Tag Archives: PJ Sin Suela

PJ Sin Suela Makes History with Funky NPR Tiny Desk Concert

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PJ Sin Suela has signed his way into the history books…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican rapper made history on Thursday with the debut of his NPR Tiny Desk concert by incorporating a sign language interpreter.

PJ Sin Suela,

Sin Suela, who brought conscious rap and funky energy to his set, became the first artist to incorporate a sign language interpreter as part of the performance that premiered on Thursday (May 1).

Clad in vibrant orange — a color aligning with his most recent album, Toda Época Tiene Su Encanto, which dropped September 2024 — the Puerto Rican wordsmith and his 12-member troupe brought a genre-bending set to the stage.

The 24-minute performance opened with the love rap “Tengo Una Nota” and the bilingual “Duolingo.” The artist showcased his versatility with “Mírame,” delivered in a spoken-word, conscious-rap style that highlighted his lyrical depth and storytelling ability. A blend of funk, rap and hip-hop defined the set’s eclectic sound, punctuated by a laid-back yet pulsating performance of “Amor Artificial” and the high-energy “Top.” He closed with the emotional anti-war song “Mambrú.”

“This is a dream come true for me,” said PJ Sin Suela in a press release. “I remember being in college playing Tiny Desk sessions and thinking, ‘One day I’ll be there,’ and it happened. To this day, if I’m cooking or having friends over, we put on a Tiny Desk. I have a deep respect and love for the platform, and I treated it that way. We prepared, rehearsed and gave it our all. I was able to bring my favorite musicians from Puerto Rico and people I admire and love dearly. I was able to represent what I do visually, musically, and socially.”

Accompanying PJ was a powerhouse ensemble of Puerto Rican musicians, including Jahaziel García on trumpet, Benson Pagán Jiménez on guitar, Gabo Lugo on percussion and Barba Blanca on piano.

Alexssa Hernández made Tiny Desk history as the series’ first sign language interpreter. Backing vocalists Verónica Rolón Acevedo and Yeidimar Ramos Colón added soulful harmonies to the show.

PJ Sin Suela also used his Tiny Desk debut as a platform for activism, placing stickers on the set that read “Puerto Rico is NOT for sale.” The message — which he carried as a sign during the 2022 Puerto Rican Day Parade — reflects his opposition to policies such as Act 22, which allows wealthy foreigners to exploit the island’s resources.

PJ Sin Suela Releases “La Pelua” Remix with Guaynaa, Jon Z & Rafa Pabón

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PJ Sin Suelais out with new music…

The Puerto Rican rapper has joined voices with Guaynaa, Jon Z and Rafa Pabón to launch “La Pelúa” remix.

PJ Sin Suela, Guaynaa, Jon Z & Rafa Pabón

In Puerto Rico, “La Pelua” is a refrain that’s sung at parties or at some fun time among friends and always indicates the person who should dance it. 

“Queremos que (name) nos baile la pelúa, por aqui y por allá.“

“La Pelúa is a song for all the ladies who are natural and humble so that they feel safe and have a good time in her own,” PJ Sin Suela tells Billboard.  

Now, PJ Sin Suela’s version with Guaynaa, Jon Z and Rafa Pabon completely twists the fun chorus. The single is a fusion of rhythms from cumbia to reggaeton with up tempo beats that create a sexy urban rhythm that with its lyrics describe how the person is dancing la pelúa.  

The video for La Pelúa remix recreates an everyday scene of growing up in Puerto Rico. PJ Sin Suela, Jon Z, Rafa Pabón and Guaynaa can be seen having fun riding bikes, checking out girls, having a car wash and playing as a band in the garage. The chemistry between the four artists is captured in the video directed by long-time collaborator Edgar Cruz Robles and Pedro-Juan Vázquez Bragan (PJ Sin Suela). 

“We are friends so it was a pleasure to work with them and the video is a typical summer in Puerto Rico, that if cleaning cars in the carwash, running bike, trying to learn music, is very colorful and I hope everyone enjoyed it,” concluded PJ Sin Suela.

Mirella Cesa to Perform at Verano Alternativo Showcase During the Latin Alternative Music Conference

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Mirella Cesa is hitting the Big Apple…

The 33-year-old Ecuadorian singer, who has been called the “mother of Andipop,” will take part in a summer showcase spotlighting some of the most innovative Latin indie music acts.

Mirella Cesa

Co-sponsored by BMI and taking place during the Latin Alternative Music Conference, Verano Alternativo will take place on July 10.

The event will also feature Latin Grammy-nominated Mr. Pauer, Mitre, Vivanativa, PJ Sin Suela, Cheryl Rivera and Maréh.

“New York City has such a rich musical history, and this showcase will give fans and industry executives alike an opportunity to tap into that and hear what’s trending in Latin music,” said Joey Mercado, BMI executive director, creative, Latin Music, adding that some of the genres represented will include rock, hip-hop and electronic, among others.

The free event takes place at Drom, 85 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009 at 6:00 pm ET.

For more information, follow @bmi and #BMILAMC.

Victor Manuelle Partners with La Tribu de Abrante & PJ Sin Suela for Holiday Song “Mi Navidad No Se Apaga”

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Victor Manuelle is bringing holiday cheer to Puerto Rico…

The 49-year-old Puerto Rican salsa singer has released a new holiday song, featuring the rootsy tropical dance outfit La Tribu de Abrante and artist PJ Sin Suela.

Victor Manuelle

“I don’t have water or electricity but the bet things happen in the dark,” Sin Suela raps [in Spanish] in “Mi Navidad No Se Apaga” — one of the many lines in the song that, with sabor and a smile, make reference to the catastrophic conditions that residents have experienced since the island was hit by hurricanes Irma and Maria in September.

The song is one of a wave of post hurricane-referencing songs that Puerto Rican artists have recorded to keep spirits high in a country where the holidays are known for being exceptionally merry, and very musical.

They include Grupomania’s “Navidad Con Vela,” and “La Fila de la Gasolina” by the group Algareplena.

“Whatever happens there is always a party,” Puerto Rican pop star Olga Tañon said in this year’s Banco Popular Christmas television special, in which she sings a rousing version of “La Vida Es Un Carnival,” the uplifting song made famous by Celia Cruz.

La Tribu de Abrante and PJ Sin Suela also perform in the special.

The airing of the showland release of its soundtrack, an annual holiday event, has taken on special significance this year as sign that in Puerto Rico there will be Christmas this year in spite of the hurricane damage.

“Mi Navidad No Se Apaga” debuts at No. 22 on Billboard’s Tropical Songs chart this week.