A Symphony of Hip Hop
When Two Worlds Harmonize
A Concert By Juanlo and Phanto Killa accompanied by Francisco Zumaque and La Filarmónica de Bogotá
The 28th of April 2022, a concert took place that brought together artists from completely different worlds. Hip Hop artists from Bogotá were joined by the philharmonic orchestra of Bogotá led by renowned composer and director Francisco Zumaque. Those who learned their craft on the streets and those who learned in the academy came together and presented a beautiful show, that demonstrates, both literarily and metaphorically, the power of music in connecting people and communities.
Below you can watch four videos of the performance of different songs by Juanlo and Phanton Killa. Besides these videos, Upeksha also produced De La Tierrita Crece and will release a documentary on about the story of how these two worlds came together. Stay tuned!
Los Sueños de los Monstros
Colombia Real
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Juanlo
Juan Lopez (1996) is a rapper from Bogota who uses art to express his feelings and thoughts. He started by using Graffiti as his main form of creative expression. However, ever since he was little, he wanted to become a musician. He tried to enter a music academy to fulfil his dreams, but due to difficult conditions he was forced to let those dreams go. After working for a few years, he met a girl that that convinced him that there were other options to get what he wanted. She invited him to the conservatory of IDIPRON. Here, he retrieved his love for music. From that moment on, he decided to take ever opportunity presented to him to become the artist he wants to be. Juan also was part of a concert that brought together rap and the Philharmonic orchestra of Bogotá, where he performed his song De La Tierrita Crece.
Phanton Killa
Phanton Killa is a rapper from the centre of Bogotá. After earning a scholarship to study art in Cuba, he found happiness as an electronic music DJ in Miami. However, things took a left turn when Phanton got deported back to Colombia. While he lost everything he loved, Phanton regained the strength to make the best out of life because of music. Initially, he was part of movement of rappers that would rap battles in Parque de las Periodistas. That's where his hip hop story really starts. Later on, trying to cope with the COVID19 pandemic, he taught himself how to produce, record and mix music, as he released his first songs in 2021. Phanton got noticed during a small concert in El Bronx. Subsequently, he was invited to participate in the symphonic hip hop concert. An experience that he says fulfilled a life-long dream: "I don't make art to get rich. All I want is a space to share it".
Process
The concert was the result of a process that started months earlier in El Bronx, when director Francisco Zumaque first presented himself to the group of rappers that were invited to participate in this concert. Over the course of 3 months, 5 songs were written, composed and recorded, while we came together once a week to discuss the lyrics, the compositions, and the performance, preparing ourselves the best way possible for the concert. Jeimi Drago provided guidance by introducing the rappers to meditation techniques, to achieve internal tranquility and enhance creativity. Catalina and Casper from Upeksha worked together with Juanlo and la Desquiciada to write and produce to songs: De La Tierrita Crece and Ciencia Espiritual.
Finally, 10 days before the concert took place, we were joined by the philharmonic orchestra of Bogotá, to rehearse the songs together with them. The youth section of the orchestra consisted of mainly wind instruments, percussion and double basses. It was the first time we heard these two worlds of music harmonise and it was a special moment that left everybody without breath for a moment. For 10 days, we saw each other everyday, rehearsing, adapting and preparing in the best way possible for the concert.
The 28 was D-day. The concert was to be presented by acclaimed local rapper Angel Salazar of Todo Copas as the concert was opened by a dance recital. In the concert was an immense success that showed us the immense powers of music and art. They are not just hobbies to life, they are essential to life and to society.
As Upeksha - Voices of Resilience we thank everybody that was involved: rappers Phanton, Juanlo and la Desquiciada; the musicians of the philharmonic orchestra of Bogotá; Francisco Zumaque and Jeimi Drago for their energy, love and great guidance to everyone; Catalina Barragán Hinestroza and Casper te Riele for producing the songs and videos; and Leonardo Garzón Ortiz and La Fundacion Gilberto Alzate Avendaño for organising the project.
