Crooked Stilo

Crooked Stilo is a hip-hop duo formed by brothers Victor and Johnny Lopez.

Crooked Stilo
Also known asLos Chuekos
Born San Salvador, El Salvador
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresHip-Hop (Rap), Reggaeton
Years active1997 - Present
LabelsUnivision, Fonovisa, Mi Estilo Records
Websitewww.crookedstilo.com
MembersVictor el lunatiko, Johnny

Early years

The duo spent their early years in El Salvador, a Central American nation that was torn apart by civil war. In their youth, they immigrated with their parents to the United States in search of a new beginning and a better future. They settled in a housing project in East Los Angeles, a new environment that came with its own unique challenges.

In East Los Angeles, the brothers faced difficulties of gang warfare, drugs, alcohol, and criminal elements. They focused on their music as a protection from the gangs and fights that occurred outside of their home. The confrontations between other young immigrants and the police turned into music and the stories of their lives became their lyrics.

The boys were ambitious and planned a future for themselves that would help them get out of their poor neighborhood. They wanted to become music stars, so the brothers began to toy with a musical style of their own. They quickly found that their musical interests differed; Victor had always preferred the music of his roots, with lyrics in Spanish while Johnny loved American rap music. Representing their new reality as Salvadorans living in Los Angeles, they developed a fusion of their two musical interests.

Influences

The brothers combined the Latin music that they heard from their parents with the new sounds they encountered in Los Angeles. They combined the sounds of Celia Cruz, Willy Chirino, Vico C, Gilberto Santa Rosa, NWA, Gangstarr, EPMD, Big Daddy Kane, Mellow Man Ace, Biz Markie, Cypress Hill, A.L.T., Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur, and Notorious BIG.

Band history

They christened their new style as "crooked" because "it consists of combining the old Spanish music and new hip hop music," stated Johnny. After defining their sound and style, the group began recording in 1993.

They initially recorded their work independently, and discovered an audience for their music, becoming popular in the urban regional music scene. Crooked Stilo has worked and performed with artists such as P. Diddy, Daddy Yankee ("Salud y Vida" from the 2004 multi-platinum album Barrio Fino), Don Chezina, Dyablo, and others.

They have released three albums with Univision Music Group and Fonovisa Records: Puro Escandalo, Retrasalo, and Malhablados.

The duo left Fonovisa/Univision and started their own record label, Mi Estilo Records. They have released 3 albums through the newly formed label: Cumbia Urbana: The Album, Los Titulares, and Calles Chuekas.

Discography

Studio albums
Year Album Title Charts
1999 Crooked For Life
2004 Puro Escándalo
2005 Naturally Crooked
2005 Crooked Stilo
2005 Retrasalo
2007 Malhablados
2008 Cumbia Urbana: The Album[1]
2011 Los Titulares
2015 Calles Chuekas
"—" indicates albums that did not chart.
Singles & EPs
Year Title Charts
1999 So What U Want
2014 "Puro Party" (Remix) (featuring C-Kan)
"—" indicates singles that did not chart.
Guest appearances
Year Title Artist Album Latin Rhythm Albums
2004 "Salud y Vida" Daddy Yankee Barrio Fino 1
"—" indicates albums that did not chart.

References

  1. Review by Alex Henderson Retrieved June 16, 2014
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