Calle 13 is a Puerto Rican hip hop duo made up of two half-brothers: Residente and Vistante (René Pérez Joglar and Eduardo José Cabra Martínez). As five-time Latin Grammy Award and Grammy Award winners, they pride themselves on their alternative reggaeton style.
The brothers are both trained musicians but rarely adhere to convention. Visitante prefers to use a variety of instruments from around the world: synthesizers, accordions and melodicas.
Residente has likewise been known for challenging convention; many of his lyrics deride mainstream celebrities both in the hip hop and pop world. His most controversial work is aimed towards criticizing the government (ex: Querido F.B.I. "Dear F.B.I.”). Residente is a vocal supporter of the Puerto Rican independence movement and actively fights government censorship.
Most recently, Calle 13 has achieved success in North America through collaborations with Nelly Furtado, Alejandro Sanz and many widely known artists. Given their commercial success, Calle 13 hopes to further push the envelope and mobilize young people to become more engaged in the world around them.
