Latte Stone Souljahz: Group Hopes to Promote Culture As It Grows In Popularity

Written by Lacee A.C. Martinez, Pacific Daily News, Apr. 6, 2012

A strong love for Guam and the Chamorro culture is pushing a fairly new group of musicians, singers, rappers and entrepreneurs to set positive examples for their peers by also embracing the Buy Local Guam movement.

Known as the Latte Stone Souljahz, the collaborative group -- led by Pete "Badu" Magofna, Josh "Phenom" Jones and Simon "SweetTyme" Vazcones and featuring several other artists including LG Pro's Nick "Slim" Leon Guerrero -- already is heating up the airwaves with the hit "Let it be Known" and has garnered attention from the New Boyz after performing in front of and opening up for them in January.

You may have recognized a few of those names as some aren't new to the island's music scene, but the group as a whole has come together to be part of the movement of young local artists looking to make a difference in the island community.

"We're a group of friends trying to start this movement to spread a positive message to the youth to help promote and perpetuate the Chamorro language and bring awareness to issues on this island," says Magofna, who's also known as one of the first Chamorro rappers.

While most of the members, including Magofna, come from mixed hermitages, the island, culture and music are what connects the members, says Eric Camacho, who also is promoting his Ene Ware clothing brand with the group.

"We're trying to bring that back alive to our generation," Camacho says of using the Chamorro language.

The group offers a mix of hip hip-hop, reggae, reggaeton and island music in its work. The music blends urban culture with Guam and CNMI references and is often sung and/or rapped in Chamorro.

Chamorro pride

During its performance at the Urban Jungle concert at the Guam Plaza Hotel in January, the group got members of the hit rap group New Boyz up and dancing out to "Let it be Known," a song displaying pride in the Chamorro culture of Guam and the CNMI.

"I felt surprised and it actually inspired me a little bit because there were so many people there too and other performers," says Jones, 24, who's current radio hit "Cinderella Night" has topped the charts over the last week.
"It just gave me the bumps of the goose."

Milestone

The next day, the group performed before thousands at the New Boyz concert which was another milestone for member Barry "Big B" Duenas.

"There was a certain amount of adulation on the stage," Duenas, 25, says.

"But having our own music being enjoyed by other people, other artists, that was the most important part to me."

The projects and plans for the group are growing, including a new local magazine and the hope to revamp Magofna's defunct Island Music Video show. Latte Stone Souljahz have several performances lined up for April in anticipation of their upcoming release of a new album and also will be bringing in and opening for another big-name rap/hip-hop artist later this month.

At the end of the month, the group is expecting to hold a concert with Fabo of D4L, the group with the hit song "Laffy Taffy."

Giving back

"Many local artist just want people to buy their CD, but we give back to our community," Magofna says.

"We're taking pride in our island and we give back by promoting our language and our culture, and by giving out T-shirts. We want to paint bus stops and things like that."

Magofna describes the group as "Chamorro local artists, music producers and video producers, of different generations."

"We are not Republicans or Democrats," he says. "We're just concerned, local and independent voters who care about our people and island."

Source: http://www.guampdn.com/article/20120406/LIFESTYLE/204060323/-1/NLETTER01/Latte-Stone-Souljahz--Group-hopes-to-promote-culture-as-it-grows-in-popularity?source=nletter-news