Eladio Carrión is a busy man — even by trade requirements. Since the discharge of “SEN2 KBRN Vol.2” final November, the artist has been touring, filming movies, and doing press interviews just about nonstop. Whenever his docket is obvious, Carrión may be discovered within the studio placing in additional work, or “apply,” as he calls it. So a lot in order that getting a second to talk with him required months of staying in communication and shifting round schedules. But when he lastly sits down, wearing a black hat, a black hoodie, and a glistening chain, he is sporting the smile of a job effectively achieved.
“I simply turned within the album yesterday, so I’m pleased. I’ve acquired slightly little bit of a chip on my shoulder,” the artist tells POPSUGAR.
The album in query? It’s titled “3MEN2 KBRN” (which stands for “tremendo cabrón”), the third and remaining installment of the “SEN2 KBRN” collection (launched March 17), and it is out there throughout all streaming providers. As for the chip on his shoulder, it is effectively deserved. Featuring a who’s who of each English-language and Latin trap stars, Carrión has been concerned in each side of this venture from beat choice to securing a few of its greatest collaborations since earlier than the final quantity dropped.
“It’s been a number of hours within the studio . . . like 16-hour periods day-after-day simply attempting to get the precise sound with the producers making the beats,” the rapper says. “The final three months have simply been work. Just going to the gymnasium musically.”
Now, with the completed product within the palms of his label, Carrión beams with pleasure on the fruits of his inventive labor. “At the tip of the day, the sensation you get whenever you tune into that album and see that observe checklist, the way in which I’m feeling proper now, it is price each hair I’ve misplaced, each sweat I broke, and each sacrifice I’ve made thus far,” says Carrión.
But for the 28-year-old, arduous work and sacrifice are all simply part of the trail he feels he has been chosen to stroll, one which he is been getting ready for since earlier than he even considered doing music professionally.
But if his path to music was preordained, it was something however a straight one. Born in Kansas, Carrión was snug being on the go from a younger age. He needed to be. Having a father within the Army meant shifting round lots. The trapero recounts a childhood spent residing “all over the place,” together with locations like Hawaii and New York (and even Alaska), earlier than finally settling in Humacao, Puerto Rico.
“It was form of arduous at first, whenever you’re a child you have acquired your folks and you need to say bye and make new buddies,” he says. “But I’m so glad I used to be uncovered to that sort of life-style at such a younger age, as a result of now, with what I’m doing musically, I’m by no means house. I really feel like God prepped me for what was coming.”
But together with serving to him develop a consolation for being at all times on the go, the fixed change of surroundings uncovered the younger lyricist to new cultures and music, serving to him develop the flexibility that is turn out to be his trademark. “I feel I’ve one of many richest musical backgrounds within the trade,” he says. “You know I used to be born within the States, and my sisters are like 10 years older than me, so that they’re huge hip-hop heads. So, once I was like 6 or 7, I used to be listening to Eminem and 50 Cent, however I additionally had my sisters listening to Pac, Nas, and Big L. And then there was additionally a time once I was solely listening to punk rock.”
This numerous musical style implies that when Carrión steps into the studio, he has a wealth of musical data to attract from — one thing that is evident even in a few of his earliest work: his tune parodies produced on the now-defunct social community Vine. While the general intent of the parodies was to be humorous, Carrión displayed a knack for songwriting that noticed him create comical narratives whereas effortlessly impersonating in style artists. And as his following grew, his parodies turned extra complicated.
“Yal,” for instance, which has its personal official video, sees a younger Carrión mashing up two totally different songs, Keyshia Cole’s “Love” and Rihanna’s “Work,” to weave an ode of appreciation a todos las yales (Puerto Rican slang that comes from the Jamaican phrase “gyal” and Carrión makes use of to explain a girl who’s road and loves reggaeton). The single is critical not just for its standing as one among Carrión’s finest parodies, however as a result of it was additionally the catalyst for him significantly pursuing a profession in music.
“That [song] went loopy in Puerto Rico. I used to be doing reveals off of that. And at the moment I used to be already writing for different artists,” he says. “So, I had a sitdown with Noah [Assad, the cofounder of record label Rimas], and I stated, ‘Noah, we will do that. I’ve music. We can do that.'”
That dialog coincided with Carrión feeling extra disenchanted as simply a author. His spot-on impressions of reggaetoneros had caught the eye of various who then introduced him on to put in writing for them. But as he transitioned from writing songs of their respective kinds to writing songs on his personal, Carrión felt like he was giving extra of himself away. With the success of “Yal” and the suggestions from followers, he owed it to himself to present music a critical shot. Albeit with one caveat.
“I stated, ‘Hey, if it would not work out in two years, and I haven’t got not one hit tune, I’ll keep as a author.'”
“I stated, ‘Hey, if it would not work out in two years, and I haven’t got not one hit tune, I’ll keep as a author,'” says the reggaetonero.
But failure wasn’t within the playing cards. Shortly after that dialog, Carrión went on to collaborate with main artists corresponding to reggaeton crooner Zion and the most important artist on this planet — Bad Bunny. Despite catching some early flak for being an influencer attempting to make it as a musician, Carrión knew that the easiest way to silence his critics was to disregard the hate and to maintain placing out high quality music.
“In my head, I used to be like, ‘If you retain on dropping sizzling sh*t, there’s going to be a time the place they cannot speak sh*t anymore. Because, effectively what are they going to say?'” the rapper boasts.
With this newest album, Carrión has achieved simply that. “3MEN2 KBRN” closes the e-book on the sophomore chapter in Carrión’s profession whereas heralding his newest period in triumphant vogue. Whereas the second quantity of the collection was moody and minimal, quantity three goes larger in nearly each approach. Originally conceived as a deluxe model of its predecessor, solely a handful of these songs obtain remixes. The relaxation are all new cuts Carrión cooked up together with his “Avengers squad” of producers with the specific goal of getting a few of the greatest names in entice to rhyme alongside him. And whereas the emcee has by no means been shy about sharing the highlight, with dozens of collaborations underneath his belt, this time round feels totally different.
One of the standout tracks on the album, “Gladiador,” sees Carrión rapping alongside childhood idol Lil Wayne on a beat the Puerto Rican hitmaker says was tailored to evoke “Tha Carter III” vibes. On “Si Salimos,” 50 Cent channels the essence of his “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” period whereas Carrión switches seamlessly between English and Spanish to showcase some bilingual bars. There’s even a observe on the album with Bad Bunny titled “Coco Chanel” about residing the excessive life. Fans have been fast to suspect that Bad Bunny is shading Kendall Jenner’s ex Devin Booker in his lyrics.
There is a weight behind these options, with Carrión establishing himself because the bridge between hip-hop’s previous and its future, proving that he can maintain his personal with even your favourite rapper’s favourite rapper.
If there have been any lingering doubts that the previous influencer wasn’t an elite artist, Carrión has demolished them.
Carrión’s profession has been crammed with the form of success that hip-hop goals are product of. He’s gone platinum, earned a Latin Grammy nom, and labored with the most important names within the city style. And he reveals no indicators of slowing down. Even together with his first Coachella look developing in April and a subsequent stateside tour in May, the artist is already enthusiastic about his subsequent album.
“I’m already considering, ‘Damn, what am I gonna do now?'” the rapper says. “I at all times inform myself I’m going to take a very good two months off of the studio, however I at all times come again per week after and, you already know, get again to apply. Because it is similar to enjoying basketball or some other factor. It’s not about how proficient you’re however how a lot you apply.”
As a former swimmer representing Puerto Rico on the worldwide degree, it is no shock that Carrión approaches his profession with extra of an athlete’s mentality than that of an artist. He really credit his years within the sport with exhibiting him how good it will probably really feel to set a excessive purpose and discover accomplishment. It’s a sense he chases each time he is within the sales space.
But on “3MEN2 KBRN,” Carrión takes inspiration from a unique sport, with the official media and visualizer movies exhibiting the rapper kicking again on the luxurious hyperlinks of a golf course. The album’s 18 tracks even match up with golf’s 18 holes. It’s a becoming analogy for the place Carrión is at on this stage in his profession.
Despite its notion as low-energy, golf is exceptionally difficult. It can take years to grasp, and it is typically stated that whereas there are different opponents on the course, the true recreation is the one performed in opposition to your self. And on this respect, the younger rapero’s selection of aesthetic for his newest providing makes excellent sense.
Every time he steps into the sales space, Carrión is engaged in a recreation of one-upmanship in opposition to himself. Every bar must be higher. Every beat must go more durable. And for probably the most half, he succeeds. With each at-bat, he is giving us a barely totally different look. Sometimes it is extra intimate rhymes that element the artist’s internal struggles. At different occasions, it is a beat that straddles the road between EDM and entice. But no matter how he chooses to combine it up, it is clear that when Carrión pushes himself, he pushes the style ahead.
“I make this for folks to say, ‘Oh sh*t — he did that. How did he do it once more?’ I really like that suggestions. I really like giving my followers one thing higher than what got here earlier than,” he concludes.
Image Source: RIMAS/Gabriel Perez Silva
