Cimafunk Explained

Cimafunk
Birth Date:1989
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Erik Alejandro Iglesias Rodríguez
Origin:Pinar del Rio, Cuba
Genre:Funk, electronic, Latin, R&B
Occupation:Singer, songwriter, producer
Years Active:2010-present
Label:Terapia Productions

Erik Alejandro Iglesias Rodríguez (born 1989), known professionally as Cimafunk, is a Grammy-nominated Cuban musician known for mixing funk and hip hop with Cuban and Afro-Caribbean music.[1] His most recent album, El Alimento, was released in October 2021.

Biography

Rodriguez sang in church as a child, and originally planned to become a doctor like several members of his family. He attended medical school in his hometown of Pinar del Río for two years, but moved to Havana in 2010 to pursue music. He worked as a session arranger and producer for Cuban musicians like Raúl Paz and Liuba María Hevia, and was also in the band Interactivo from 2014 to 2016. After leaving that band, he adopted the name Cimafunk, referencing the cimarróns, who were escaped slaves who formed self-sustaining communities in Cuba during the colonial era.[2] Cimafunk is also the name of his backing band, featuring a rotating cast of collaborators. Cimafunk endeavored to blend Afro-Cuban and African American music,[3] with a focus on funk rhythms.[4] The New Yorker has since compared him to James Brown.[5]

Cimafunk self-released the album Terapia in 2017,[6] followed by the single "Me Voy" in 2018. Billboard named him one of the "10 Latin Artists to Watch in 2019".[7] Cimafunk completed a successful tour of the United States and Europe in 2019, during which time he gained significant popularity in his native Cuba. While on lockdown in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cimafunk released several stand-alone singles and the EP Cun Cun Prá.[8] In October 2021, Cimafunk released the album El Alimento, featuring guest appearances by George Clinton, Lupe Fiasco, and CeeLo Green. Both Rolling Stone[9] and NPR[10] named El Alimento as one of the best albums of the year. The album was nominated for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.[11] [12]

Discography

Studio albums

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jurek. Thom. Cimafunk Biography, Songs, & Albums. 2022-02-25. AllMusic. en.
  2. Web site: Lopez. Julyssa. 2021-10-15. Cimafunk's Ecstatic Collaborative Spirit. 2022-02-25. Rolling Stone. en-US.
  3. News: Morales. Ed. 2021-10-06. Cimafunk’s Quest to Create One Nación Under a Groove. en-US. The New York Times. 2022-02-25. 0362-4331.
  4. News: Shapiro. Ari. Caldwell. Noah. Yu. Mallory. 2021-10-08. Cimafunk's 'El Alimento' blends Afro-Cuban rhythms with classic American funk. en. NPR.org. 2022-02-25.
  5. Web site: Cimafunk. 2022-02-25. The New Yorker. en.
  6. Web site: Puga. Christina. From med school to megastar, Cimafunk's Afro-Cuban rhythms go international. 2022-02-25. NBC News. en.
  7. Web site: 2019-01-17. 10 Latin Artists to Watch in 2019. 2022-02-25. Billboard. en-US.
  8. Web site: 2020-12-11. Cimafunk Releases Highly-Anticipated EP: "Cun Cun Prá". 2022-02-25. Tigresounds - Music Platform for the Global Citizen. en-US.
  9. Web site: 2021-12-03. The 50 Best Albums of 2021. 2022-02-25. Rolling Stone. en-US.
  10. News: 2021-12-13. The Best Latin Music of 2021. en. NPR. 2022-02-25.
  11. Web site: Grammy Awards: Cimafunk . 2023-02-22 . www.grammy.com.
  12. Web site: Lopez . Julyssa . 2022-12-14 . After a Surprise Grammy Nomination, Cimafunk Wants to Keep People Dancing . 2022-12-15 . Rolling Stone . en-US.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Cimafunk".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.