Calle 13 is a Puerto Rican alternative urban band consisting of stepbrothers René Pérez Joglar (lead singer, songwriter), Eduardo José Cabra Martínez (multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, beat producer) and their half-sister Ileana Cabra Joglar (backing vocals). Their stage names are Residente, Visitante and PG-13.
Calle 13 likes to blend different musical styles like reggaeton, rap and rock. While other Latino groups tend to stick to the format, Calle 13 likes to buck tradition. The group is known for using a wide range of instruments from all over the world and using provocative, tongue-in-cheek as well as socially conscientious lyrics.
Everything sounds the same on the radio…but what we are making is sincere, and I think that’s worth something.”
The band also takes on social issues facing Puerto Ricans, Latinos and people all over the world. As the frontman of the band, Residente has no problem vocalizing the group’s stance on certain topics concerning music, politics and discrimination.
Calle 13 has a record-breaking 19 Latin Grammy awards, two Grammy awards including many other music awards.
The siblings are big supporters for and independent Puerto Rico, Pérez is an ally of the LGBTQ community, and the brothers go out of their way not to make music about violence, misogyny and materialism.
I want Puerto Rico to be free and independent and have just one flag. The people here don’t work the way they should, and it’s because of the comfort they are feeling from you guys, from the States. We have a very low self-esteem. We feel that we can’t do it on our own. We as a country need to feel proud about our nation.”
I want the world to know the name Oscar López Rivera.
Fun Facts
- The group got their name from the street they use to live on when their parents were married
- Residente is afraid of airplanes
- If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be with his grandmother, his great-grandmother, Roberto Clemente, and John Lennon. –Rene aka Residente
- Visitante use to lead a ska-reggae band called Bayanga
- Their tour band consists of 20-25 members
- Residente would one day love to be a film director or writer
- During sex he listens to… “No music for sex,” he said, laughing.
- Calle 13 is a Puerto Rican band formed in 2004 by stepbrothers René Pérez Joglar, aka Residente, and Eduardo José Cabra Martínez, aka Visitante.
- They are known for their genre-bending music that combines elements of reggaeton, hip hop, rock, and Latin American folk music.
- Calle 13 has won a record-breaking 28 Latin Grammy Awards and three Grammy Awards, making them one of the most successful Latin American bands of all time.
- Their 2008 album, “Los de Atrás Vienen Conmigo,” won five Latin Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and features collaborations with artists like Shakira and Rubén Blades.
- Calle 13 is also known for their socially conscious lyrics that address issues like poverty, inequality, and political corruption in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- In 2015, the band released a controversial music video for their song “El Aguante,” which depicts a fictional soccer game played in a prison and criticizes the mistreatment of inmates in Latin American prisons.
- Calle 13 has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Spanish singer-songwriter Ana Tijoux, Cuban group Orishas, and American rapper Kendrick Lamar.
- The band has been praised for their live performances, which often feature elaborate costumes, stage designs, and visual effects.
- In addition to their music, Calle 13 has also been involved in various philanthropic and political causes, such as supporting the Puerto Rican independence movement and advocating for environmental protection.
- Despite their success, Calle 13 has remained independent and self-managed throughout their career, which is a rare feat in the music industry.
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