..........................................................................................

1172655273 - January 1, 1970 By : Little did we know in June 2005, when we were the first outlet to introduce Blunts LLA to the masses, what would be in store for him just two years down the line.

In late 2005 we announced the moniker switch from Blunts LLA to the now familiar Omar Cruz alongside an exclusive dubcnn mixtape download for the acclaimed "Blow: The Final Chapter." We couldn't have put it better when we said; "You know where you heard it first Blunts LLA aka Omar Cruz is going to blow in 06."

With the success of the mixtape Omar Cruz moved into 2006 looking to solidify his position as a contender in the music industry. With that in mind he crafted the DJ Skee collaboration mixtape "The Cruzifixion" to an overwhelming response from fans, new listeners, magazines and most importantly - labels. Within months Omar Cruz had inked a 50/50 deal with BYI/Interscope/Geffen to release his debut album.

That gets us up to the current timeline and the reason for todays update. Omar Cruz has recently completed his long awaited debut album precursor mixtape "2007 B.C. (Before Cruz), hosted by DJ Skee and DJ Big Mike - with the sole purpose to fan the flames of anticpation for his forthcoming debut record "Sign of the Cruz." "2007 [B.C.] includes some of the classic joints that the streets been asking for, as well as a bunch of exclusive songs. It's going to be an understandable segue into my first album. Everything before now was the era before me; it's time I stake my place in the game," explains Cruz.

Cruz is passionate for the game, not merely consumed with his own shine: "People are forgetting the whole purpose of this rap thing. For me, it's about making a name for not only myself, but also Latinos. The 2007 title and cover art reference holy war-- all the beefing and bickering that's going on right now. I'm trying to break stereotypes and put good music out there. One of the reasons album sales are down is that people are making records with only a few singles, and the rest is garbage. And fans are supporting the garbage!"

Dead set against this trend, "2007 B.C." sets off right with lead single "Vatos Locos," other burners include "Armed Robbers" alongside Big Pun, West Coast anthem "Just When" with co-conspirators The Game and 2Pac and the unforgiving "Gun Talk." As much substance as style however, Cruz offers more than a couple of high-profile guest appearances; "B.Y.I. Entertainment's Music Producer 'Rome' and I are actually introducing a new sound in the game, which I'm excited about. It's a vintage Latino soul sound: heavy organs, heavy horns. This is soul street music unlike any other. The tape goes hard for over 20 songs, and with DJ Skee and DJ Big Mike as the hosts, we feel like we have the best from the West and the East."

Among those 20-plus songs is a freestyle by a Los Angelese emcee who won a contest via Omar Cruz's myspace page searching for the hottest 16 spit by a Latin rapper. Despite eventually choosing an LA cat to appear, Cruz was impressed by the scope of the submissions; "The love was from all over: from Canada to New Orleans to Mississippi to Chicago. MySpace is a great way to get feedback and find out what's hot. Also, you can create buzz without needing the machine behind you."

Omar Cruz is part throwback, part firebrand. He laments that making an album is a "lost art in the game," and that each should "should stand alone as a moment in time, as a piece of art." He also promises that despite the effort invested into each of his mixtapes his debut album expected later this year will take things to another level entirely - rest assured that Cruz will come out swinging when his debut hits shelves this summer.

We have the aforementioned lead single from the mixtape "Vatos Locos" for download below, the track can also be heard on Power 106 right now so make sure you request it and support the new release.

Omar Cruz - Vatos Locos

In related news look out for Omar Cruz on the Cuervoton tour this summer. Until then you can check out more news and audio over at Cruz' official MySpace page. We will, as ever, be keeping you fully updated on Omar Cruz and his impending debut "Sign Of The Cruz."

Rud

Discuss This Topic