Welcome to Issue #46 of The Freestyle Blast!
It’s October, and tell me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t this month seem to have the most going on? Not only does it kick off the Holiday Season, but it also feels like the true embodiment of FALL, the weather, the colors, the energy, all of it.
October is packed with observances such as Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15–Oct 15), Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, ADHD Awareness Month, Filipino American History Month, Italian-American Heritage Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, and National Book Month, just to name a few. Oh, and let’s not forget National Pasta Month, National Apple Month, and National Chili Month.
And of course, two of my personal favorites, Halloween… and my birthday! (Where my Scorpios at?)
And I’m sure there are others just as important that I may have missed, so, my apologies. There’s just too much happening this time of year!
In this issue, we take a closer look at the world of podcasts. In the past, I’ve spoken about the importance of Freestyle artists doing interviews and engaging with podcast hosts. This time around, I wanna shine a light on the folks who are actually producing these podcasts and building platforms specifically for our genre, such as our very own DJ Wonder Rican who’s hosting the brand new Blast Flash 3 Podcast, where he’ll be shining an even brighter light on our Flash 3 contestants, so make sure you check it out!
Also, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I dive into a genre of music that not too many are familiar with. It’s called Boogaloo, and in my opinion, it’s the true ancestor of Freestyle, but I’m curious as to your thoughts. They say the best way to navigate your future is to understand your past, and this article might have you seeing our music under a whole new light.
And once you’re done with those two articles, keep scrolling down and take a crack at this month’s puzzle (though let’s be real, most of you won’t get it!).
Plus, check out who’s riding the Blast Flash 3 this month, and be sure to vote for your favorite. The winner continues on in future issues for more exposure, and trust me, every Freestyle club and concert promoter I know is subscribed, so don’t sleep on us!
And last but not least, our Freestyle Club and Concert Calendar. See what Freestyle events are headed your way and make sure you get those tickets.
As always, thank you for being here, and I hope you enjoy this month’s issue of The Blast!
FREESTYLE PODCASTS
A few issues back, I wrote about how podcasts could impact our Freestyle artists. But this time, I’d like to flip it up a bit and talk about the podcasts themselves, or more importantly, the people behind them…
Podcasting has opened a whole new lane for our community. So many Freestyle fans, people who grew up loving the music but never had the chance to be part of it back in the day, now have that opportunity. Whether you once dreamed of being an artist, writer, producer, or DJ, the podcast mic has become the new stage.
What I love about podcasts is how they allow hidden talents to finally shine. You can create, express, experiment, and carve your own place within the Freestyle world. The best part? There are no rules.
There are already several Freestyle podcasts out there doing amazing work, and most of them are still in their early stages, which means the potential is enormous.
Let’s be honest, for years, artists, producers, and label heads have struggled to give Freestyle that “second wind.” and though we’ve done a solid job keeping it alive through clubs and concerts, mainstream media continues to ignore us. But now, thanks to podcasting and those incredible creatives behind it, we’ve been handed a second chance to be heard.
We can complain about never being invited to the Grammy’s, never being featured in major films or Broadway, or not being written into music history, but the truth is, as long as we stay quiet, we’ll stay invisible.
The world is loud and over-saturated, and a single new Freestyle track will never be enough to shake things up anymore. But podcasts? Podcasts can cut through that noise, if we do it right.
Podcasters, the ball’s in your court now. You have the power to reintroduce Freestyle to the world. You can remind people that we’re still here, still active, and still evolving. Even better, you can reach new audiences, younger listeners who might not even know what Freestyle is. Start the revival by honoring our legends, while inspiring a new generation to step forward.
So podcasters, I challenge you to be original! Right now, most Freestyle podcasts follow the same pattern, a little chit chat, an artist interview, and that’s it, you’re done. That’s why artists are getting overwhelmed and disinterested, and the audience is getting bored. Same ol’ questions, same ol’ stories. Come on, I know you got this!
The Freestyle podcast world is wide open, a frontier with no limits. Don’t copy your peers’ format, create your own. Experiment. Take risks. If an episode feels a little crazy, that’s probably a good thing, because crazy can certainly grab attention.
Also, be consistent! Easier said than done, I know. But you don’t need to be perfect out the gate. You just need to start, and not stop. Each episode should build momentum. That’s how you win over time.
Before COVID, I launched my own solo show. An audio podcast called, Goodnight Freestyle. My first episode was as cringe as they come, but I kept going, and didn’t take a break until episode 781. I never watched the numbers, never asked anyone’s opinion, I just kept going.
If you’re thinking about starting a Freestyle podcast, or already running one, here’s a little advice:
Write out your full format so that you can look at it as a whole. Now be honest. Is it really that much different from the others? Probably not. So, without stopping your podcast, rework it on the fly. Keep tweaking it until it looks and feels unlike anything else.
remember this; originality will separate you from the pack. Creativity will grow your audience. And commitment… well, commitment will keep you going until you reach the level of success you feel you deserve.
So to all the Freestyle podcasters out there, keep pushing, keep innovating, and always be mindful of our overall objective, and that is to uplift our genre. To create a platform that will allow us all to shine as bright as we possibly can.
Below are a handful of podcasts that I am familiar with, along with their links. Please go and check them out, and if there are any others I might’ve missed, please add them in the comments below. We’re in your hands now, so… good luck to us all!
The Blast Flash 3 Podcast with DJ Wonder Rican
UnDENYAble with Denine & Nyasia
The Freestyle Showcase Podcast with Jcee & Alida
Freestyle Is Alive On The Red Carpet with Lucy Martinez
Freestylin’: Love Letters & Drum Machines with John Parker
Goodnight Freestyle with Latif Mercado
Freestylin’ with Stevie B & DJ Sama
Freestyle Cartel Show Podcasts
From Boogaloo to Freestyle: The Latin Sound That Never Died
Many of us struggle when we’re asked to define Freestyle, when all we have to do is go back a bit…
We normally get stuck around the 70’s as if Disco is the true origin of Freestyle music, but if you research beyond this little Blast article, a whole new world of music will open up along with a whole new understanding of where we might’ve actually come from.
Of course I’ve heard about Boogaloo, I’m in the music business, and of course I was familiar with a few songs that were considered Boogaloo, though I never really dove that deep. But what I really didn’t know, until my wife brought it up, was the close parallel between Boogaloo and Freestyle. In fact, when I was searching for an idea to write about this month, she again brought it up.
I decided to do a bit of my own research, and was absolutely blown away from what I had found. Boogaloo’s origin takes place in New York City in the 1960s, especially around the heavily Latino populated areas such as The Bronx and Harlem, sort of the way Freestyle would eventually be over two decades later.
Also, like it’s successor, Boogaloo was a fusion genre, combining multiple genres to create something new. Whereas Freestyle was a fusion of Latin, Hip Hop, and R&B, Boogaloo was a fusion of Latin, Funk and R&B, known at the time as Soul music.
It was also considered the first cross-over style, that truly appealed to not only Latino and African American audiences, but also the Italian American’s who were also huge fans of all the latest music trends. Boogaloo had a heavy back beat, and was produced to get people dancing. A lot of it was in what we call Spanglish, a lyrical mixture of Spanish and English, a style used in several Freestyle songs, not to mention a sort of dialect many of us grew up listening to at home.
So I researched songs that were considered Boogaloo, and there were a few that I actually knew, and many more that I had never heard before, or at least don’t remember, so here’s a small list to give you an idea.
I Like It Like That by Pete Rodriguez
Bang Bang by Joe Cuba Sextet (with Jimmy Sabater)
Boogaloo Blues by Johnny Colón
El Pito (I’ll Never Go Back to Georgia) by Joe Cuba
Boogaloo blew up in the mid 1960’s, ironically around the time that much of the Freestyle community were born, such as myself who was born in 1966, and I can’t help but wonder if maybe that was when those Freestyle seeds were actually planted.
Boogaloo came about during the time when Motown ruled the world, sending Latin bands struggling just to be heard. But rather than step back, Latinos fought back creatively, blending their Latin rhythms with the soul that Motown was being praised for. The result was Boogaloo. Bold, and infectious, as if a brand new genre of music had been born, a strange resemblance to what Freestyle would go through many years later, with it’s fusion of Latin and Hip-Hop.
Boogaloo, like Freestyle was able to maintain the authenticity of the streets, swag and all, and still pay homage to their Latin roots. But unlike Freestyle, Boogaloo was short lived, and by the early 1970s had vanished from the scene, making way for a new an exciting sound called Salsa, and though it was rooted in Cuba, it was watered by Puerto Ricans in the United States.
Boogaloo may no longer carry the popularity it once had, but it did indeed leave it’s footprint, as an important genre in the history of Latin music.
Question: 👉 Do you also feel that Freestyle is somehow Boogaloo incarnated? If so… let us know in the comments.
💥 Click The Image below and Watch the Video 👇😲
To all our Subscribers, Readers, Subjects, and of course our Sponsors, for being a part of this month’s issue of the Freestyle Blast Newsletter, Thank you all so much!
and until next time…
This was your Freestyle Blast!
Latif Mercado has been a part of the Freestyle Music scene for well over 30 years, as well as an integral player behind the genre’s continued success.
As a Booking Agent with a who's who roster of Freestyle Greats, as well as his managerial involvement with such industry icons as Lil' Suzy, Angel OCG, and The Cover Girls, rarely would you find a Freestyle event happening without Latif somewhere in the mix.
Latif loves hearing from his readers, answering questions, and sharing whatever advice he possibly can, whether it be on writing, or maybe something Freestyle-related, so be sure to reach out, even if it’s just to say hi.
So please Follow Him Everywhere @LatifMercado
What did you pick up from this month’s issue? What would you add to the conversation? Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just soaking it all in, hit the comment button below and share your thoughts and opinions. Can’t wait to read it!
