In the 1990's Anita formed a hip-hop band Los Gemelos (The Twins) with a fellow rapper Zaturno (later became famous as a member of Tiro de Gracia). In 1997 she gained first major attention after singing in a Los Tetas' hit single "La Medicina". Later she joined DJ Squat, Cenzi and Seo2, and Makiza was formed.
After Makiza went on hiatus in 2001, Anita returned to France and took a break from music until 2004. After coming back to Chile in 2004 she became singing with the funk/acid jazz band Aluzinati, and later in 2005 she reformed Makiza with Seo2 and two new members and released the band's final album to date, Casino Royale.
In 2007 Anita appeared on Julieta Venegas' hit single, "Eres Para Mí" and finally released her solo debut, Kaos. Thanks to the first single, "Despabílate", Anita was nominated for the Latin version of the MTV Video Music Awards 2007 under the categories Best New Artist and Best Urban Artist.
In October 2009, Tijoux released her second solo album, titled 1977 after the year she was born. The album was a return to her rap roots, an homage to the "golden age of hip-hop"; it was largely auto-biographical, exploring mature themes from her own life, from the death of a close friend to having a creative crises, from friendship to bad luck, amongst others. It was simple and straight to the point, as emphasized by her leaving behind a lot of the singing she had been doing of late in other more pop collaborations, and concentrating on rap, both in Spanish and French. After years of sharing the spotlight with her group, collaborating with other artists, and trying to find her way as a solo artist, she has finally arrived in her own right—a raw, direct, and mature MC.
Recorded between May and September 2009, the new album was produced by Hordatoj, Foex and Tee, of the label Potoco Discos, together with Habitación del Pánico. Guests on the record include the saxophonist Agustín Moya with whom she worked with in Aluzinati, Andrés Celis, Solo Di Medina, Bubaseta, Stailok from the group Movimiento Original, DJ Dacel, Quique Neira (formerly from Gondwana), Cómo Asesinar A Felipes, and the Detroit-based MC Invincible, whom she met over MySpace and did a virtual collaboration for the song "Sube".
The album and its first single 1977 were an immediate hit in the underground rap circles of Chile, where she was welcomed back after a bit of a stray. The record was amongst the top 10 of 2009 for the blog [worldhiphopmarket.com], and it was soon picked up by the U.S.-based Latin Alternative label Nacional Records, who released it in April 2010. She was invited to attend the prestigious South By South West Music Festival in Austin, Texas, in March 2010, and from there went on to her first ever North American tour. The song 1977 is featured in FIFA 11 soundtrack, and it also appears in episode five of the fourth season of Breaking Bad.
In 2011 Ana released her new solo album, La Bala. The album deals with many political and social issues in Chile, and the lead single, "Shock", was inspired by the strikes of the Chilean students which took part in 2011.
Mi Verdad
Ana Tijoux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me sentí pisoteado por toda la sociedad
Me tuve que hacer fuerte por necesidad
Fui el hombre de la casa a muy temprana edad
Desde que nací conocí la necesidad
Mi corazón descalzo se perdió en la ciudad
De mis suelas gastadas de tanto caminar
Ya que todo lo que tengo, tengo, tengo es mi verdad
Y que solo me acompaña paña paña mi verdad
Verdad, verdad mi verdad
No quiero tu autoridad
Solo quiero caminar con dignidad
Y conquistar mi libertad
Mi gente de piel
Sequedad y tempestad
Los ojos de mi barrio se llueven en humedad
Contra viento y marea creamos humanidad
En contra del silencio rompiendo la frialdad
Ya que todo lo que tengo, tengo, tengo es mi verdad
Y que solo me acompaña paña paña mi
Verdad, verdad mi verdad
No quiero tu autoridad
Solo quiero caminar con dignidad
Y conquistar mi libertad
Donde ustedes ven el miedo nosotros vemos verdad
Ustedes crían rabia al nombre de la autoridad
Ustedes son los pobres carecen de dignidad
Sepan ustedes no queremos claridad
No tenemos espacios tenemos la vecindad
No tenemos sus guardias tenemos comunidad
Necesitan nuestra música para ver la realidad
Pero jamás conocerás la solidaridad
Desde que nací conocí la necesidad
Aprendí de la vida la calle y su soledad
Mi verdad
The lyrics to Ana Tijoux's song "Mi Verdad" convey a powerful message of identity, struggle, and liberation. Tijoux speaks from the perspective of someone with brown skin who has had their identity erased by society. They have had to become strong out of necessity and take on adult responsibilities at a young age. They have also navigated the harsh realities of the city and the loneliness of the streets. Through it all, the only thing they have is their truth or their "verdad". They reject authority and define themselves by their own dignity and freedom.
Tijoux also speaks to their community, which is often marginalized and oppressed. They see the humanity in their people and create it, even in the face of adversity. They reject fear and choose to see truth, even when others see danger. They reject the authority that seeks to control and deny their dignity. They value their community and its solidarity over the institutions and structures that seek to dominate and exploit them. Through it all, their truth remains the one constant in their life.
The song is a powerful testament to the resilience and resistance of marginalized communities, particularly those with brown skin. Tijoux's powerful lyrics speak to the deep-rooted struggles and systemic oppression that they face, all while celebrating their resistance and strength. It is a call to be proud of one's identity, to value community and solidarity, and to always hold onto the truth, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Por mi piel morena borraron mi identidad
Due to my brown skin, my identity has been erased
Me sentí pisoteado por toda la sociedad
I felt trampled upon by society
Me tuve que hacer fuerte por necesidad
I had to become strong out of necessity
Fui el hombre de la casa a muy temprana edad
At a very young age, I was the man of the house
Desde que nací conocí la necesidad
I have known need since the day I was born
Mi corazón descalzo se perdió en la ciudad
My barefoot heart got lost in the city
De mis suelas gastadas de tanto caminar
From my worn out soles due to walking so much
Aprendí de la vida la calle y su soledad
I learned about life from the street and its loneliness
Ya que todo lo que tengo, tengo, tengo es mi verdad
Because all I have, have, have is my truth
Y que solo me acompaña paña paña mi verdad
And only my truth accompanies me
Verdad, verdad mi verdad
Truth, truth, my truth
No quiero tu autoridad
I don't want your authority
Solo quiero caminar con dignidad
I just want to walk with dignity
Y conquistar mi libertad
And conquer my freedom
Mi gente de piel
My people of skin
Sequedad y tempestad
Dryness and storms
Los ojos de mi barrio se llueven en humedad
The eyes of my neighborhood cry with humidity
Contra viento y marea creamos humanidad
Against all odds, we create humanity
En contra del silencio rompiendo la frialdad
Against the silence, breaking the coldness
Donde ustedes ven el miedo nosotros vemos verdad
Where you see fear, we see truth
Ustedes crían rabia al nombre de la autoridad
You breed anger towards the name of authority
Ustedes son los pobres carecen de dignidad
You are the poor ones lacking in dignity
Sepan ustedes no queremos claridad
Know that we don't want clarity
No tenemos espacios tenemos la vecindad
We don't have spaces, we have our community
No tenemos sus guardias tenemos comunidad
We don't have your guards, we have our community
Necesitan nuestra música para ver la realidad
You need our music to see reality
Pero jamás conocerás la solidaridad
But you will never know solidarity
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ana Maria Merino Tijoux, Andres Celis Mujica, Cristobal Andres Perez Serrano
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind