BIMBO
“El Oso Mañoso”
By: Angela

Bimbo will be the first Reggaeton artist ever to have a record release party at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square. He also has a cartoon series coming out in October on the cartoon network called “Bimbo and friends”. He is under the label B&E Entertainment and distributed by UBO – Urban Box Office. His new album will be in stores August 23rd. When asked about his new album that is being released he said that “The project is all about the Reggaeton this time. The whole album is Reggaeton. We call it Reggaeton 100 por 35. Those are the measurements of Puerto Rico 100 x 35”. Some of the artists that are being featured on it are Jon Erick “La Roca”, Plan B, OG Black and Master Joe, Jowell and Randy. There are also 3 new artists they are working with that are going to be signing with them. They are called Sweet Mary, J and Koto. When asked how long it took him to record his new album he said “The disc was almost already done before it started. It took about a month to a month and a half because everything was well prepared. We had all of the songs and a lot of other artists to work with and that makes things easier. When I am doing a disc all by myself then it takes a little longer because I have get my mind straight so that I can project exactly what I want to say but when I do a disc with other artists, it’s easier. So about one month to a month and a half, around there”. “Thanks to all the experience that I have. I have been in the industry for about 16 years and so it is easy to rap about anything”. He will be on tour very soon as well. He says that god willing he will be touring in Brazil, Austrailia, California, Toronto, Colombia, Equador and many more places in the US. He just finished a song with Issac from Spain and they liked it so much that they are bringing Bimbo back from Puerto Rico to film the video for the song and do a big venue over there.

He said that the secret to his success is that he hasn’t shut himself down into one genre of music. He listens to all types of music and believes that it has really helped him a lot in being very diverse with the songs that he creates.

We talked about other artists that come out and try to copy his style and he said that is exactly what he wants because that is showing him that he is doing a good job. He said that he has respect for all of the other artists but when it comes down to them copying him he can honestly say “Been there, Done that” about their styles and that during the time that he spent in 3 2 Funky they were doing Salsa Reggae in a time when that wasn’t around. They were also doing music in English and Spanish. He loves to bring new things to the table for people to copy and claim as their own. He says that the people will be able to tell who really did it first. If someone comes out sounding like him the people will say (oh that sounds like Bimbo). If someone comes out sounding like Don Omar or Hector, the people will know right away and let it be known. His styles are direct extensions of his personality and every song is a part of him and something that he has been through or seen. Whatever goes through his mind comes out of his mouth.

I asked him about some of the people that he would like to work with and he mentioned that he would have loved to have worked with Big Pun. He said that being a cantante gordito he would like to work with others like him. He mentioned Heavy D and Fat Joe
saying that he used to listen to them and admire their success for being heavy set rappers. He said that he would also like to work with Nelly and Jay-Z.
He has an advantage in the game because he can sing in both languages. He is ready to work with the world.

He mentioned that right now is the best time for Reggaeton. When he started out doing Reggaeton people weren’t into it as much as they are now. He is happy that the people of the United States have finally decided to take it in and accept it for what it is. It is blowing up all over the world. Mexicans are singing it their way. People from Spain, their way but all in all everyone is getting in on the Reggaeton blow up and helping to push it along.

I had to then ask the obvious question that all of the guys are dying to have answered. How he feels when surrounded by all of the beautiful women that he has in his videos. He laughed and then answered. “It feels good. Who wouldn’t feel good surrounded by a lot of beautiful women? But as much as it feels good you have to be careful when you are an artist because a lot of women take things that you say the wrong way because they out there looking for other things. But, of course it feels good with a lot of beautiful women”.

He told me that his wife supports everything that he does and is his right hand and that makes all the difference in his career and that they have been together, like they say “Como arroz y spaghetti”.

He also thanked his other right hand man June for always being there for him. He said that even if he doesn’t say it to him all the time June knows how he feels. He is very proud of the work that he does for the company and that since they have only had the company running for about a year and a half and he sees the results. He is very pleased with them.

He then thanked me for the interview and for wanting to know about his life and his music. He says that he is very orgulloso that people care so much about him. He is very humble considering all of the big steps that he is taking for the industry. He is paving the way for many people and not trying to take all the credit. Be sure to go and pick up his cd on the 23rd (as soon as it gets into stores). You are in for a treat!