Calle 13 plan Central America prison concert

Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Calle 13 is no stranger to politically charged music whether it is denouncing police brutality or solidarity with Chilean protesters. They are working on their latest project whose goal is to call attention to the problem of urban violence throughout Latin America. As part of this project, the group announced this week that they will record the music video for the single “La bala” (The Bullet) in Mexico and also is reportedly seeking a director for a planned documentary on street violence. More ambitiously, however, the duo reportedly plans to perform at a unique venue: a Guatemalan prison.

According to one of Calle 13’s members:

“This is one of our projects: to go to a maximum security prison where the “maras” are located in order to give a concert that will also be transmitted online,” said “Visitante”, whose real name is Eduardo José Cabra. His announcement was made in Guadalajara where Calle 13 is on tour…to promote their new album "Vamos a portarnos mal" (We are going to misbehave).

During the press conference fellow group member Rene “Residente” Perez also floated the idea of having a “student concert” at the campus of the UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico). He claimed that this notion came about as part of the duo’s solidarity with Chilean student protesters.

It is estimated that hundreds of people each year including disenchanted youth and deportees from the U.S. with criminal records join Central American street gangs.

Image- EFE via El Informador
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Fox News Latino, AFP, El Informador, Milenio, impre.com