Malverde

At the turn of the last century, there is said to have lived a man who rose from the ashes of poverty and oppression to become a symbol of hope and change. He is said to have been from Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. He is said to have been a Robin Hood figure who stole from the rich to give to the poor. It is said he would hide in the greenery of the forest waiting for his next victim, those who victimized others. Hence, the warning to be wary of the “Bad Green” or “Malverde” came to be. Jesus Malverde made the cause of the people his own and the name lives on. This legendary tale has been passed down from generation to generation as he continues to inspire faithful believers to this day. One of those faithful believers is a Mexican MC who has taken on the namesake as a way of carrying on the legacy. La Leyenda Continua!! Malverde, the artist, was born in the Coachella Valley in Southern California to a migrant fieldworker mother. Raised by her and his Tata (Grandfather) he saw first hand the struggle and plight of his people to live a better life. It was that struggle that inspired him to rise above the temptation and obstacles that the barrio presents to latino youth. Through his poetry that evolved into hip-hop Malverde narrates his life experiences that range from social issues to street tales, from love gained to love lost. His lyrical and conceptual range is all encompassing. Malverde also pursued his education and has a B.A. in political science. Not your average mc by any means Malverde hopes to continue the legacy of his Tata, of his people, of Malverde. Malverde is the only West Coast Mexican Spanish Hip Hop artist signed to Machete Music/ Universal Music Group. Malverde’s move to Major label came as a result of the tremendous buzz he built up with his underground classic “Mi Palabra”. The album was critically acclaimed becoming the first urban project to receive 5 out of 5 stars in Batanga Magazine and made Malverde the first Spanish MC to be acknowledged by The Source Magazine in their “Off Da Radar” column which highlights artists to listen out for. The streets and the industry took notice and have been eagerly waiting ever since. After a two-year period, the release of his major label debut “La Leyenda Continua” on February 5, 2008 is being hailed as one of the most highly anticipated albums of the burgeoning Spanish Hip Hop movement. Over the last two years Malverde has worked diligently to build his national base of support. He has been on 2 national tours and performed at top venues from The Nokia Theatre and S.O.B’s in NYC to The Gibson Amphitheatre, The Forum and The Staples Center in L.A. He has shared the stage with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Cypress Hill, Don Omar, Wisin y Yandel, Tego Calderon, Daddy Yankee and Calle 13 to name a few. Malverde has been featured on MTV3, MUN2, SiTV, LATV, Univision and Telemundo among other major media/press. Be on the lookout for the Daniel hastings directed videos for She Was My feat. Tiffany Wilson, Aqui Estamos feat. Aro sanchez, Mi Amor, and Este Camino/ Hombres Perseguidos feat. Juan Barajas coming to your favorite video outlet. The new album was produced entirely by Brett B. whose body of work includes classic Hip-Hop groups 7A3, Cypress Hill, Funkdoobiest and Malverde’s first album “Mi Palabra”. Taking influence in the form of samples from legendary Latin music that ranges from Ismael Rivera, La Fania and Buena Vista Social Club to Leo Dan and Los Solitarios it is an eclectic mix of old and new, classic and urban. The music of our Grandfathers filtered through the sound of our generation, Hip-Hop. Also featuring collaborations with legendary Latinos in the Hip-Hop game, B-Real, Tony Touch and Son Doobie, the Legend truly continues. http://www.malverde.com/