Dj Leidys on the wheelz of steel Photo: Minister of Information JR

A lot of it is communicated through Hip Hop, which is an African music born in Amerikkka. In this interview, we are going to build with Dj Leidys, a Black Cuban immigrant who has come to the shores of imperialism to fulfill her dream of making music.

For those who don't know, Cuba has been under a U.S. embargo for over four decades for actions taken after its socialist revolution, which translates into very few goods being able to get in or out of the island nation and a severe crippling of the Cuban economy. How does the embargo affect the artistic creations of the Cuban people? Many times they have to go without essentials because they cannot afford the necessary equipment or it is just not available.

This is not a unique phenomenon; we see it right here in ghettos across Amerikkka, except those of us who can't afford what we need usually have acquaintances with the equipment who we could pay to service our artistry. In Cuba, that is rarely the case. Check out Dj Leidys in this one-on-one discussion.

MOI JR: When and how did you get introduced to Hip Hop from Amerikkka?

Dj Leidys: Fui introducida a la musica de los Estados Unidos entre los años 1997 y 98 por un grupo de Hip Hop llamado Grandes Ligas; Cuando me mude para la capital del paiz ‘La Habana; porque no tenemos cultura de Hip Hop en toda cuba. Me recuerdo como si fuera hoy mi primer dia cuando los conosi, ellos estaban escuchando wu tang clan y Ol Dirty Bastard era increible para nosotros y 2 pac, se conose en cuba como se conose la Revolucion de Fidel Castro en el Mundo.

I was introduced to music from the United States by a Hip Hop group called Grandes Ligas (Big Leagues) when I moved to the capital of Cuba, Havana, in 1997-98. We don't have Hip Hop culture throughout all of Cuba; most of Hip Hop is in Havana. It feels like it was yesterday that I met them. they were also listening to Wu Tang Clan and Ol' Dirty Bastard. It was incredible for us. In Cuba, everyone knows 2 Pac like the world knows Fidel Castro's revolution.

MOI JR: Why did you as a Black Cuban identify so much with it?

Dj Leidys: Yo! amo Hip Hop y por ser negra y amar el Hip Hop es que me identifico con esa musica Cubana, Americana o del Mundo doy grasias al Mundo por verme echo negra!

I love Hip Hop and, as a Black woman, I identify with this music as well as other Cuban, American and world music. I give thanks to the world for creating me Black!

MOI JR: When you got to the United States, was it everything that you thought it would be? What did you expect?

Zion of Zion I and Dj Leidys kickin’ it Photo: Minister of Information JR

I arrived in the United States on April 9, 2006. It is not what I thought it would be, but I also didn't have a lot of expectations. I knew that I would have to work hard here. I didn't have the typical "American Dream" before coming here. I am going to struggle for my music and give it all that I can. This is my dream.

MOI JR: Can you tell us a little bit about the beginning of Hip Hop in Cuba? And when did you get into djing?

Dj Leidys: No tengo mucho para desir cuando empeso exactamente el Hip Hop, porque como te dije antes no hay mucha cultura de Hip Hop en toda en cuba y la mayor cantidad de MC eran de La Habana pero cuando yo comense como activista entre los 99y 2000 teniamos la bibracion, la energia y el amor mas grande que puede tener un artista por su musica y muchos artistas talentosos, apesar de no tener los suficientes recursos,teniamos el amor y el deseo de representar esa cultura!

I am not exactly sure when Hip Hop began in Cuba, and because the center of Cuban Hip Hop is in Havana that is where most of the MCs are. I began as an activist and artist between 1999 and 2000. We had the most energy and love for this music possible that an artist can have for their music, even though we didn't have the sufficient resources and equipment required to record our music like the youth in the United States and Europe have access to. But we had the love and the desire to represent this culture and we made it happen with what we had.

MOI JR: I understand that there is an annual Hip Hop festival in Cuba. Why is this important to the Cuban Hip Hop community?

Dj Leidys: Si tenemos todos los años un Festival Internacional de Hip Hop y es unos de los espectaculos mas esperados por nosotros en Cuba porque tienes la oportunida de que conoscan tu trabajo de todo el año compartir con otros internacionales y respetados artistas de la musica de Hip Hop como fueron.Comom, The Roots, Toni Toch, Dead Prez, Mc alone etc. tambien con grandes organizacione como el Black Agosto en fin es unos de los eventos mas respetados para nosotros como lo esta siendo un Simpocio Nacional y Internacional que estamos teniendo anualmente ya como por 3 años.

Yes, we have an annual International Hip Hop Festival and it is one of the most awaited shows for us in Cuba because the festival provides the opportunity for us to share the music that we've worked on all year with other respected and international artists. Artists such as Common, The Roots, Toni Touch, Dead Prez, MC Alone etc. have participated in our Hip Hop Festival. We have also worked with people from big organizations like Black August. Therefore it is one of the most respected events for us, which has also included an International Symposium, which has occurred as part of the festival for about three years.

MOI JR: Who are some of your favorite Cuban Hip Hop artists and why?

Dj Leidys: Dj d'boys fue uno de mis inspiraciones el tenia y tiene un gran conosimiento de la cultura Hip Hop y fue una gran ayuda para mi en mi carrera artistica, me gusta mucho Obsecion, Anonimo Consejo, El Chacal from EPG, Paisanos, Aldeanos Explocion Suprema, Las Krudas y muchos ...!! porque creo que su letra estan llenas de verdades muy educativas sinceras echas con el corazo y mucho amor.

DJ D'boys was one of my inspirations. He had and has a lot of knowledge about Hip Hop and was a big help to my artistic career. I also like Cuban groups such as Obsesion, Anonimo Consejo, El Chacal from EPG, Paisanos, Aldeanos Explocion Suprema, Las Krudas and many more! I think that their lyrics are full of educational and sincere truths made from the heart with lots of love.

MOI JR: If people want to get in touch with Dj Leidys how do they do it?

Dj Leidys: www/myspace/dj leydis or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it paz love ...

Dj Leidys: www/myspace/djleydis or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Peace and Love ...

Email POCC Minister of Information JR at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and visit www.blockreportradio.com, hiphopwarreport.com and myspace.com/blockreportfilm.

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