"Gotti is only one in a steady line of new bilingual and
bicultural rappers in the rapidly expanding Latin hip-hop movement,
which is also known by some as urban regional."-Houston
Chronicle, 2004
A relative newcomer in the rap scene, Houston-bred rapper Juan
Gotti has hustled past other qualified veterans to become a
favorite in his native Texas and the surrounding region. The
pioneering Latin Grammy® nominated artist established a stronghold with
his debut, No Set Trippin' (Dope House Records, 2002), not only
by becoming one of the first nominees in the "New Urban
Artist" category but also by going "ghetto gold." By
mingling regional Mexican music with the hard-core sounds of
the Dirty South by way of Spanglish rap, Gotti's twisted a style
all his own he calls "South Side Mexican."
Juan Gotti was born Juan Ramos in Eagle Pass, Texas, relocated
briefly to Galveston at a young age, before settling in Houston's
infamous South Side. Reared in a tough gang-riddled barrio, Ramos
proved to be a "diamond in the rough," getting in trouble
but all the while expressing potential as an artist. Ramos eventually
mastered the artistry of airbrushing low riders and tattooing;
the musicianship of drumming and playing bass guitar; and, the
techniques of DJing. But, all this talent was put on hold as
Ramos went to the TDC penitentiary for five years.
Resuming a free life in 1997, Ramos by chance tattooed Dope
House rapper Low G, who invited him out to a South Park Mexican
concert. SPM turned out to be old schoolmate Carlos Coy reinvented
as a Latino rap sensation. That began Ramos' unofficial rap-game
apprenticeship as "Juan Gotti" with SPM and Dope House
Records, filling in for Low G at low rider and rap shows around
Houston from 1998.
Citing DJ Screw, Street Military, Ramón Ayala and Control
Machete as influences, Gotti's first single "Mira Lo Que
Pasa" a year later "blew up," as he puts it. The
full album, No Set Trippin', dropped in 2002, quickly snapped
up a Latin Grammy® nomination and sold enough units to go "ghetto
gold" (more than 50,000 by street standards).
"I thank Jesus. Glory to God," Gotti praises of his
successes, "Faith has kept me focused and Dope House has
done wonders. Everyone was freaked out about how fast I moved
up. Things happen for a reason because of God."
Other Latin music artists have also taken notice of Gotti's
rise. He's collaborated with Kings One, El Tri, La Traición
and La Mafia, laying down vocals for their recent album, Para
El Pueblo, and also featured Tejano-norteño band Los Palominos
on Gotti's next album. So, fans don't have to wait to hear Gotti-they
can get a sampler of what's to come off any of these other projects.
He also has a series of underground mix tapes, El Más
Locote, Vol. 1 & 2.
Gotti-2005
Meanwhile, Gotti kicks things off with simultaneous releases
for distinct markets-the first single "Incondicional" with
La Traición for the regional Mexican market off upcoming
album Juan Gotti aka John Ghetto drops in early 2005; alongside
hip-hop track "You Don't Wanna"; and cumbia offering "Para
El Pueblo" with La Mafia. The rush is followed up by a solid
tour kicking off in Monterrey, Mexico in March 2005 then touring
throughout Mexico, Texas, Cali, the Midwest, Miami, Colombia,
and Argentina.
Gotti is excited about what's next, but continues to put things
in check. "I'm very content," he humbles, "But,
I shouldn't be boastful; I'm not that type of person."
Which is all good, 'cause Gotti's people will no doubt hype
it up plenty for him.
