Orishas - 537 CUBA-

Orishas is a hip-hop group whose members had emigrated from Cuba. They were first called the “Amenaza” [1] meaning "menace" and appealed to the Cuban youth who were hungry for American pop culture which consisted of hip hop and rap. The Orishas delved into a realm of music in which they challenged “Castro’s ideal of a colorless society” and created a black identity that the younger generations could relate to. They tackled important and obvious issues that dark skinned Cubans faced everyday though the government refused to recognize. [2] Their music describes social problems on the peripheries of Havana which were largely a result of the end of Soviet subsidies to Cuba in the early 1990s.[3]

The group is very popular in Europe (especially France and Spain) and Latin America. Yotuel and Ruzzo, two Cubans who moved from Havana to Paris as part of an international studies program, joined Roldán González and Flaco-Pro to form the band in 1999. Their work is influenced by the hip-hop movement as well as both Latin and Cuban rhythms. To date they have produced a total of 4 studio albums and a greatest hits album. Their latest album Cosita Buena was released on June 17, 2008.

The name “Orishas” refers to the set of deities worshipped in African-based religions that were brought to the Americas by slaves of the Yoruba people in West Africa. These religions, parts of the Yoruba mythology, include Santeria in Cuba and Candomblé in Brazil. These orishas, or deities, each represent a natural element (such as the ocean or leaves) and exhibit a human characteristic (such as motherhood or love).[4] The choice of this name for the hip hop group is a way of creating a direct link between this band and the African diaspora. This link is evident in the lyrics to "Nací Orichas" and "I Sing For Elewa and Changó". Creating such obvious references to Africa was an interesting choice as the band ultimately based itself in Europe. This success is a statement to both the international appeal of the group itself as well as the global popularity of Cuban culture.[5]

Currently the band consists of only three members, Yotuel, Ruzzo and Roldán González. Flaco-Pro left the group in 2002 before the release of their second studio album, Emigrante[6].

Today, the band members live distributed in Europe (Roldán in Paris, Ruzzo in Milan, and Yotuel in Madrid). In total, after producing three albums, the group known as Orishas has sold more than 750,000 copies of its albums in Europe and has received two Grammys. In 2007, they contributed with Puerto Rican group, Calle 13, on the song "Pa'l Norte" (featured on the album Residente o Visitante). The song won a Latin Grammy for Best Urban Song.

Orishas es una banda cubana. La forman Hiram Riverí Medina (Ruzzo), Roldán González Rivero y Yotuel Omar Romero Manzanares (Guerrero). En principio Yotuel y Ruzzo eran dos cubanos que salían de La Habana como parte de un intercambio escolar a París; allí se unieron a Roldan y a Flaco-Pro (que solo participó en el primer disco, A lo Cubano), y así formaron la banda en 1999, mezclando rap con música cubana. Como curiosidad, sus integrantes viven repartidos por Europa (Roldán en París, Ruzzo en Milán y Yotuel en Madrid)[cita requerida].

Orishas ha vendido con todos sus CDs más de 750.000 copias en Europa, ha ganado dos Grammys son los representantes por excelencia del hip-hop cubano en el mundo.

En 2007, hicieron un dueto con el grupo puertorriqueño, Calle 13, en la canción llamada "Pal Norte". La canción ganó un Grammy Latino como Mejor Canción Urbana.

Orishas - Latinoamericando 2008 Milan (Italia)  Cosita Buena (2008) 01. Cosita Buena 02. Mani 03. Bruja 04. Camina 05. Guajira 06. Borrón 07. Mírame 08. Que quede claro 09. Machete 10. Isi 11. Público 12. Melodías 13. Hip Hop Conga