A couple of days ago Chicano Rap veteran Spanky Loco released his 1st single of the year called "Chico". To buy the audio move over to Amazon, iTunes or wherever digital music is sold. I hope that we will hear more from him again, as I have really enjoyed the music he has released the last years. So Spanky, keep them hits coming...

After years of hard work, many field trips to California to experience the lifestyle and to conduct personal interviews with artists such as Kid Frost, Conejo, MC Pancho and many more did German researcher Dianne Violeta Mausfeld finally released her book about Chicano Rap called "Barrio Rap In Los Angeles... American Made With A Mexican Flow". The book which is based on her original PhD thesis is published by SDSU Press and can be bought from Amazon (see link on website) or downloaded for free by clicking here. Fellow researcher Murray Forman says: "Dianne Violeta Mausfeld’s Barrio Rap is an amazing historical cruise that describes the rise and evolution of the distinctive Los Angeles Chicano hip-hop scene in meticulous detail. It illuminates critical moments, cultural politics, style and fashion, and media forms behind the culture and introduces many of the key OG players who created rap en el barrio. Clear and rigorously analytical on every page, this is top-shelf, original scholarship and a most welcome addition to global hip-hop studies.". I also had the chance to meet her all the way back in 2019. As she wrote in her book: "He [Funkadelic] also gave me access to his basement archive, which holds Chicano Rap CDs, DVDs, magazines, and the likes from his trips to L.A". If you are fan of Chicano Rap or Barrio Rap (read the book for why the name was chosen) you should definetely check this out. As a little fun fact, the cover artwork was designed by a former CalifaRap Community member - Prime.

Yesterday Lil Chino, one half of the Fillmore based group Smooth Stylez Of Life aka SSOL, released his latest single "When I'm Rollin'". In total that's single #4 released in 2026. If you want to give it a listen and purchase it move over to Amazon or iTunes. In other news he also released a video for his single "Californoa Sunset" about the 3 weeks ago. To watch the video click here. I am sure there's more to follow, so keep checking back...

Last night saw the release of the long awaited collaboration album between Midget Loco and MC Peps called "Steel Brown & Proud". Midget started his Chicano Rap career in the mid 2000's with Charlie Row Campo and has successfully led his own label Steel Banging Music for some years. MC Peps started his Chicano Rap career with the release of the Brown Pride classic "Livin' In The Barrio" before disappering from the scene for about 30 years. The 2 crossed pathes and recorded some bangers together which you can now buy from iTunes or Amazon and wherever music is still sold. The stream is of course also available over at Spotify or Tidal. Featured artists include Lyrik Cruz, San Diego's own Aztec Tribe and more. Overall "Steel Brown & Proud" is a really dope album where you wish it would have more songs. I also like the fact that both are still repping Chicano Rap to the fullest!

Right before X-Mas did Cali Life Style and Silent Giant Entertainment treat us with a little gift as CLS released a brand new single and video called "Low". The new song comes with features from Dominator, who most likely produced the song as well, Rayleen and Elco. To watch the video click here. To buy the audio hit up Amazon or iTunes. To stream "Low" move to Spotify or Tidal. So far there is no information if and when physical collectors can expect "Street Dreams Vol. 2", but I hope it's going to happen soon!

As you know did MTO release his final studio album "Legacy" by the end of 2023. Due to problems with a leased beat he had to re-release the LP to the digital world. You now find the album under the name "The Lost Tapes". If I saw it correctly there are minor changes to the list of songs featured on the new version. If you are interested you can but it over at Amazon or stream it on Spotify or Tidal.