Fun fact: ANA TIJOUX is the second Chilean ever nominated for a Grammy in its 54-year history, which probably means those dudes need to dig deeper. ANA returns to the States in support of her newest LP, La Bala, the follow-up to her critically acclaimed, (Grammy nominated) debut 1977.  This new effort has been featured as one of NPR listeners “Top Albums of 2012” and with her track “Las Cosas Por Su Nombre” selected by NPR as one of the “Best Songs of 2012,” the celebrated and groundbreaking Latin American MC blends her French-Chilean background with a myriad of other influences to create a crazy quilt of rap, rhythm, strings and sentiment.  Her hypnotizing voice layered over slinky jazz and hip-hop make for an unpredictable concoction that translates into any language and her live power has taken both hemispheres by storm.  With a similarly international appeal, Mexican and Salvadorian Chicago hip hop artist PHERO has earned a reputation for his creative rhyme schemes and conscious lyrics with classic whit punch lines found on The Rise LP.  The COLOR BROWN started as the name of the first LP from Puerto Rican RUBEN BORRERO, which in the words of the Independent, is “a recipe for musical perfection, as the sagacious lyrics flow along with beats that represent the solidness of hip-hop and the slickness of a jazz bass line.”  Tonight’s international hip hop extravaganza is rounded out by PHILLIP MORRIS and DJ sets from SOULPHONETICS. 

(FADER) (Gozamos) (NPR Music)