It's been quite a journey since Orishas released their first album 'A Lo Cubano' in Spain in May 1999. Lauded by the press throughout Europe ever since it came out, the group launched into a marathon tour that started in summer 1999. From clubs to festivals, the European tour stretched out to just over two years with evening performances of their music catalogue at the Olympia, the Ancienne Belgique and the Royal Festival Hall in England. They were to play at the most prestigious festivals in Europe like the Lowlands (Holland), where they topped the bill along with groups like Deftones and Cypress Hill, and the Roskilde (Denmark), where they brewed up a storm alongside groups as disparate as Tool and Wyclef Jean. Orishas also performed in the year 2000 at festivals like the Paleo Nyon Festival, the La Rochelle Francofolies and Pop Kom.
The group gradually acquired international standing, and after conquering Europe they went on to win over the United States in November 2000, with the American press unanimous in its acclaim: articles and reviews in Time, Rolling Stone, The Source, Vibe ,... Little by little they became an essential live band, capable of sharing the stage with artists as diverse as Compay Segundo, Orquestra Aragon, Iggy Pop, Cypress Hill, Macy Gray and Marcus Miller. Orishas paid their dues on the road and left Europe to take part in various jazz festivals in Canada and South Africa, dropping in on Brazil and Mexico. Orishas left no doubt that their musical fusion, unique in its genre, enables them to break the frontiers of style and to be equally at home in front of a latino, hip hop, pop or rock audience.
December saw their triumphal return to Cuba, where they had occupied the top slots of the radio charts for months and where they gave two concerts that brought together tens of thousands of young Cubans. They had come full circle, because after touring the world Orishas' dream finally came true: playing in front of their families and the people of Cuba.
Collaborations came thick and fast, with Roldan Gonzalez appearing on various French rap albums (Kerry James) or international rap albums (Dari, Da Weasel / Portugal).
After more than 200 concerts worldwide, the group decided to get back to song writing in August 2001. It was only to be expected that they would start working together again with the French producer and composer Niko Noki, (Passi, Bisso Na Bisso), who along with Roldan Gonzalez had been responsible for the tracks on the first album. He in turn engaged the services of a young composer of the future, DJ Mig-One, who had two albums with his group Starflam under his belt. They strung several studio sessions together between Belgium and Paris to knock up no fewer than twenty tracks. In November 2001 the group was ready at last to go back into the studio proper to record the successor to A Lo Cubano. They opted for the EMI studio in Paris, where the cream of Cuban musicians gathered at the group's behest to immortalise the songs of the Emigrante album. The group had matured and learned a great deal from touring the world, the subjects are more profound and given a more international treatment. Having had their eyes opened by the big world has had a visible impact on their writing. As on the first album, Miko Niko is in charge of musical production and most of the tracks, DJ Mig One has penned 3 compositions that underpin the plurality of their influences. The album was mixed at the Polygone studio in Toulouse under the auspices of Mario Rodriguez (Notorious B.I.G., Public Enemy, Mobb Deep, Fonky Family, 113...). Once again the alchemy is perfect. The new album sees the return of two very talented artists and long-standing friends of the group: Passi on La Vida Passa and Yuri Buenaventura on 300 Kg de Rap.
The new album has a pan-European release on April 22, 2002 and is being promoted in a tour that takes in more than ten countries before being presented on the stages of the major European festivals this summer.
El Rey De La Pachacha
Orishas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Con la fuerza de mi texto on light
Para seguir aquella historia
Que no recordáis
Negocios negros como tumba
Controlando el flight
El rey del Chingo no se cansa
Controlando el mic
Bota fuera
Pedrito sigue suelto en carretera
Controlando el chaca
De su ataque hay manera
Nadie se a atrevido a desafiarlo
why menos modificarlo
Controlarlo o encerrarlo
El negocio de los cuadres
Es su primicia
Pero es claro que una gran estafa
Millonaria se avecina
De un golpe de diablo
Calló al hueco
Por un chivatazo que a la poli
Hijo mío dieron luego
Prosiguieron como siempre
Las debidas detenciones
Calló en ley de nuevo el flaco
Le siguió Fernando El Laco
Esta historia como ves
No ha terminado
De la lengua seguirán contando
Los chicos del barrio
Imagínate quién es ese
Espero que el fuese
El tipo que controla aquí la chacha
Siempre te contaron mal la historia
Pero aquí retorna
Con gloria
El rey de la pachacha
Imagínate quién es ese
Espero que el fuese
El tipo que controla aquí la chacha
Siempre te contaron mal la historia
Pero aquí retorna
Con gloria
El rey de la pachacha
Abra bien los oídos
Que ahora quiero a contarles
Una historia verdadera
Joven de valor prestigio why libertad
Era rey de La Habana entera
Era rey de La Habana entera
Repito
Una noche ebrio de todo
Preso de desilusión
Sin conciencia ni control
A su novia why a su amigo
Liquidó por confusión
why claro fue condenado
A veinte años de prisión
Dieciséis meses más tarde
Directo hacia el pelotón
Derere rabadero rebodipodá badá badá
Imaginare quién es ese
Espero que el fuese
El tipo que controla aquí la chacha
Siempre te contaron mal la historia
Pero aquí retorna
Con gloria
El rey de la pachacha
Imagínate quién es ese
Espero que el fuese
El tipo que controla aquí la chacha
Siempre te contaron mal la historia
Pero aquí retorna
Con gloria
El rey de la pachacha
Abro mis ojos why veo mi gente
Que me cita a salir, a compartir
El mundo que he dejado aquí a mi paso
No quiero rechazo, al caso
Seguir la misma historia
Que en mi gloria del Vedado
El barrio que le canto
Con los pinches a mi lado
Al business yo progreso Cayo Hueso
El barrio que le debo lo que yo he hecho
Solo el pecho
Fumando cosas de esas que te ponen
Mala la cabeza, he confundido
Armonía por tristeza
why no me pesa
Si Dios me bendice
El diablo me confiesa
¿Quién es esa?
¿Quién separa el territorio de mi hogar?
Sin preguntar, quiere robar, sin mas hablar
Coge el bate que sofoca, golpe a la cabeza
Sangre brota, prendó la luz que toca
Miró en el suelo se encontraba
Sorpresa grande loca me esperaba
Yo no sabía nada
Imagínate quién es ese
Espero que el fuese
El tipo que controla aquí la chacha
Siempre te contaron mal la historia
Pero aquí retorna
Con gloria
El rey de la pachacha
Imagínate quién es ese
Espero que el fuese
El tipo que controla aquí la chacha
Siempre te contaron mal la historia
Pero aquí retorna
Con gloria
El rey de la pachacha
Mala cabeza, Mala cabeza
Mira que el carro vuelca
The song "El Rey De La Pachacha" by Orishas tells a story of a character named Pedro who is essentially the "King" of the "pachacha" scene (pachacha being a Cuban dance). The song begins with a reference to a story that people no longer remember. The lyrics describe the "business" (likely drug-related) that Pedro and his associates control, as well as Pedro's dominance as a performer in their scene, "controlling the mic." There is also a mention of a great financial scam that is about to take place, alluding to the corruption that Pedro is involved in.
Later in the song, the lyrics reveal that Pedro is imprisoned after drunkenly killing his girlfriend and his friend. He is sentenced to 20 years in prison and sentenced to death. The song then turns to Pedro's return to his former glory as the "King of the Pachacha," although it is unclear whether this is a physical return or more of a mythological one. There are references to the confusion surrounding his story, and the repetition of the chorus emphasizes the legend that has grown up around Pedro.
Overall, the song paints a picture of the corruption and violence that often accompany the nightlife in Cuba, as well as the mythology that can grow up around those who wield power in that scene.
Line by Line Meaning
Abro mis labios
I open my mouth
Con la fuerza de mi texto on light
With the strength of my powerful words
Para seguir aquella historia
To continue that story
Que no recordáis
That you don't remember
Negocios negros como tumba
Dark deals like a grave
Controlando el flight
Controlling the drug trade
El rey del Chingo no se cansa
The kingpin of Chingo never tires
Controlando el mic
Controlling the mic (microphone)
Bota fuera
Throw it out
Pedrito sigue suelto en carretera
Pedrito is still loose on the road
Controlando el chaca
Controlling the cocaine
De su ataque hay manera
There is a way to dodge his attack
Nadie se a atrevido a desafiarlo
No one has dared to challenge him
why menos modificarlo
And much less modify him
Controlarlo o encerrarlo
Control him or put him behind bars
El negocio de los cuadres
The business of the boxing matches
Es su primicia
Is his specialty
Pero es claro que una gran estafa
But it's clear that a big scam
Millonaria se avecina
A millionaire's on the horizon
De un golpe de diablo
From a stroke of the devil
Calló al hueco
Fell into the hole
Por un chivatazo que a la poli
From a tip-off to the police
Hijo mío dieron luego
My son was given later
Prosiguieron como siempre
They continued as always
Las debidas detenciones
The appropriate arrests
Calló en ley de nuevo el flaco
The skinny one fell back into the law's hands
Le siguió Fernando El Laco
Followed by Fernando El Laco
Esta historia como ves
This story as you see
No ha terminado
Hasn't finished
De la lengua seguirán contando
They will keep telling with their tongues
Los chicos del barrio
The boys from the neighborhood
Imagínate quién es ese
Imagine who that is
Espero que el fuese
I hope it was him
El tipo que controla aquí la chacha
The guy who controls the drug trade here
Siempre te contaron mal la historia
They always told you the story wrong
Pero aquí retorna
But he returns here
Con gloria
With glory
Abra bien los oídos
Open your ears wide
Que ahora quiero a contarles
Now I want to tell you
Una historia verdadera
A true story
Joven de valor prestigio why libertad
Young man of valor, prestige, and freedom
Era rey de La Habana entera
He was the king of all Havana
Repito
I repeat
Una noche ebrio de todo
One night completely drunk
Preso de desilusión
Prisoner of disillusionment
Sin conciencia ni control
Without consciousness or control
A su novia why a su amigo
To his girlfriend and his friend
Liquidó por confusión
He killed them by mistake
why claro fue condenado
And of course he was sentenced
A veinte años de prisión
To twenty years in prison
Dieciséis meses más tarde
Sixteen months later
Directo hacia el pelotón
Straight towards the execution squad
Derere rabadero rebodipodá badá badá
Mala cabeza, Mala cabeza
Bad head, bad head
Mira que el carro vuelca
Look, the car overturns
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE
Written by: ROLDAN GONZALEZ RIVERO, YOTUEL ROMERO MANZANARES, HIRAM RIVERI MEDINA, JOSE MIGUEL MATHIEU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind