Cimafunk Launches "Caliente" with Musicians from New Orleans

March 9, 2020

A rich blend of metals, Cuban rhythm, rapping in Spanish and English, and a fun lyric that moves you to dance, season "Caliente," the new music video by Cimafunk released on digital platforms.

Cimafunk, recognized as a pioneer of Afro-Cuban funk, joins forces in the audiovisual with American musicians from the city of New Orleans.

This is how The Soul Rebels, the super dynamic brass band that fuses soul, funk, hip hop and jazz, and the talented poet, rapper and singer Tarriona "Tank" Ball appear in this experiment of cultures and shared origins.

The rapping of The Soul Rebels, Cimafunk's shift in rhythm and speed in his verse, and Tank with a touch of poetry, and then the chorus all together: "Tú me lo pides/Te lo doy: Caliente" You ask for it/I'll give it to you: Caliente, leave the track like the title of the song.

"We wanted to highlight the best of Cuba and New Orleans, both rooted in their African heritage," said Cimafunk, whom Billboard listed as one of the "10 best Latin artists to follow" in 2019.

According to The Soul Rebels, the creation of "Caliente" was a project about good vibes and deep love for each other's music.

"Caliente" was recorded in New Orleans and performed for the first time by the artists in Cuba, in January of this year, during the "Getting Funky in Havana" Music Festival.

Collin Laverty, president of Cuba Educational Travel and producer of the Getting Funky in Havana festival, expressed via email to Prensa Latina that Cimafunk's success lies in the fact that he is different, "that makes him special and is the reason why people follow him."

What is seen in the Caliente clip—La Tropical packed with thousands of people enjoying themselves, a New Orleans-style conga in Old Havana and much more—symbolizes a historic visit by these New Orleans bands.

The support of Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews was key. Recognized as the best trombonist in the world, he also traveled to Cuba with a dozen young students from New Orleans to learn and share in Havana.

For Laverty, this is just the beginning. Cimafunk returns to New Orleans in April for that city's important jazz festival, where he will share the stage with important figures.

In his view, although the connection between the music and musicians of New Orleans and Cuba is not new, it is very important that the current transmission belt is the new generations.

The Soul Rebels, Tank and the Bangas and Cimafunk—he added—represent the future of music in their cities and countries and include children who represent the future and another generation.

I know that it is a path of more musical collaboration, more cultural exchanges and a growing friendship between New Orleans and Cuba, Laverty concluded.