Unity, experimentation, and conversation between cultures has been the backbone of the music made by the groundbreaking rap duo Run The Jewels; it’s how they have become one of the most exciting outfits working in hip-hop right now. This spirit is palpable in a remix of their song “Ooh La La” from Instituto Mexicano del Sonido, which gives the track a Latinx twist while bringing in fresh new talent from Mexico.
Camilo Lara’s long-running electronic cumbia project takes the song from Killer Mike and El-P’s 2020 album RTJ4 and adds Caribbean rhythms, bright synth melodies, and mariachi trumpets, recalling a bit of the classic sample-delic approach of ‘90s producers like the Dust Brothers. Lara’s “Ooh La La” remix—which originally featured hip-hop legends Greg Nice and DJ Premier as guests—also includes a Spanish verse by Mexico’s Santa Fe Klan, an up-and-coming 21-year-old artist who delivers his particular flavor to the rebellious, anti-capitalist anthem.
In a statement, Lara explained that his remix brings together artists and sounds he admires. “Run The Jewels and Santa Fe Klan are some of my favorite projects from the last few years; the former because of their combative and political spirit, the latter because of his honesty and realness,” he said. “Music is a good start to reclaim this divided world with unity and tolerance.”
You can experience the meeting of these musical worlds in this exclusive premiere.