No recording artist has more impeccable street credentials than Joe Bataan,… Read Full Bio ↴No recording artist has more impeccable street credentials than Joe Bataan, the originator of the New York Latin Soul style that paralleled Latin boogaloo and anticipated disco. His musical experience began with street corner doo-wop in the 1950s, and came to include one of the first rap records to hit the charts, 1979's "Rap-O, Clap-O". In between these milestones, he recorded classic albums like St. Latin's Day Massacre, a perennial favorite in the salsa market, Salsoul, which gave the record label its name and helped spark the national explosion of urban dance music, and Afrofilipino, which included one of the very earliest New York disco hits, an instrumental version of Gil Scott Heron's "The Bottle".
Born Peter Nitollano, of African-American/Filipino parents, Joe Bataan grew up in Spanish Harlem, where he ran with Puerto Rican gangs and absorbed R&B, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Rican musical influences. His music career followed a pair of stints in Coxsackie State Prison. Self taught on the piano, he organized his first band in 1965 and scored his first recording success in 1967 with "Gypsy Woman" on Fania Records, . The tune was a hit with the New York Latin market despite the English lyrics sung by Joe, and exemplified the nascent Latin Soul sound. In early anticipation of the disco formula, "Gypsy Woman" created dance energy by alternating what was fundamentally a pop-soul tune with a break featuring double timed hand claps, . Joe would take this tendency even further on his influential Salsoul, which fused funk and latin influences in slick yet soulful orchestrations. Salsoul remains influential as a rare groove cult item, but pointed to the future at the time of its release. The LP embodied the artist's highly deliberate and culturally aware musical concept. Bataan theorized the '70s next big thing as a hybrid: an Afro Cuban rhythm section playing Brazilian influenced patterns over orchestral funk. In many ways, his vision was on the money, though most of the money would go to others, and mainstream stardom would elude him. He did, however, get in on the ground floor of the new trend as an early hit maker. His biggest commercial move was a Salsoul production released under the Epic umbrella, and promoted to the new disco market as Afrofilipino, which included 1975's "The Bottle", a much anthologized classic that drives an R&B horn arrangment with a relentless piano montuno.
Always in touch with the street, Joe Bataan picked up on rap very early in the game. His minor rap hit, "Rap-O, Clap-O" was a bit more successful in Europe than in the States, and is remembered as rap's debut in the European market. Nevertheless, his legacy remains his gritty and realistic Latin soul lyrics, his self identification as an "Ordinary Guy", and his highly personal and prophetic merger of Latin and soul influences.
Born Peter Nitollano, of African-American/Filipino parents, Joe Bataan grew up in Spanish Harlem, where he ran with Puerto Rican gangs and absorbed R&B, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Rican musical influences. His music career followed a pair of stints in Coxsackie State Prison. Self taught on the piano, he organized his first band in 1965 and scored his first recording success in 1967 with "Gypsy Woman" on Fania Records, . The tune was a hit with the New York Latin market despite the English lyrics sung by Joe, and exemplified the nascent Latin Soul sound. In early anticipation of the disco formula, "Gypsy Woman" created dance energy by alternating what was fundamentally a pop-soul tune with a break featuring double timed hand claps, . Joe would take this tendency even further on his influential Salsoul, which fused funk and latin influences in slick yet soulful orchestrations. Salsoul remains influential as a rare groove cult item, but pointed to the future at the time of its release. The LP embodied the artist's highly deliberate and culturally aware musical concept. Bataan theorized the '70s next big thing as a hybrid: an Afro Cuban rhythm section playing Brazilian influenced patterns over orchestral funk. In many ways, his vision was on the money, though most of the money would go to others, and mainstream stardom would elude him. He did, however, get in on the ground floor of the new trend as an early hit maker. His biggest commercial move was a Salsoul production released under the Epic umbrella, and promoted to the new disco market as Afrofilipino, which included 1975's "The Bottle", a much anthologized classic that drives an R&B horn arrangment with a relentless piano montuno.
Always in touch with the street, Joe Bataan picked up on rap very early in the game. His minor rap hit, "Rap-O, Clap-O" was a bit more successful in Europe than in the States, and is remembered as rap's debut in the European market. Nevertheless, his legacy remains his gritty and realistic Latin soul lyrics, his self identification as an "Ordinary Guy", and his highly personal and prophetic merger of Latin and soul influences.
Young Gifted and Brown
Joe Bataan Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Joe Bataan:
Always & Forever Always and forever Each moment with you Is just like a dream…
Bilingual Girl Oye, look who is there Estรก super hot serรก latino รณ…
Call My Name Before the setting sun and I'll appear And know that I'm…
Chick a Boom Boom boom, chick-a-boom boom boom Chick-a-boom, chick-a-boom…
Chick-A-Boom Boom boom, chick-a-boom boom boom Chick-a-boom, chick-a-boo…
Crystal Blue Persuasion Look over yonder (better get ready) What do you see? (Crysta…
Cycles of You In the morning, as I make my way down the…
Freedom 3RD STOREE Miscellaneous Get Wit' Me"(feat. Joe Budden [Intr…
Gypsy Woman From nowhere through the caravan Round the campfire light A …
If I Were A King If I were a king (if I were a king) I'd…
It's A Good Feeling Everybody is doing it. That's right! Everybody is doing it.…
Mestizo Mestizo, you're the air, Mestizo, you're the world, Latino…
Mestizo (12" Mix) Mestizos throughout the earth Stand tall **about your birth …
Mi Nube Gracias Seรฑor por la nube que hiciste para mรญ Para que…
More Love Ooh, ooh, ooh. Let it be soon, don't hesitate, make love,…
Muchacho Ordinario Yo no guio un carro que es gran cosa Yo no…
Mujer Mujer mรญa... Mira este amor; Cรณmo pasa. Despuรฉs que te fuist…
Mujer Mia Mujer mรญa Mira el tiempo como pasa Despuรฉs que te fuistes de…
My Cloud Thank you lord for the cloud you made for me I…
Ordinary Guy I can't move a mountain top Everything's ordinary on my bloc…
Para Puerto Rico Voy Desde lejos yo oigo Un canto suspirar El zumbido de tus play…
Rap-O Clap-O Just clap your hands, everybody Everybody, come on, clap yo…
Sad Girl Sad girl Sad girl You look so sad Did he break your heart? …
Subway Joe (oh is this the right car? Boss street is coming up…
The Prayer In the name of the Father, and of the Son,…
Under The Street Lamp Standing around telling jokes We can't go no where because w…
Uptown Hey! Hey! Uptown Shoop shoo dooby dooby Uptown How! Uptown S…
What Good Is A Castle What good is a castle Way high upon a hill If you're…
When Sunny Gets Blue When Sunny gets blue, her eyes get gray and cloudy, Then…
When We Get Married Darlin' oh-oh-oh When we get married we'll have a big celeb…
You're Driving Me Right out of My Mind Now that you've taken, all the love that I could…
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@regina805
This Song Reminds me of my Friend
O'dell who was born July 24, 1941.
๐น๐น๐น๐๏ธ๐น Rest in Peace ๐น๐๏ธ๐น๐น๐น
๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น O'dell ๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น
๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น July 24, 1941 ๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น
๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น May 10, 2022 ๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น
โฅ๏ธ๐นโฅ๏ธ๐นโฅ๏ธ๐นโฅ๏ธ๐นโฅ๏ธ๐นโฅ๏ธ๐นโฅ๏ธ๐นโฅ๏ธ
Greatly Loved, Appreciated Sadly Missed
๐น๐๏ธ๐น
@regina805
This Song Reminds me of my Friend
O'dell who was born July 24, 1941.
๐น๐น๐น๐๏ธ๐น Rest in Peace ๐น๐๏ธ๐น๐น๐น
๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น O'dell ๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น
๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น July 24, 1941 ๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น
๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น May 10, 2022 ๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น
โฅ๏ธ๐นโฅ๏ธ๐นโฅ๏ธ๐นโฅ๏ธ๐นโฅ๏ธ๐นโฅ๏ธ๐นโฅ๏ธ๐นโฅ๏ธ
Greatly Loved, Appreciated Sadly Missed
๐น๐๏ธ๐น
@drewpaez3607
I get chills when I play this song!!
@budali3d
Ransom sample brought me here mad itโs 2023 and Iโm just hearing this ๐ข
@commandant6890
My primo got this blasted on his arm โ young , gifted and brownโ hahaha . Them firme oldies right there
@rosearviso4684
Young gifted and brown 2019
@IMG530
Nothing better than identify affirming jams to fight hegemony.
@smileyladyT
Reminds me of my daddy Rest in Peace โค
@bennypalomino9341
Young gifted and brown 2020
@klecoxs2
Anyone out there used to go to the Brighton Jazz Bops circa early 90s this track puts me back there I remember seeing Pucho & his Latin Soul Brothers there was great gig , great memories great times thanks for postin
@CharlieRogersMusic
I know him personally we are friends his mom used to live in Crotona avenue a few blocks down by Tremont avenue. I haven't seen him since 1974 he was young then I when to the Philippines looking for him and they said he move to Florida somewhere. Joe if you get to read this comment I remember you buddy stay well your friend that loves you, Charlie Rogers.