Ozomatli

Ozomatli

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 16, 1998)
• Original Release Date: June 16, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Almo Sounds
• ASIN: B000007Q93
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,359 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #16 in	Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Latin Hip-Hop
  #23 in	Music > Latin Music > Urban
  #34 in	Music > World Music > Middle East

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Multiculti Los Angeles-based 10-piece Ozomatli is more than the sum of their parts: hip-hop, salsa, and funk crash head-on in this surprisingly natural collaboration. Their self-titled debut makes Ozomatli sound like one of the world's great live shows--a party band with a brain--and they pull it off deftly. Rapper Chali 2na ("Charlie Tuna," get it?) has an authoritative voice and a way with words, mixing references from Edie Brickell to Ed McMahon; just he and the Cut Chemist (both of Jurassic 5), who lends his turntable skills to the proceedings, would make for an entertaining album. But it's the way that the two--when they're even featured--build on and blend into the grooves of the wah-pedal-and-brass-section-powered ensemble that sets Ozomatli apart. Danceable and engaging, they've made a promising debut. --Randy Silver

Vibe

Ozomatli's 11 multihued Angelenos bring the notion to life. Drawing on Cali tradition of Latin-funk big bands like Malo, Azteca, and War ... Ozo combine Chicano protest ethos, the unstoppable power of ska, and, with the lab-wrecking virtuosity of DJ Cut Chemist, leading-edge hip hop.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars El Primo para Ozo, April 11, 2002

By	M. Swinney "Marc My Words" (Flower Mound, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought the Ozomatli complete output of 2 CD's backwards, first "Embrace the Chaos" and next their self-titled debut. Of the two, it's hard to say which is better...it's a toss-up. It's pretty much a non-stop party with a world tour throughout the album sometimes making disparate stops all within the same song...but it works wonderfully.

There is hip-hop, ska, reggae, jazz, flamenco, funk, salsa, mariachi, eastern tinge, western energy, you name it, its here. The prevailing flavors though are a variety of Latino styles across the board and street hip-hop. The production and sound is actually better on this CD vice their second release "Embrace the Chaos". But the hip hop for me is more alive on "Embrace the Chaos."

Standout tracks are "Como Ves", "Super bowl Sundae", and "Cut Chemist Suite." It's difficult to remain in your seat when these are playing. Ozomatli just has a good feel to the music. Go buy this and wear it well...all around the world.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ozomatli is a band with potential!, January 23, 1999

By A Customer

I decided to buy this CD based on all the positive reviews that it recieved and all the "Top 10 Albums of 1998" lists it appeared on. I was expecting to hear some great music and when I finally bought the CD, I wasn't disappointed! I have a new favorite band! Ozomatli is truly awesome and their mix of several different musical and cultural styles is outstanding! I LOVE IT! Too bad the small, microscopic fraction of people who don't like the album can't appreciate real music. From what I hear, the band is even better live. I've never seen them live yet (I'm a newcomer to the Ozomatli bandwagon), but I would jump at the chance to see them. This album is simply the best one I've heard in years. This ain't no tired pop music stuff, this is the music of the 21st Century! Ozomatli definitely has potential. If they can remain consistent in making great music from the heart and staying real, then they will enjoy a long and successful career. I hope to see Ozomatli still rocking the house 25 years from now!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Such a refreshing change, October 6, 2003

By	"gavvyb" (London, England) - See all my reviews

As a fan of J-5, the release of this album made sense, in that Jurassic 5 make a point of putting their music first and image last. Ten piece band 'Ozomatli' seem to work perfectly in tandem with Chali 2na an Cut Chemist, blending all of their styles so well that it sounds as if this is how hiphop should be- a fusion of a wide variety of styles. When this album came out, i would listen to it over and over again, and because of the albums' diversity, it never felt tiresome. It is very difficult to put into words how successful this collaboration is, buy it and you will understand. For those who dont want to buy it, download track such as:
cut chemist suite, o le le and cumbia de los muertos