, ICE, police and any and everyone oppressing my people. I feel the pain in the communities. I don't scream Zapata's name in vain or call myself a "political rapper" because it's cool now. But I was there when the ICE crew and the Fed boys strolled through Little Village on some Marshall Law shit. It was no love before that, it's no love ever since. �Radio Rebelde� is similar in the philosophy, but I got a lot of crew joints and more guest appearances with some of my comrades on there.

Who were some artist that inspired you to pick up the mic?

As far as hip-hop goes Tupac Shakur was a huge influence. N.W.A., Ice Cube, Nas, Cypress Hill, Big Pun, Scarface, Psycho Realm, Kinto Sol, Delinquent Habits, Wu-Tang, and Common. But, I like a wide variety of music man. I'm a hugh Doors fan, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Ricardo Arjona, Manu Chao, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Pink Floyd, Rockdrigo Gonzalez. I know it's a weird ass variety man, but I'm a big fan of lyricist.

Now that 2008 is here, any other projects we should be looking out for?

Well my new album is gonna drop, "El Sacrificio". That's coming out with the Virus Enterprises camp. That should drop around March-April. I'm putting my soul in this one man. If you�re a fan of lyrics, you might wanna peep this one. The first single and video should be out soon, it's called "Cafe". I'm also putting out a compilation during the summer, "Tirando Barrio 2" and that's under my own label Tenoch Records. I got a few things I'm working on, but I'm keeping those low key until they�re closer to the release date.

What's up with your new spot on Chicago�s South Side?

Yeah, I got a little spot here in Little Village, it's called "Cruising Sounds." It's inside the Discount Mall where the ICE crew hit that basically started the tension right before the marches. It's in the heart of the Mexican community. It's basically a Latin Hip-Hop mom and pop shop. We support the big boys and the underground cats too man, equal opportunity! Cuando anden por Chicago, stop by La Villita, the lil Mall in the hood to get your Latin Rap fix!

Any last words for BrownPride.com?

Yeah, keep supporting Brown Hip-Hop! Virus Enterprises! Peep El Chivo's new album coming soon. New Music from Tenoch Records, Amenaza and Papa Netza coming soon! Peace to everyone supporting...Much love to Sal Rojas for doing his thing... BrownPride.com ten year anniversary and it's only the beginning...Revolucion Compadre!