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NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
New York City, NY, United States, 12/08/2006 - Latino rapper on the rise, Omar Cruz, has been nominated for Best West Coast Mixtape Artist for the 2007 Mixtape Awards.
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Cruz was recently signed to the powerhouse label, Interscope/Geffen Records, and is currently working on his album that is due early 2007. The Mixtape Award recognizes Cruz’s tremendous debut mixtape, City of Gods. In addition to being honored with a nomination, Cruz also has the distinction of being the only Latino nominated for any award outside of the reggaeton category.
When Cruz surveyed the music scene in early 2005, the Los Angeles-based rapper noticed a distinct void. “…There are no Latins, no Mexicans rapping. We’ve been overlooked,” observed Cruz. He wanted to change that. “I’m an MC, but I happen to be Latino. I’m trying to bring to the forefront our lifestyle out here.” Growing up, Cruz was exposed to both the music of his parents’ native lands and hip-hop, which was exploding throughout the streets of Los Angeles.
Years later, Cruz is just as passionate about music and his career is set to blow up. Many may wonder where this gifted rapper has been all these years. “I felt that if people were flooding the streets with new music every two weeks, I would concentrate on one CD that’s a culmination of everything,” he explains. “It’s quality over quantity.”
Coupled with his passion for hip-hop is Cruz’s passion to accurately depict the Latino people. “I’m not going to wait around for anyone to tell us our stories or represent us,” he says. “Everyone knows that we’re been a part of this culture with the lowriders, the gang cultures, the Chicano culture. Everyone knows that we steal from each because the black and the Latinos, we’re all from the same hoods and live in the same neighborhoods.”
The Mixtape Awards echo Cruz’s sentiments by honoring artists from all over the country and of all races. The awards were established with the sole purpose of showcasing artists, like Cruz, who, according to the award’s website, “rarely receive the recognition they deserve” from the music business. DJs and mixtape artists converge to honor the best of the year. Creator of the awards, Orpheous “Justo” Faison, recognized, “The importance of the mixtape subculture, which has since become recognized in pop culture. DJs and mixtapes have become an extremely important vehicle for major corporations attempting to research and influence their brand, on consumers worldwide.”
Omar Cruz will be making his appearance on the red carpet for The Mixtape Awards on December 7, 2006.
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