December 4, 2003 - Latin
Hip Hop Sensation Shake Up Latin Music Industry In 2003
And Garner Their First Grammyâ Nomination for Best Latin
Rock/Alternative Album
As was expected by many, after only six months of a stellar
release, Akwid received their first Grammyâ nod in the Best
Latin Rock/Alternative Album category for their Univision
Records debut album “Proyecto Akwid.”
Undoubtedly, Akwid has taken the Latin music industry by
storm and has become 2003’s most surprising best new artist.
In less than three months, the rap duo comprised of brothers
Francisco and Sergio Gomez, garnered a Latin Platinum Album
for exceeding 200,000 units in sales, capturing the attention
and approval of an audience that was in search of a new,
fresh and cutting edge sound.
“There
aren’t enough words to express how proud we are of Akwid
and their smashing success in only six months. On behalf
of Univision Music Group, I would like to congratulate them
for this important nomination and for the very well deserved
acknowledgement on behalf of the National Academy of Recording
Arts & Sciences,” stated Jose Behar, President & CEO, Univision
Music Group.
Akwid’s
acceptance has not been an overnight success; it is the
result of many years of perseverance and consistency that
has allowed Francisco and Sergio Gomez the opportunity to
create a new musical concept, which has now catapulted their
music career. Following several years in the Los Angeles
underground rap scene as Juvenile Style, in 2003 the duo
reinvented itself as Akwid and went back to its roots, both
on a linguistic and cultural level in their Univision Records
debut album “Proyecto Akwid.” With this album, Akwid became
the leading and pioneering group of what has come to be
known as the Urban Regional movement, an urban sound that
fuses hip hop with the traditional beats of Regional Mexican
music.
Considered
by many to be one of Latin music’s most pioneering and daring
artists of the 21st Century, Akwid has revolutionized Latin
music by fusing two cultures and two music genres in a transcending
way. With more than 250,000 units sold, Akwid represents
the new sound of Latin alternative music in the U.S., Puerto
Rico and Mexico, where they continue making waves at an
accelerated pace topping radio airplay and sales charts.
Akwid’s
talent and music potential has not gone unnoticed, and recently,
the duo snared four nominations for the upcoming Los Angeles
based Que Buena Awards, where they are nominated for “Best
New Artist,” “Artist of the Year,” “Urban Regional Artist
of the Year” and “Best Urban Regional Song” for their smash
hit “No Hay Manera” (There’s No Way).