18th October 2011

Ana Tijoux - 1977

My roommate and I first heard this song while watching a timelapse during an episode of Breaking Bad. The French-Chilean Ana Tijoux betrays her roots with incredible lyrical mastery and smooth beats. Maybe a quality of the French rap tradition exclusively, the beat doesn’t have to hit hard because the lyricism carries the song forward.

Anita’s story is as interesting as her music, a child of Chilean Pinochet exiles, Ana returned to Chile after Pinochet was taken from power. Her rap career brought her in touch with members of Tiro de Gracia, a childhood favorite of mine. She would later be a part of Makiza, another Chilean rap group. Only recently has Ana broken out on her own, returning to the style I mentioned above.