Whitest Taino Alive’s debut LP, ¿Dónde Jugarán Los Cueros?, has finally arrived, translating the island’s “vibra criolla” and the extra-local “flow dominicano neoclásico” into album format.
As we heard in singles “Burlao” and “Piel de Leather” leading up to the release, WTA has proven their commitment to keeping it un-proper, and to not taking anything too seriously to the upmost. You’ll hear an explicitness familiar from contemporaries and fellow party rockers from a nearby island, Füete Billete, as the group positions themselves as laid-back, sarcastic cultural commentators of the Trill Choperia variety. Reading through on stand-out selections like “Pretty Fly for a Chopo” and “Duran Duran Duran,” WTA’s lyricisms plays with cultural currents while placing a Dominican-particular linguistic spin and sense of humor onto the tracks.
Previously disclosing only so much that the group is “two characters from varied origins in the local music scene” out of Santo Domingo, with the album release WTA finally reveals the names and faces behind the group. We find heavy-hitter Cohoba, also known as as DaBeat Ortiz , on production duties, with Jon Blon Jovi aka Haru on the mic, well-known in the Dominican party circuit from his OndaSonora DJ collective and 28°C agency. Domincanye West, also known as Cesar Pineda, shares the mic after earning his stripes in the local scene across the rock, metal, and hip hop niches as a drummer, bassist, singer, and sound engineer.
For a language guide–courtesy of Jon Blon Jovi and Remezcla’s own Joel Moya–prepared for the album (because “bulto,” “ta’ cloro,” and “leathers” might need a bit of an explanation), check out “10 Dominican Words You Need to Learn to Understand Whitest Taino Alive’s New Album.”
¿Dónde Jugarán Los Cueros? is out today on WTA’s netlabel Stereoptico. Stream the full album here, exclusively on Remezcla, or click through for the free download.