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Your music is international, and Miami is a real international city, but like you're saying, Americans are sort of self-centered, and we don't really look out there at the world. Do you think that what you say, and the music that you do, might help open us up a little bit, so we can see that there's something outside our shores?

Definitely man. AIDS ain't the biggest disease, cancer ain't the biggest disease, the biggest disease that I think we have in our country is called ignorance. People are real ignorant to the fact that there are other cities out here. That there are other people out here, and there's a lot of things that you can learn from different cultures and different people. With that said, Miami is a very international city, it's a melting pot, which helped build more character and how I look at life. The biggest thing here is just respect man. Respect other people, where they come from and what they do, and try to learn from that and apply it to your life. Miami is to me, the most international city in the United States.

You're out here and your saying these things, but do you feel like sometimes the mainstream media doesn't really make room for voices like yours to say these things?

I just think my movement hasn't gotten to that level where it will get voiced. I'm sure once my movement gets to a certain level, I will be one of the controversial kings. Not meaning I go at other rappers, or try and take other people's careers. It's more like I'm going to say something like, "Fuck Castro, I hope he dies tomorrow," bam! But right now it's at the point where it is bubbling little by little, it's a slow, but sure grind. And little by little it might get to that level where I might have to watch what I say or how I say, or they might use things that I said now later on in my career. But, to be honest with you it just hasn't gotten to that level yet. Give it about two, three years.

Since you mentioned Castro and Cuba, let's talk about the song you did, "Ya se Acabo." You got on that quick when he transferred power. Did you feel a real need to get in there and lay down that track?

Oh definitely, I felt obligated that I had to do that. I felt that they needed, that we needed, a voice. That's why I went in there and cut that record so fast, and sure enough, it's like an anthem. As soon as he is gone forever it will be an anthem, a legendary record. But I feel like I was obligated to do that. I'm proud of where I'm from, and I'm proud of my culture, and what we've accomplished in the states. I represent for everybody though.

I'm sure you've got feedback from down in Cuba, but do you get to get down there yourself?

No, no, I can't go down there. But I've gotten feedback from Cuba. As a matter of fact, I was on Cuban radio, you know, an underground radio station that they have down there in Havana. So I called in a talked to them, and that meant the world to them. They couldn't even believe I was on the phone with them.

Yeah, I mean a lot of people would get big and kind of forget about their folks, but it's good that you stay in touch with the people.

For sure.

So you've got that international sound and people out there are hearing you, but even locally down there in Miami are there any projects or organizations that you're connected with on a community level?

Oh, definitely, I'm always involved with helping out the kids. During Christmas we have toy drives, and during Thanksgiving we giving out turkey. We're always involved with the community one way or another. We've got to give back.

—Chas Reynolds
03.17.08

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