La Vendición Records is here to try things differently. The small label’s founders are intent on their artists retaining way more of the rights over their work than is possible with major label signage. They’re also experimenting with “collection” style releases — think of an elite fashion house sending scores of looks down the runway all at once.
The label’s second collection dropped today. With 14 tracks and four mixtapes, settle in, because there’s a lot to hear. It will be interesting how the release structure works — this is a lot of content for fans to wake up to and hopefully none of the artists get buried because there are some fire tracks here.
La Vendición serves as a good barometer of the Spanish trap scene overall, and it’s satisfying to see it’s stacked with Afro-diasporic influence — not to mention the country’s new generation of traperas. In SS17, we get La Zowi and new singer Jihan teaming up for the work mode homage “High,” plus Ms Nina’s “Traketeo,” a bachatón jam that follows in the high adrenaline vein of her last collaboration with the Bay Area sad girl La Favi on “Acelera.” La Favi, riding high after the release earlier this week of her EP Reír & Llorar, provides a vital moment of of her drifting vocals with “Sacame,” produced by San Juan’s Kiid Favelas.
Other standout moments include Kaydy Cain launching his Rockstars mixtape, which opens with his lazy twerk dancehall track “Culona” featuring rising Madrid-based Nigerian rapper Demaro Small, one of the collection’s smoothest releases. Space Surimi’s old school hip-hop track “Umami” thrills, and madrileños Afrojuice 195 sound fresh with the Afrotrap cut “Fifa Street.” PXXR GVNG’s newest incarnation Los Santos comes through with the whole crew on “2K14DPG,” a trap answer to any questions about why they made the transition.
And it’s not all Euro talent. Estado de México trio Los Xxxulos gave a nod to their new label affiliation with “Bendicido,” a reggaeton bedroom track produced by Mexico’s DJ Krizis of the Perreo Pesado clan. Santiago’s adolescent trapper Pablo Chill-E also comes through with his Youngsta mixtape. Overall, a strong flex on behalf of La Vendición, more than enough answer for any questions about the depth of its bench.
La Vendición’s SS17 is out now. To stream all the releases, head over to La Vendición’s website. Check the full tracklist below.
La Zowi feat. Jihan – High
Zeno el Faraon feat. 1.8.7 – Sola
Space Surimi – UMAMI
Pablo Chill-E – Youngsta
Afrojuice 195 – Fifa Street
El Mini feat. Toxicwidow – Kiereme como un gangster
Ms Nina – Traketeo
El Mini feat. AC3 – Life of the party
LOS SANTOS – 2K14DPG
Kaydy Cain feat. LWLGHT – Rockstars
Los XXXulos – Bendecido
Demaro Small – Animo de lucro
187 – Morir Soñando
Flynt Hustle – Son de na
Yung Beef – Pole position
Scarface Johansson – Traficando a mi manera
Fly Migo Bankroll – May we never stop finessin
La Favi – Sacame