"I'm living proof of miracles. Better than turning water to wine, I paint my pain into pictures, descriptive and lyrical..."
Follow him around for a year, and you can catch him flowing a cappella at spoken word shows in the local cultural centers, or at well known events like the Monterey Jazz Festival with a Latin Jazz sextet. He may be backed by a chamber ensemble, playing the lead role in a hip hop opera or singing and playing percussion with an African American roots music choir. You're likely to see him rhyming with a DJ, performing Afro Puerto Rican bomba music, or hear him singing with a 10 piece salsa hip hop reggae fusion band at events like Reggae on the River or San Francisco's Stern Grove Concert Series. In the studio or on stage, the Puerto Rican bilingual musician known as Rico Pabón is a man of many genres, and although hip hop is the music of his generation, he chooses to draw the connections between the traditional music he heard growing up at home and the music he danced to in the streets of the Bay Area, Jamaica Plains and New York. “For us, the sons and daughters of immigrants, Hip-Hop is our traditional music, but for most of us, it didn’t replace our deep love for the music of our roots. It only added more flavor to the soundtrack of our complex lives. I am the proof,” says Pabón.
Born into a family of musicians, dancing and playing music was just an every day part of living. Rico found his voice as an emcee at the age of 15 and has since released 5 full length albums and has appeared on numerous compilations and collaborations garnering him much critical acclaim. A natural performer, Rico's vocal stamina, clarity and rhythm combined with the passionate delivery of his "true to life" lyrics make his energy on stage explosive and captivating. On one of his songs, Pabón says "I'm only trying to be above the average emcee and speak for people like Albizu and Garvey," but to hear and see him perform live it's obvious that he's orbiting a few universes past standard and you know immediately that you are not listening to your average MC, but something very special. An MC whose artistry and activism are one in the same, Pabón says "I feel like it's my personal mission to stand for positivity no matter what mainstream folks are doing. I usually start my shows off a cappella, because I want the people to know that I’m trying to uplift their spirits and speak to their hearts, not just put words together and make them sound good, nor am I a merchant of death. I am life. I am the sun, and no different from a plant or flower in nature, if drowned in darkness, we look for the direction of the sun."
Pabón has had his songs placed in nighttime television dramas "October Road" and "CSI: Miami" and he has appeared on numerous recordings and has shared the stage with an array of highly acclaimed artists, across many genres of music. He is currently gigging as an emcee, poet and singer with two Bay Area legends; 5 time Grammy nominated latin jazz artist John Santos on his Filosofia Caribe?a project, as well as with Grammy nominated Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir, where he also plays minor percussion. Rico performs with Aguacero, an Afro Puerto Rican bomba group, as singer and percussionist and most recently became the lead emcee for Ensemble Mik Nawooj's "Great Integration: A Chamber Hip Hop Opera Act II". The music was written by Steinway artist composer/pianist Joowan Kim, and it fearlessly merges hip hop and classical music. Rico was a lead member of Prophets of Rage, O-Maya, and AguaLibre, and he still performs original music as a solo artist with DJ's and live bands, depending on the venue or event. Rico is currently recording an album of all original tunes with Grammy nominated producer Greg Landau and musician/producer Camilo Landau which blends a little bit of everything that he loves, from bolero to bugalú, reggae to salsa, and of course, hip hop.
No matter which musical configuration Rico Pabón finds himself in, from Salsa to Hip Hop and in between, his poetic lyrics are bound by the theme that struggle feeds beauty, and that life is worth fighting for, using truth and love as the weapon. This theme combined with his rhythmic delivery make him one of the Bay Area's most dynamic MCs. Rico's international flavors have allowed him an opportunity to share the stage with other international artists such as Damian and Stephen Marley, Ozomatli, Buju Banton, Femi Kuti, Zap Mama, Meshell N'degeocello, Maxi Priest and Sizzla, to name a few. He has also performed with Hip Hop icons such as Run DMC, Wu Tang Clan, dead prez, Big Daddy Kane, and Kurtis Blow.
Musician and historian John Santos says, "Rico is exceptional in many ways, highly creative and motivated, and deeply dedicated to social change through the arts. I've also observed him extensively, performing and teaching folks of all ages. His enthusiasm is both remarkable and contagious as he engages his audiences and students with his obvious passion and abilities to communicate on multi-levels. He has truly earned the respect of his peers and has inspired countless observers and participants through his commitment to the development of art and self-expression in our neighborhoods. To those of us of Puerto Rican descent, he is especially an unsung hero and treasure whom we proudly hold up as the face and voice of our community. In addition to the above-mentioned facts and observations, Rico's most impressive trait is his demeanor and dignity. One of the finest human beings I have ever had the pleasure of knowing."