Although originally from Queens, New York, Rico Pabon is currently reppin’ the San Francisco Bay Area. Born into a family of Salsa musicians, Rico has been musically influenced from a young age. His aunts and uncles formed the Pabons and have recorded several albums. His mother, only 15 years old when she gave birth, struggled staying planted in one spot. The family moved constantly back and forth between East and West Coasts.

Instead of dwelling in the hardships he watched his family endure, Rico turned to music. “Music is really, truly an expression of our emotion, and pain is one of those energies that, if you don’t let it out, can destroy your soul,” he explained to San Francisco Weekly.

Rico joined the music scene as lead member of Prophets of Rage (P.O.R.), proving to be a fan of old school rap (”Prophets of Rage” stemming from Public Enemy’s 1988 classic album It Takes A Nation to Hold Us Back). After the release of the second album,  Brave New World, two of the founding members decided to pursue solo projects.

Rico than met up with the Afro-Latin hip-hop band, O’Maya to finish the last Prophets of Rage album, My Power. Soon after, Rico became the new lead MC for O’Maya, and together they formed Aqua Libre. In 2003, the group won Best Latin Band in the Bay Area at the SF Weekly Music Awards.

With the release of his fourth album, Louder Than Fiction, Rico is ready to impress listeners with a melodic blend of hip-hop, salsa, and reggaeton. Listen up for the powerful vocalist, Destani Wolf, a member of Aqua Libre, on “Hard Times” and “10 Jobs.” Also featured are dead prez, Zion I, Kimiko Joy, and Inti Illimani.

Louder Than Fiction Review

 Rico Pabon Myspace

Hard Knock Records

Aqua Libre Myspace