This Is Your Freestyle Blast #47
Big Stages, Quiet Moments, One Culture - Keeping Freestyle Moving Forward
Welcome to Issue # 47 of The Blast, and as the year winds down, Freestyle continues to remind us that it never really sleeps, it just finds new ways to play. From the massive crowd that filled Speaking Rock in El Paso this past October to artists finding creative ways to grow during the slower months, this issue celebrates both sides of the grind, the spotlight and the silence.
In this month’s Blast, we’ll step inside, A Freestyle Night at The Rock, where over 10,000 fans came together to prove that Texas still rides and dies for Freestyle, followed by a second article that I titled, The Quiet Season, a simple but powerful roadmap for artists to use when things get quiet and the phones stop ringing.
And that’s just the start. Don’t miss our, Freestyle Match Game, where I challenge all you so-called Freestyle connoisseurs. The Freestyle Club & Concert Calendar packed with upcoming events and show flyers, and of course, the latest Flash 3, where two brand new releases step up to challenge last month’s unstoppable winner.
Before you go, make sure and swing by our Stylin’ Free Appeal online store. We’ve got over 250 Freestyle-inspired tees on an Early Black Friday Sale, all created for those who live and love this music as much as we do. Don’t forget, Christmas is right around the corner folks, as well as a new year’s worth of Freestyle events bound to head your way… so order today!
Whether it’s blasting from the stage, the studio, or your speakers, Freestyle lives on, and what can prove that more than this month’s issue of The Freestyle Blast Newsletter.
The Rock, The Rhythm, The Reunion
Freestyle Takes Center Stage in El Paso
What do you think of when you think of Texas?
Cowboys, rodeos, saloons, cattle ranches, barbecues, football, and maybe a few classic Westerns. But one thing that can’t be overlooked is Texas’ love for Freestyle music.
My very first road trip with Lil’ Suzy was to Dallas, Texas. I still remember it vividly, and being completely shocked that Texas knew anything beyond a hoedown. You can only imagine my face when I saw an entire nightclub line dancing to Lil’ Suzy’s “Take Me In Your Arms.”
Texas turned out to be far more than I expected. To this day, it remains one of the most actively Freestyle-loving states in the country. Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi, Houston, and of course, El Paso, the inspiration behind this month’s Freestyle Blast feature.
A Night at The Rock
On Saturday, October 25, 2025, The Speaking Rock Event Center was the place to be. Over 10,000 Freestyle Texans came out to celebrate “A Night of Freestyle at The Rock,” organized and hosted by none other than El Paso’s own Hector Lopez of Hec 915.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Back in 2023, when I met Hector for the first time. It was his first show at Speaking Rock, and I was blessed to serve as the agent for that event. It was incredible, beyond anything I could have imagined.
Now don’t get me wrong, Texas knows how to party, but there was something special about that night at The Rock. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that it also happened to fall on my birthday, and in over 30 years on the road, I’d never had a show land on my birthday before! Any Scorpios in the house?
A Bigger Lot, A Bigger Dream
When we arrived for soundcheck, the stage setup looked standard, the usual lights, and sound, and huge speakers facing the parking lot. But this time, the venue had chosen to use the larger section of the lot. I tried to picture the place packed, but honestly, it felt too open to ever give off that “wall-to-wall” energy.
Back in 2023, the crowd count hit around 8,500, a massive success. I hoped we could match that number or at least come close. But when I heard that Speaking Rock was aiming for 10,000 people this time, my stress level went way up. The last event they did between the one in 2023 and this one, which by the way I was Not involved in, pulled approximately 4,500. A respectable number no doubt… though nowhere near 8,500.
Still, Hector was confident, and confirmed that he too expected around 10,000 people, while all I was able to hope for was that they all knew something that I didn’t, and that they did!
When Promoters Win, Freestyle Wins
I’ve always been a huge supporter of promoters. When they win, we all win, artists, agents, and the Freestyle community as a whole. Losses hurt everyone. I often remind my artists, that even if you’re not on a particular lineup, don’t curse the event. A failed Freestyle show hurts the entire genre. If you can’t root for it, at least don’t root against it.
New promoters always tell me the same story, they attended a successful event, got inspired, and thought, “I can do that… maybe even better.” And that’s how new Freestyle promoters come about.
The Night the Crowd Took Over
That night at The Rock was something special. The lineup was stacked with some of Freestyle’s best, including a few of my exclusives such as The Cover Girls, Shannon, Freestyle, and Nyasia.
When we returned that evening, I knew right away it was different. The line to get in wrapped around the block, a rare sight these days. We missed MC Luscious, who opened the show, and as we arrived backstage, Aki Starr from Spanish Fly was finishing his set.
I couldn’t see much from where they parked out trailer, so I did what I always do, went to the stage to see how we were looking. I nodded to the Bad Boy Richie Rich who was up there doing his thing, and when I looked out at the crowd, I couldn’t believe what I saw… This place was packed!
I spotted Hector leaning over the banister, in his own little cloud, just taking it all in. When he turned to me, It wasn’t hard to tell, this shit was moving him, and after I gave him that congratulatory hug he so deserved, we turned around and snapped a photo.
A Win for Freestyle
It was a perfect night, from the weather to the setup, the sound, and most importantly, the crowd. Over 10,000 people, most of them drinking and having a great time, and not one altercation the entire night. Not one!
Part of this article is to celebrate my brother, Hector Lopez of Hec915, for pulling off an incredible show. But the other part is to remind everyone in our community that there’s still plenty of hope. Freestyle is alive. The market is not dead, in fact, it’s far from it.
Some might say the turnout was because it was a free event, and sure, that might’ve helped. But in my 30-plus years, I’ve done countless free shows, and very few came anything close to this one.
So shout out to Hec915 for all the hard work. To Speaking Rock Entertainment Center for making this a reality, and giving us a safe and beautiful space to celebrate. To all the artists who came through and rocked the fuckin’ house. And last but certainly not least, the amazing people of El Paso, thank you for showing up and helping keep Freestyle alive.
Stay tuned as talks for another Freestyle Night at The Rock is underway!
The Quiet Season: Keeping Freestyle Alive When the Phones Stop Ringing
Like any business, Freestyle can sometimes hit a slow patch. The phones stop ringing, shows quiet down, and it feels like the market just hit pause. So what do we do during this downtime?
First off, let’s make something clear, Freestyle is not seasonal.
There aren’t official “busy months” or “slow months.” Sure, it may feel that way sometimes, but those dips aren’t on a schedule, and are not guaranteed to roll around at the same time every year.
A lot of people blame the holidays. And while it’s true that some years the market cools off in November and December, I’ve also had holiday seasons that were busier than ever. It really depends.
When the World Slows Down, Music Finds a Way
Sometimes, people point to the economy, and that can play a part, but even then, it’s not always predictable. Take the Great Depression, for example. While much of the world struggled, entertainment actually thrived. Radio, theater, and film all became vital escapes for people who needed something to lift their spirits.
The same thing happened during the Covid years. When the world shut down, entertainment didn’t stop, it just moved indoors. TikTok blew up. Netflix exploded. Creativity found new spaces to breathe.
So whether it’s economic shifts, global events, or simply the time of year, Freestyle’s beat never really stops. It just changes it’s tempo a bit.
Rethinking the “Slow” Season
Let’s look at the holiday season again. Sure, some weekends get quiet, but think about all the themed events that happen this time of year: Halloween parties, Thanksgiving-weekend shows, Christmas concerts, and New Year’s Eve blowouts.
And that’s just the winter months. There are also spring events, summer festivals, and fall shows that fill up the rest of the year. In other words, opportunity doesn’t disappear, it just shifts.
Now, what might feel slow for an artist doesn’t always feel slow for a booking agent like me. Between November 1st and January 1st, some artists might not see a single show, while I’m fielding calls and booking events well into the next year. For example, by December of 2024 I had already locked in 28 shows for 2025. It’s all part of the cycle.
Turning Downtime into Reset Time
So, let’s say things actually do slow down for you. What should you be doing?
Well, I say, use it as a reset period. Take some time to reflect on your recent shows. Keep a notebook handy and write down what worked well, those moments that connected with the crowd, the ideas that landed, the routines that clicked. Can those be polished or expanded?
Then, take an honest look at what didn’t work. Were there songs that didn’t hit? Transitions that fell flat? Can they be fixed, or is it time to retire them completely?
This kind of self-evaluation is essential, especially as our genre, and we ourselves get older. The Freestyle scene has matured, and so have its artists. Your brand should evolve along with you.
Refresh. Rebuild. Refocus.
The quiet season isn’t something to fear, it’s something to use. It’s your chance to recharge, reassess, and reinvent.
Below, I’ve put together a simple road-map to help guide that process, whether you’re refreshing your image, rebuilding your stage presence, or just getting back in tune with why you started doing this in the first place.
Because no matter what the calendar says, Freestyle doesn’t have an off-season. The music never really stops, it just gives you a little room to catch your breath before the next beat kicks in. Now, get back to work!
Question: 👉 If you’re an artist, what is your off-season routine, and for the rest of you, what are a few ideas that you can share with artists to help them reset?
💥 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!
Excellent read. Congratulations on the Texas show.
The Speaking Rock story was inspiring. 10,000 Freestyle fans showing up proves this music still has a strong heartbeat💓. I also liked your advice about using quieter periods to improve your brand, your show, and your music. As an artist it really resonated with me. Sometimes the biggest growth happens when nobody’s watching.😉😉