Mic Mountain

“As a proud Afro-Puerto Rican, I bring you all today a review of Mic Mountain's Mas Piragua. This album is a follow up to 2020's Piragua. Both serve as anthems for living as & growing up Puerto Rican. Being able to relate to everything this album embodies, album like Piragua & Mas Piragua hold a special place in my favorites & will do so for any fellow Boricuas that give this album a listen. As Mic's predecessors (Big Pun, etc.) have proven, Puerto Ricans have unique spice (pun very much intended) in the hip hop game & that's all too present on Mas Piragua. Favorite Tracks: Plancha, Black Spanish & Gandules. Least Favorite Tracks: Wouldn’t want to choose any even if I could. The proud ethnicity present on this album make this unique perspective easily digestible. Lyrics/Flow/Content: As stated previous, this album is Puerto Rican-centric. From the track names to the bars, everything La Montaña brings to the table is wrapped up in that proud red, white & blue flag; just as he is on the cover of the album. No, not the United States Flag. The track Black Spanish stuck out to me as it presents us with the perspective of living life as a person of mixed ethnicity. Mic Mountain on this opening tracks exudes pride for both his Black & Hispanic heritage. Once again here the perspective is all too personal; being a Black Puerto Rican myself. Mountain all over Piraguas brings us flavorful lyrics in both English & Spanish that compliment beautifully the Spanish influences in the beats. The flows on Piraguas are hungry from Mic and guests alike. Creativity/Originality: Puerto Ricans have had a powerful presence in the hip hop game but what Mic delivers here is drenched in that Borinquen (Puerto Rican) spices. Track names such as Gandules, 3 Kings Day (Tres Reyes) & Arrebatao aren’t just references to Spanish culture but more specifically Puerto Rican culture which reaffirms the ethnic influences present. The interlude Mas Piragua features an interview in which Mountain explains the word piragua & the naming scheme for both albums. He explains that a piragua is a Puerto Rican snow cone. The cover of his previous work Piragua features a piragua cart or a snow cone cart. Mic explains in the interview the Piraguero (snow cone man) pushing the carts selling snow cones on a hot day bring differently flavors which is likens to the flavors he brings on his music. This allusion included in Mas Piraguas is made cleverer when you translate Mas to mean ‘more’ in English so the name of the album is Mountain bringing us more flavorful treats with twice as many tracks. Beats/Production: Mas Piraguas is Boom Bap coming face to face with Latin music. Tracks like Black Spanish & Plancha has a more old-school Boom Bap sound. Then there are several tracks featuring that Spanish taste like Pa la Calle & Fuego which feature Spanish guitar riffs or Gandules & Salvajes which have a spicy salsa vibe. Fuego & Tiempo Para el Sexo bring a Reggeton influence. Producer Domingo Padilla, of Immortal Technique and Big Pun fame, produced the tracks La Fiesta and Gandules which have more of a party vibe. Queens’ DJ E.Rex of Hell Razah fame, mixed and mastered the whole album. Features: La Montaña brings back long time guest artist Thirstin Howl the 3rd who also appeared on Piragua, Warpath 2 & 3. Brooklyn legend & fellow Latino Shabaam Sahdeeq’s verse on Con Salsa matches Mountain’s aggressive bars. Fellow HHL¡fer 8ch2Owens is featured on 2 tracks, 3 Kings Day & Salvajes. Serum, LMS, Ctraffik, godHead The General, CrDnlSn & more are sprinkled on tracks. The guest verses add and compliment the beats brought onboard for this album. Parting Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this album several times. With every relistened I picked on more subtle references to Puerto Rican culture that I’ve grown up with. Lots of bangers and premier quality spitting on Mas Piragua. Lots of flavors that hip hop enthusiasts of all kinds are sure to enjoy!” - Anthony Ladell

“Over the past summer Mic Mountain put out a really fresh album with this extra special body of work, ‘Mas Piragua’, that I recommend you lend an ear to. He combines his Latin heritage with his love for Hip-Hop and the outcome is really special. I’m lovin’ it!” - Leeps Isn't Dead

“Almost 48 years have gone by, and Hip Hop became a staple in the mainstream industry of music. Starting off on the east coast, taking a huge boom in the South Bronx of New York. Making it popular for the underground scene. All thanks to Dj Kool Herc who is the one being attributed for starting this movement. Known as a way to being perceived as an expression for the youth. It has now moved to a celebration and a powerful tool during protests. To this day, you can find an artist such as Mic Mountain using his power and influence to create a new flair in Hip Hop. An Afro-Latino rapper and producer of Native American descent. Started his career in music during his teenage years as well took the joy of writing and paid local producers to record in their 8 track studios. He is also currently a graphic designer and web developer. Meanwhile being an independent artist. Also uses the art of drawing as a form for his expression. “When I was a kid, I knew [music] was a good way to express myself”, said Mic. As someone who classifies himself as an introverted person found a way to be an out-there person so Mic Mountain relies on his creative projects. These ventures helped him be more social and have his peers accept who he is even more. By the 1980s a big part of the Latino community located in the outskirts of the United States became interested and started experimenting with Spanish-speaking rap. Which is different from Spanish rap, originating in Spain. Many Cubans and Puerto Ricans who lived within the islands were the ones to welcome hip hop. Rappers such as Vico C, Ivy Queen, Chezina, Daddy Yankee, Eddie Dee, Tempo, and more were the ones who adopted this movement and became pioneers in the genre around Latin America. As for Mic Mountain embracing the Latin roots is just part of his style of music and believes in the mix of an indigenous drum or the “boom bat” as he mentioned. “I feel it has a native American rhythm to it, there’s always this soulful base, melodic tones, and soul samples. As well from old school sounds and a lot of Latin influence”. said Mic Mountain for Hypefresh. Moreover, Mic currently has two studio albums called Piragua released in 2020, and Mas Piragua released in July of this year. Both pay homage to his Puerto Rican roots. To give more context Piragua is a shaved ice dessert commonly found in the streets of Puerto Rico. These snacks come in a shape of a cone covered in a fruit-flavored syrup. Most of these dessert snacks are found in bright colors and usually sell for $1.25 to $3.00 at most. One of his favorite projects so far is Piragua, because for him it was the one who started it all. “It’s very special to me, it expresses my love for my grandmother who passed that year [2020] during the peak of the Covid pandemic. It’s also my first professional studio album which was mixed and mastered properly”. The album was mostly produced by Mic Mountain himself, believes it’s a good album. As well as having a song dedicated to a girl “who stole my heart” as he remembered. A song found in his album Mas Piragua called Black Spanish can be known as one of his most popular. Many of his influences come from many of the genres in Spanish music, varying from Salsa, Reggeaton, Merengue, and so on. Furthermore, there are artists who have given Mic Mountain the push into the right direction of inspiration going from Big Pun, Bad Bunny, Anuel AA, Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe, Oscar de Leon who is affectionately called The Pharaoh of Salsa. He’s currently a 24/7 recording artist, which means he is always at the studio. What Mic does to find his inspiration in writing the songs is that he listens to the beat itself. While having a drink and smoking in the meantime. By the time he finishes writing, he goes straight to the booth and records almost instantly. As for now, we hope to see even more growth in Mic Mountain and catch a glimpse of what’s next to come. “I want to inspire people to be themselves and anybody who can relate to what I’m saying. Also to breach the gap between Spanish-speaking, hip hop listeners. Basically leave my contribution in hip hop.” ” - Gabriela Valentin

“Mic Mountain has been featured here before, hailing from Washington DC. Seasoned Hip-Hop Artist and Producer with 5 previous albums under his belt, currently pushing his latest titled “Mas Piragua” which is a follow-up full-length LP to the Piragua EP that dropped in 2020. That classic boom bap laced with refined latino styles, golden era type vibes and all around upbeat hip-hop! The album was mixed, mastered and administered cuts by DJ Erex aka Mr Scratch Hook. With 17 tracks, this isn’t a shot listen but a fun one with features by artists such as Thirstin Howl the 3rd, Shabbam Sahdeeq, Godhead the General, 8ch2Owens, LMS, CrDnlSn, Shalon, C-Traffik, Lokillo Machetero & Serum and production by not only Mic Mountain himself, but Mr. Scratch Hook, Domingo, Big Poppa Nard and S3nzu Beats. Check it out!” - Jason Remedy

“Mic Mountain, a celebrated Afro-Latino emcee/producer delivers his new album ‘Mas Piragua’ available now on all streaming platforms. The album is a follow-up to his notable ‘Piragua’ album. The album flows with infectious blends of classic Hip Hop instrumentals with Latin-influenced tones, along with innovative breakbeats. Although self-produced, Mic enlisted legendary produced Domingo, DJ Erex, and a handful of seasoned emcees. The D.C.-based artist uses his lyrical canvas to paint a vivid picture of growing up as a multi-cultural teen trying his best to understand, embrace, and love his diversity. He shares difficulties he faced amid a time where society frowned upon differences. Mic’s mastered wordplay and blunt rhymes are sure to draw audiences in as will his raw emotion. His skilled production highlights both his heritage and deep-rooted relationship with Hip Hop. ” - MJ Savino

“My Twin from the DMV is on fire in 2021. Releasing banger after banger in the first 3 months of 2021, MIC MOUNTAIN is getting the people ready for his upcoming Project dropping later this year. For now he hits us with another Latin Hip Hop jam showing off his unique Spanglish steeze. Produced by long time Hip Hop Beat Lord DOMINGO, GANDULES take the classic MIAMI SOUND MACHINE Sample and gives MIC a platform to get at the crowd quicker then the rhythm Gloria Estefan warned us about. His new album is full of Miami Vets such as THIRSTEN HOWL III, C-TRAFFIC, SERUM, LMS aka ULYSSES, and your’s truly 8ch2Owens. Make sure you got your chavos ready to support the homie when the album drops.” - 8ch2Owens

“My Twin brother from out of Washington DC, MIC MOUNTAIN, just dropped another hunting knife blade down on the ground. His latest dagger called KNIFEFIGHT is ruckus head nodder featuring KEYTALIFE THE DON who attacks first with a steady cadence of quick jabs only to make way for MIC to come in like Croc Dundee, “You call that a Knife? This is a Kniiiife!!” and straight bullies the beat he self produced. This is the 2nd banger MIC drops this week, the first being the new Caribe Boom Bop, HOCUS POCUS, which has The MOUNTAIN going verse for verse with Miami’s own SERUM. Single streaming below for your enjoyment.” - 8ch2owens

“Mic Mountain is an Afro-Latino emcee and producer of Native American descent who is from Washington D.C. He recently released Piragua. The album to me sounded like a mix between old school rap like Run DMC, A Tribe Called Quest, etc. and influence from regions like Mexico and South America. I thought it was a nice change from the mainstream rap we hear today. It was also nostalgic in some ways because I grew up in the ’90s when artists like Run DMC and A Tribe Called Quest were huge. The album starts with “Piragua (Intro)” and the music is festive and sort of preps you for what to expect. I found the groove fairly infectious right away and loved the horns. The rapping was on point and I was excited to hear what else the album had in store. “La Caserio feat. Ant Milli” was great - old school almost ’70s soul sounding drums with bright horns. There is a lot going on musically and I noticed the unique panning effects when I had headphones on. The style of rapping did have more of a ’90s inflection. “Huka feat. Bobby Knuxx Castro” is a little dangerous sounding but also infectious. The percussive elements are dark but upfront in the mix. The vocalists played off each other seamlessly. “Piragua (Skit)” is actually a skit and worked because of the humor. “Peligroso feat. Thirstin Howl the 3rd” definitely felt a little more modern in terms of the production from the hi-hat programming to the darker pads which reminded me of Drake. “Mire Loco (Watch Out) feat. CTRAFFIK” actually has a similar dark quality from the lyrics to the beat and elements in the song. “Mis Suenos” brings some levity and is more festive while the closer “Sabor de Abuela” is a celebration of a life lived. ​This album is eclectic and diverse yet also cohesive. There are different shades of emotion throughout but the underlying foundation and style tied it all together. Recommended.” - Matt Jensen

“Here’s a name you want to start getting familiar with. MIC MOUNTAIN, the Puerto Rock MC repping Washington DC has hit the scene like a cup of syrup soaked shaved ice to the face. I added homies PIRAGUA EP to our #NewBlazeTuesdays playlist last Tuesday on the strength of Paka Da Plugs recommendation. Once again Paka came through like a Boom Bap Oracle letting the mortals know what the future of Hip Hop holds. The classic Merengue / Salsa Samples used to lace the beats are an instant party starter and “El Monte” hits the tracks with a braggadocios bilingual style that would make the late great Pun proud to cosign the new shooter. Dudes style is so nasty, I had to reach out to the homie and give him his flowers. Looks like we might be working on a track or two in the near future. So trust me, I’m going to make sure you hear alot more from The Mountain. #SaluteBori.” - Mr88ch