Tiny Desk Meets AFROPUNK: ChocQuibTown

LaTesha Harris | April 25, 2021
Tiny Desk Meets AFROPUNK is the electrifying kick-off to AFROPUNK's "Black Spring" festival. The virtual celebration, hosted by Jorge "Gitoo" Wright, features performances from ChocQuibTown, Calma Carmona, Luedji Luna and Nenny. AFROPUNK, born out of a 2003 short film by the same name, is an international movement and music festival centered on Black exploration and rebellion. Starting as a way to create space for the unacknowledged presence and influence of Black culture in a predominantly white punk scene, AFROPUNK has since evolved into a distinct, multi-genre experience.
"Black Spring" was created to spotlight outstanding talent in Afro-Latine and Afro-Caribbean music across the globe. The Tiny Desk Meets AFROPUNK program aims for the same. The showcase's four artists have come to the Tiny Desk to honor their homes and celebrate the art their heritage has inspired. Learn more about them below.

ChocQuibTown
"¡Tú sabes!" Carlos "Tostao" Valencia exclaims after Colombian hip-hop trio ChocQuibTown performs its first song, the energetic "Somos Pacífico." "ChocQuibTown, straight from Colombia, from the Pacific coast," he says. "We call it Africa inside Colombia, we got the flavor, we got the flow." ChocQuibTown — named after the coastal area the trio hails from — is a family affair comprised of siblings Miguel "Slow" Martinez and Gloria "Goyo" Martinez, the latter of which is married to Valencia. In 2000, the trio formed to promote their neglected corner of Colombia's culture; today, ChocoQuibTown's music blends the traditionality of Afro-Latin jazz with the modernity of hip-hop to create a singular, yet versatile sound.

SET LIST
• "Somos Pacífico"
• "De Donde Vengo Yo"
• "Pa Olvidarte"
• "Qué Lástima"
• "Lo Que Quieras Tú"
• "Cuando Te Veo"

MUSICIANS
• Goyo: vocals
• Slow: vocals
• Tostao: vocals
• Carlos Palmet: bateria
• Alejandro García: guitar
• Daniel Rodríguez "Noize": piano
• Braulio Fernández: bajo
• José González: trumpet, piano, vocals
• Eignar Renteria: vocals
• Yaima Saurez: vocals
• Juancho Valencia: arrangements

CREDITS

Video: Kevin Quiles, Roberto Vélez, Diego Valerio, MotionHaze, GoldenHour Music Group LLC
Audio: Gabriel Gil, Waldy D.

Tiny Desk Meets AFROPUNK
TINY DESK TEAM
• Producer: Abby O'Neill
• Video Producer: Maia Stern
• Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
• Associate Producer: Bobby Carter
• Tiny Production Team: Bob Boilen, Kara Frame
• Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey
• Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

[caritopiano]

Qué emoción ver a ChocQuibTown en Tiny Desk. De Colombia, del pacífico para el mundo.🇨🇴 Grandes!

[MrBob]

Soy Nigeriano y vosotros sois uno de las razones que estudió español por tanto tiempo. Sigue haciendo lo que haces porque realmente impacta a rincones del mundo las cuales no podéis imaginar.

[toursbydee]

Because representation matters! Black Colombians Matter!! Black Colombians from the Pacific Coast Matter! I am one of them! Thank you Choquibtown. Te amo Goyo!!!

[victoriaa]

A Colombian student I had at home in New Zealand put me on to these guys a few years ago. Much love from the other side of the ocean. ¡Somos Pacíficoooo! 😁💃🤙

[Yo-norman]

I guess Colombian media doesn't show this. I'm sure many of us came to Tiny Desk because we are overseas. So let's we make it viral.

Colombians abroad are so proud of our culture.

[bogsybill]

I don't understand it, but my soul agrees with it ❤

[anazulzul]

saludos desde Argentina, fuerza para el pueblo colombiano.

[lovelylayla]

OH MY GOD im afro puerto rican not even columbian but MY FEELS THIS

[juanpablo]

You guys need herencia de timbiqui in here!!!!

[sebascardozo]

Por qué Colombia es más que coca marihuana y café, so proud 🙏

[MusicTutorials]

¿Cómo no había visto esto? Qué joya.. orgullo Colombiano papaaa

[carolinaandersonjimenez]

I would love to see the rolling ruanas in Tiny Desk. It’s another face of the Colombian culture, the Andean roots.

[cauhesouto]

I was living in Colombia 2011-2013 when ChoqQuibTown brought up “De donde vengo yo”. It blew my mind. Pure vibe from the Pacific. Great to see them here in Tiny Desk.

[lilianasalazarromero]

Gracias Tiny Desk por permitirle al mundo este lindo recital de una de las mejores agrupaciones de Latinoamérica!!
Esperamos que inviten a muchos más artistas de nuestro país, talento puro! 🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴

[tashathecrescentmoonartist]

You can just feel the passion that every single one of them sings with... beautiful!!!

[Expatriate]

I love them. I love Colombia. It's my home now. Been here 2 years. Came from Chicago. Beautiful city run by scumbags. This band is awesome! My favorite! group.

[TF-zszn]

Dont understand one word but this group is everything!!! I have replayed this a few times now. Hooked

[vjvj]

I don't speak Spanish but I've loved ChocQuibTown for years ever since I heard their song 'condoto; The African diaspora is vibrant!

[margiedaniels]

I AM FEELING THIS 100%... LET THE MUSIC TAKE YOUR MIND... DON'T KNOW WHAT IS SAID, BUT YES, FIRE! THANK YOU, TINY DESK

[PentameronSV]

0:00 - *Somos Pacífico*
[1:33] - *De Donde Vengo Yo* (4:01)
4:24 - *Pa Olvidarte*
7:17 - *Qué Lástima*
[9:43] - *Lo Que Quieras Tú*
[11:14] - *Cuando Te Veo*
[13:55 - Tiny Desk team]