Residente

Let’s talk about Residente, and not just the former lead singer of Calle 13, but his movie.

For those who don’t know, Residente, also known as René Pérez, is a highly successful artist from San Juan, Puerto Rico. He has won over 24 Grammy Awards, which is the most ever awarded to a Latin artist, and is known not only for his music with powerful messages but also for his many humanitarian efforts and social contributions.

Residente (the movie, which is available on Netflix) is about Perez’s journey to discovering not only himself but the world around him and then bringing it all together through music on his latest albulm.

The  movie starts off with Residente talking about his struggles through childhood and growing up. He then discusses his success with his former band, Calle 13, and details why he separated from them to start a solo career despite their growing influence.

The film goes on to show Perez’s journey after taking a DNA test to find out where his ancestors are from. This is where I think the movie becomes very important. His DNA test leads him all over the world, from China to West Africa. As a Puerto Rican this was no surprise to me. Puerto Ricans are a mix of Taino, Spaniard, African, and more!

While learning about the different cultures that made up his DNA, Perez did a lot of writing. He started incorporating the music and voices from the places he visited to the music from his own cultureñ. This led to the creation of his latest album, also called Residente.

I find this movie as a perfect example of the success of a Latino singer and perfect representation of the people of Puerto Rico. We really come from everywhere and you see exactly that in the film. It’s also beautifully presented in his album as he not only uses the music from these cultures but the voices of the people from there.

I would highly recommend watching this movie because this man literally traveled the world to learn about himself and he wanted to share that with the world. I think a major message from there was that we are all one. No one better than the other, and when we come together we can make beautiful things.

So check him out, check out his film, and check out his album! Let me know what you think. As for me this is a 10 out of 10.