Jehuniko - hip hop From Costa Rica to LA - This Mexican -
Italian MC, listens to Black Sabath and makes music with Kemo.
Mix that with a little politics and you have Jehuniko.
An LA
underground MC, moving forward with his music and crew. Recently
he dropped his album, "La Pura Vida", on Dead Silence Records.
A CD with a different approach on the delivery and mixing spanish
and english words. The beats have a mellow yet raw LA feel to
them. Check out his interview, video, and make sure to visit
his website.
LaUnion1910 : What is behind the name "Jehuniko" ?
Jehuniko : Jehuniko is a mixture of grafitti history, spoken word performances, punk bands, and within history, he was a leader chosen by Creator to behead a Demonic ruler, and all of their kingdom's statues, thus overthrowing an Evil Empire.
LaUnion1910 : How would you define your approach to music ? what is your approach on hip hop ?
Music and painting have always been my most sacred of releases. Music like Tribu, indigenous music from Mexico, Black Sabbath, Paris, Manu Chao, and Bounty Killer, all influenced me in that, it is powerful to use music as a vehicle to communicate. When I get instrumentals from my people, the beat tells me the topic, the delivery, the beat dictates everything. Though I don't listen to the majority of hip hop that is out there, it is the foundation of hip hop that motivates me to give my version of hip hop. No other genre or movement incites question like hip hop. That is why they are complaining there are less rock and roll stations. Thats why Clearchannel is reporting that there are more Spanish programming stations than any other kind of music. With that in mind, combining both hip hop and Spanish speaking people, damn, the systems' going to start infiltrating with little friends because these fools already know. The system is watching us so I'm also taking mental notes. This is a crucial time in history, so music has to be my voice. Much respect to gente like John Sarmeno, and all veteranos who jeopardized their freedom so that we may have a little time under the sun to smoke, and feel the cool breeze of destiny. I have to say, alot of so called "hip hop" only contribute to the problems that society labels youth with. The continued lack of respect for mujeres, and talk about diamonds and money, that shit don't interest me personally. The people are ready for progress, and I am here with my offering. 100% original and ready to rock. I'd rather be part of the solution than the problem.
LaUnion1910 : "El animal humano" - can you tell us about this song and the video for it ?
That's my single, and alias / alter ego/ mental escape. It makes me laugh to think of the words, but at the same time addressing basic human needs and that we demand equality. Kemo did the production and I love what he did. I wrote it in half an hour, recorded it, done. The video was shot entirely in Costa Rica by Federico Peixoto, Produciones del Gafeto. That is my Centro Americano connect, and it seems like a look into peoples lives, you know, everywhere I've traveled, I meet people that love good music, grafitti, respect for their elders, conscious ways of living, and awareness of activism. This is our video offering of such off of my album, "la pura vida."
LaUnion1910 : What has been your most memorable show ?
Jehuniko : My 1st show in Costa Rica 2004 was fun because I came out on stage in a lion mask, just smoked a huge super joint, and played some music from Cuba called los Zafiros. Being in Europe with Kemo, just freestyling after his set at big shows was hella fun. I love doing shos in Mexico tambien. Any time there is banging sound system, I am happy.
LaUnion1910 : Where do you com from and where are you at ?
Jehuniko : I come from Southern Califas, and I have lived up and down the state of Califas, with brief stays in South Africa and Cuernavaca, Mexico. I am Mexican and Italian and I live in L.A.
LaUnion1910 : We know that your from the Dead Silence crew ? Can you tell us about the camp, and who is involved ?
Jehuniko : Dead Silence is the label and crew started by Kemo who used to be in Delinquent Habits. Kemo is a pioneer in this hip hop en Espanol, and I met him through my brother Que, at Cartel Design. DSA includes Kemo, Monomaniac, Sicko, Mostro, and myself with support from the Monica, the ACL's and Life Support Team. Everybody bring unique flavor...Watch, Sicko's album coming out is going to make you want to destroy,or vandalize something. Maniaco has his record coming soon and has clothing to offer as well. Kemo has Jointclothing.com also. Kemo put me on, got me recording, writing actual songs, put me on TV, music conferences,man...I will always appreciate that. Another person who helped early on was Drez one, who my carnal Que went to school with, and Drez threw me beats, and got me recording around the same time. 07. We've seen you on shows with Kemo, and noticed him on your video, how long have you been working with Kemo ? and what types of projects are you involved with now ? I remember this well, Kemo just did some show at the Radio City Music Hall in NYC, called me up, and said he was looking for artists to work with. That was ill homie, I was barking at the moon and my abuela, Nana was there, she's like who's Kemo? hahaaaa......This was around 2001 maybe. Being able to participate in the 1st annual Latin Rap Conference and Latin Alternative Music Conference was crucial in the shaping of my view of the Music Industry. I learned alot by observing and being quiet.
Jehuniko : My album, "la pura vida" just dropped, finally. It's on Dead Silence Records and soon I'm dropping a mixtape with Monomaniac. It will feature alot of people from all over, from different genres of hip hop, all uniting for a musical flight. I'm putting out another album called "Almas Intocables" with Binx and Ikuestion. That's coming out on Uneye, and Citrus District. We have some special collaborations for that one, with weather altering production from Carlos, Genom and Monomaniac so far. "Cold in the Hot Sun" is my next solo record which I hope to have out on October 31st. I'm a machine homie, I love to make music, so we do it every chance we have.
LaUnion1910 : Who is Binx, can you tell us a little about her ?
Jehuniko : 1st and foremost, that is my fiancee and life giver/crime partner. She the 1st femcee from Texas and has been involved in music for over 10 years. She has turned down major label deals remaining loyal to a true vision of truth for people. She has always brought conscious words of our Ancestor's teaching, and healing words of wisdom, delivered via machine gun flow, or sung like the illest Mariachi vocalist. Since she moved from Tejas to L.A., I have seen people in L.A. alter their lyrical and delivery styles to that of Binx. Recently, I saw her spitting fire on the footsteps of City Hall, with a grip of cops behind her. It was for the Chicano Student Protest. Her album "Lost in the NorthSide" drops this year on our label Uneye.
LaUnion1910 : You said, this Movement is growing. What do you think have been the main contributions to it growing ? How can we continue to grow and unite ?
Jehuniko : Raza is growing and dominating, same with Hip Hop. We encompass energy, power, momentum, so of course people feel it,and want to get down as well. In Costa Rica, Mexico, all of Centro y Sur America, Hip Hop is cracking.
LaUnion1910 : what are your thoughts about the minutemen ?
Jehuniko : I peeped their website, it was like reading about the KKK or something. Ignorant tie wearing white men with too much time on their hands. "He was choking on a chicken bone, pleading for help, but everyone around him only spoke spanish, so he died, leaning against his anti-immigration protest sign. I couldn't help but laugh." Payaso, the European is the immigrant, obviously. But these insecure Napoleon's feel the need to speak on their fear, and they should be scared. This is not their home, though I hope for a time when humanity can live at peace with one another. Until then, if they want to get ill, we have the numbers, dont't trip.
LaUnion1910 : If you had the chance to have your voice heard by everyone in the world, for 10 seconds, what would you say ?
Jehuniko : To understand the struggles of all people's everywhere and to unite against this cancerous oppresor.
Thanks to LaUnion1910.com for letting me speak.
"la pura vida" available @ www.merchlackey.com/jehuniko Outsiders 2066.
Jehuniko 
Jehuniko : Dead Silence is the label and crew started by Kemo who used to be in Delinquent Habits. Kemo is a pioneer in this hip hop en Espanol, and I met him through my brother Que, at Cartel Design. DSA includes Kemo, Monomaniac, Sicko, Mostro, and myself with support from the Monica, the ACL's and Life Support Team. Everybody bring unique flavor...Watch, Sicko's album coming out is going to make you want to destroy,or vandalize something. Maniaco has his record coming soon and has clothing to offer as well. Kemo has Jointclothing.com also. Kemo put me on, got me recording, writing actual songs, put me on TV, music conferences,man...I will always appreciate that. Another person who helped early on was Drez one, who my carnal Que went to school with, and Drez threw me beats, and got me recording around the same time. 07. We've seen you on shows with Kemo, and noticed him on your video, how long have you been working with Kemo ? and what types of projects are you involved with now ? I remember this well, Kemo just did some show at the Radio City Music Hall in NYC, called me up, and said he was looking for artists to work with. That was ill homie, I was barking at the moon and my abuela, Nana was there, she's like who's Kemo? hahaaaa......This was around 2001 maybe. Being able to participate in the 1st annual Latin Rap Conference and Latin Alternative Music Conference was crucial in the shaping of my view of the Music Industry. I learned alot by observing and being quiet. 
Jehuniko : Raza is growing and dominating, same with Hip Hop. We encompass energy, power, momentum, so of course people feel it,and want to get down as well. In Costa Rica, Mexico, all of Centro y Sur America, Hip Hop is cracking. 