One thing that rappers certainly cannot take for granted is longevity. Hip-hop fans have long been known for having an "out with the old, in with the new" attitude, which is why very few of the rappers who were popular in the '80s were still burning up the charts in the 2000s (assuming they were still recording at all). By hip-hop standards, Crooked Stilo have managed to stay in the game a long time. The group was formed in 1991, and they still had a record deal (with a major label, no less) 16 years later in 2007. Granted, Crooked Stilo had never achieved mega-stardom à la LL Cool J, but the very fact that the Salvadoran duo had a contract with a major label like the Univision-owned Fonovisa 16 years after forming is an accomplishment. Victor "Lunatiko" Lopez and Johnny "El Duke" Lopez marked their 16th anniversary as a group with Malhablados, which isn't remarkable but has its share of infectious, worthwhile grooves. The Lopez brothers continue to favor a bilingual approach, rapping in both Spanish and English. But español clearly has the upper hand; about 90 percent of the lyrics are in Spanish -- and Latin rhythms remain a strong influence. "Año Viejo" and the club banger "Licuadora" both incorporate cumbia, while "No Te Vayas" has a more salsa-ish appeal. One of the best tracks on this 37-minute CD is the poignant "Don Miguel," which was written in memory of the Lopez siblings' abuelo (grandfather). Again, Malhablados on the whole is not remarkable, but the material is generally decent -- and you have to admire the fact that a hip-hop duo that started in the early '90s was still plugging away in the late 2000s.
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