What is Afrolatino?
Afrolatino is a term coined to describe a person of mixed African and Latin American descent. Afrolatinos are people whose heritage stems from both African and Latin American cultures, often marrying within their same ethnicity. This mixing of two distinct cultures has resulted in the development of unique traditions, languages, customs, and perspectives that have influenced the world. Traditionally, Afrolatinos have faced discrimination and marginalization due to the colorism within their communities—light skinned Afrolatinos tend to be seen as more desirable than their dark skin counterparts.
The Afrolatino movement has been gaining momentum over recent years as it seeks to help bring recognition to this distinctive culture and celebrate its many facets. Many celebrities like Cardi B and Bad Bunny serve as champions for the cause helping to amplify its message globally. Professional organizations like ‘Hermanos y Hermanas de Inmigración Latinos’ (Brothers and Sisters of Latino Immigration) provide valuable support for Afro-Latin generations worldwide with legal representation in immigration court proceedings, temporary business licenses for self employment, advocacy groups for mentorship access, health insurance assistance and etcetera!
At its core, being an Afrolatino means being unapologetically proud of one’s identity—no matter what shade you are or which countries your lineage is rooted in. It’s about celebrating who you are while uplifting those around you who share similar struggles but
Why is Pop Smoke Considered Afrolatino?
Pop Smoke, born as Bashar Barakah Jackson, is a Brooklyn-based, late rapper whose music has become an international sensation since his posthumous album release. He is often referred to as Afrolatino due to the combination of hip hop and reggaeton elements in his songs such as “Welcome to the Party” and “Dior”.
Many people attribute Pop Smoke’s Afrolatino sound to his Panamanian descent. He regularly incorporated Latin musical influences including popular Latin artist Bad Bunny, whom he featured on his “Get Back” track which had both English and Spanish lyrics. Much of Pop Smoke’s style also came from Caribbean dancehall culture, a genre created by Jamaican immigrants in New York City in the 80s that mixes influences from Jamaican reggae with hip-hop rhythms. This meshing together of two cultures creates a unique sound that was embraced by many fans across various communities: black, latinx and more!
Pop smoke’s groundbreaking influence on blending the elements of Reggaeton and hip-hop can be seen in contemporary music around the world today. His sound opened up many boundaries for musicians to merge sounds from different genres into one masterful piece of art. As someone who was OTP at birth with both American and Panamanian backgrounds playing an overwhelming role in his upbringing – it makes perfect sense why he blended these two cultural influences so perfectly throughout his music .
What Does it Mean to be Pop Smoke and Afrolatino?
Being Pop Smoke and Afrolatino means living authentically. It is an expression of cultural identity and pride, often thought of in terms of music and entertainment. In fact, these are the two most commonly associated topics when it comes to the intersection between being an Afrolatino and inspired by the legacy of Pop Smoke.
Pop Smoke was an incredibly influential artist whose appearance on the rap and hip hop scene impacted many with his unmistakable style, message and energy; he is remembered as a successful rapper who “wasn’t afraid to express himself without boundaries or concern for public opinion.” As an Afrolatino tracing back to African roots through a heritage in Latin America (or vice versa), his presence validates that there is space for exploring multiple identities in popular culture.
In particular, being both Pop Smoke & Afrolatino entails speaking up about societal issues like racism, colorism, gender discrimination, socio-economic injustices (especially relevant for those in the Latin American diaspora) or any other forms of prejudice; but it also means creating art that reflects a unique combination people so frequently ignore or disregard because it doesn’t conform to one homogeneous group or nationalist notion. Beyond this purposeful mission-driven focus, this hybrid identity is also manifested through more typical artistic pursuits like dancing, fashion design/streetwear trends, brand collaborations etc. Ultimately, what it means to be Pop Smoke & Afrolatino amounts to
How Did Pop Smoke Connect with the Afrolatino Community?
Pop Smoke, the American rapper and singer, rose to prominence for his take on Brooklyn drill music. Born in New York City borough of Brooklyn in 1998, the talented artist was exposed to a variety of different cultures and lifestyles from an early age.
One culture that played an influential role throughout Pop Smoke’s career is the Afro-Latino community. His influence extended beyond traditional hip-hop and trap styles, incorporating aspects of Latinx sounds into his works. By merging both genres he connected with Latino listeners as well as his broader fan base, offering something new and exciting to enjoy.
One example of Pop Smoke’s deep connection with the Afro-Latino community is best highlighted in his song “Element” featuring Goldie Ryders which samples merengue star Jory Boy’s vocal feature on “Voy Enidar El Amor”. The track features elements taken from various other Latin hip hop songs borrowed primarily from reggaeton and dancehall music. Furthermore, multiple mixtapes containing collaborations between Hip-Hop artists and Reggaeton producers showcased how seamlessly rap could combine with elements of Latin music.
In an interview with Remezcla back in 2019 Pop Smoke revealed how important it was for him to represent both Latino and black culture: “I’m representing my culture, too—the Latino culture because this is almost like our other home here [in NYC]. When I think about Latinas or Latinos
