Chingo Bling, aka Pedro Herrera III, flips hip hop, tribal, and more with an irreverent, unmistakable Tex-Mex sense of humor. He found his place in the music game by having an eye out for the trending instrumentals of the moment, and knowing just when to release his lighthearted, playful take on the beat (see: the merging of many worlds when he rapped over the “No Flex Zone” beat in “Kon Fleis Zone,” a Floyd Mayweather diss). A champion of the entrepreneurial spirit of hip hop hustling (self-dubbed the “Latin Russell Simmons”), Chingo has the multi-hyphenate renaissance man thing going. He’s built his brand into sales for t-shirts, hot sauce, tamales, bobble-head dolls, records, and more. You may have also seen him acting alongside Gina Rodriguez and the late Jenni Rivera in Filly Brown, or flexing his comedic skills in videos for Desmadre. And then there’s his whole fitness hardbody Team Mamado movement, the is-it-or-isn’t-it-a-joke fitness movement that is our personal vote to replace the Health Goth lifestyle trend.
We caught up Chingo to find out his favorite spots in his home town of Houston.
A/S/L
35/Male/Houston.
Tell us what you do?
I’m an actor/standup comedian/rapper/entrepreneur. I do it all.
What’s the perfect night out in Houston?
A cool night out in htown is stop by El Real Tex Mex and order the Chingo Bling plate. Then hit the Kemah Boardwalk to hang out or take your lady to a comedy show at the Joke Joint on Fuqua.
What local bands/DJs should we have on our radar?
Check out a Bombón party, they’re a DJ collective that throw awesome parties with cumbia music and exclusive remixes. Great crowd.
Best venues for live music?
Fitzgeralds, House of Blues, Warehouse Live, and Los Rieles brings big Mexican bands.
Best place to dance?
I hear Gloria’s has live salsa music but I don’t salsa 🙁
Best spot for hangover food and/or brunch?
Noemi’s Tacos on Park Place has the best menudo. Casarez on Edgebrook has really good carne guisada.
How does Houston inspire your work?
Houston has a personality of its own. The gulf coast is the forgotten coast. People have been sleeping on us but recently we hosted the Canelo fight and cost of living is low, it’s diverse and the economy is decent. We hustle! Hustling and Mexican culture is the centerpiece of my music. It plays a role in my standup comedy as well.
Hidden gem?
Green Seed Vegan on Almeda (3rd Ward/Midtown) is a cool place for raw juices and vegan food, just to switch it up from red meat all the time 🙁
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CS84s12CuI
Favorite local artist?
BeatKing. He’s super creative and funny. He drops new freestyles and mixtapes all the time. You can tell he’s having fun with it. And makes his own beats which are running the clubs right now.