Listen to:
"Put Your Locs On"
"Cholo Skate"
"Lean Like A Cholo"
"So Sexy" feat. Snoop Dogg
DOWN A.K.A. KILO
"Lean Like a Cholo" Mexican Str 8-Up
a biography
In the sixties the pop group from England,The Beatles wrote about a utopian paradise Strawberry Fields, a haven, forever beautiful in an idyllic perfect world with eyes closed or through rose colored glasses. But strawberry fields to many Mexican Americans does not evoke the same image. For Rapper, "Down" A.K.A. Kilo "Lean Like a Cholo" nee΄ Juan Martinez, strawberry fields projects an eye-opening realistic scene of hard labor where his father and mother both worked in the hot farm lands of Ventura County picking strawberries from sun up to sun down for little compensation. They represented the farm laborers that activist Caesar Chavez tried to help and save by bringing about better working conditions.
When Down was growing up in Oxnard, California, it was a struggle and he found solace through his natural gift of music. Down A.K.A. Kilo is self taught musically and his lyrics like in his popular hit rap song "Lean Like A Cholo" represents the str8-up Mexican lifestyle and view point. There was no one around to really inspire him and so he drew inspiration from himself to believe in himself and to have a vision that he could become successful and write songs and to become famous one day. He knew that he also wanted to help his people and he has done so by becoming a giving person, compassionate, loyal to a fault exercising the adage that charity (goodness) begins at home (in the heart) emanating outwardly; and he honed in on his music skills. Rapping gave him a way out of adversity. His lyrics punctuated "the real" so that when others heard and saw him they became enraptured with his sound and the words.
Influenced by the rap lyrics of NWA, Down A.K.A. Kilo started rapping at age 13 and his first appearance was in the less than illuminating limelight of his friend's garage. This friend, Edward Rios later known as E-Dub and highly acclaimed producer of "Pocos Pero Locos" radio show helped propel Kilo's career.
Since those days Down has ventured on the highway in his vintage Chevy Impala reaching new heights collaborating with the likes of street creds., Snoop Dogg, Daz Dillinger, McRen, Sugar Free, The East Sidaz and others. However "Lean Like a Cholo" remains the phenom cut that was the pivotal point in his music career.
Down has a winning personality, a boyish charming exterior with a manly man's interior signifying a strong work ethic that is appealing to others not to mention that the ladies find...sexy, especially with his easy to get along demeanor. He's the kind of person that would give you the shirt off of his back and if he had all the money, he would hand you his check book and tell you to write your name and fill out the amount you want.
Sometimes the greatest gift that you can give others is a smile and Down A.K.A. Kilo is that kind of person. He's full of smiles especially when he trust and respects the other person.
Down A.K.A. Kilo as a proud Mexican American, father, and music and business entrepreneur has penetrated the hearts of the Mexican American community and Latino communities of the world. Young and old have enjoyed his music and "Lean Like a Cholo" was his leg up into the Hip Hop world. This particular single has taken Down's music to ionospheric levels and has made Down an international hip hop music super star. His collaborations with Snoop Dogg (So Sexy feat. Snoop Dogg and Bosses Kilo and Snoop Dogg) have further catapulted Down to the top of the Hip Hop charts and he has garnered and earned the "R.E.S.P.E.C.T" from the urban sectors of the nation.
Down A.K.A. Kilo will be presenting his latest CD and single "Cholo Skate" in late February '09. As he continues to develop and grow, his rap has morphed into a more sophisticated style of rap and he has generated interest from younger fans (pre-teens a whole new market) looking for a mentor and role model. His new soon-to-be released, single "Cholo Skate" is a more family adapted cut for all to appreciate. It spotlights the ever popular trendy versatile sneaker with Cholo attitude. After-all he has his son to think about and his image as a man in the Latino community. He wants to give back and he wants his legacy to be something he can be proud of. With "Cholo Skate" Down A.K.A. Kilo hopes to reveal the new Kilo, maybe not quite a Caesar Chavez, but his own heroic persona, signature and mark. More importantly he wants to represent Mexicanos in a positive light. Because of this determination, Down A.K.A. Kilo has been dubbed "The Brown Super Hero."
Also in the works for Kilo this year is his new film "Lean Like a Cholo" the movie based on the song which starts shooting in February '09. From music videos to the big screen Down A.K.A. Kilo is making transitions and making an indelible imprint in the entertainment world. He is working on his legacy one strawberry at a time to build a basket of work that is sweet and juicy turning farm picked strawberries into a strawberry jam compuesto. that can be realized through his music.
When asked what advice he has for the young, Down A.K.A. Kilo, a non-stop worker states, "Stay on the grind." quite possibly, sound advice handed down from his own parents. They worked in the fields but through their toil they planted in Kilo the seeds; the will to survive, the stamina to endure, the fortitude to make it; to ultimately reap the rewards and the most important aspect of all, to share the harvest with others.
Update: Cholo Skate album dropped September '09 for Hispanic Heritage Month. The huge CD release party took place at El Pueblo Viejo Mexican Restaurant in the heart of Hollywood. Many Hollywood celebs turned out to support Down A.K.A. Kilo such as: "Ferocious" Fernando Vargas, Music producer Fingazz, Filmmaker Demetrius Navarro, actresses Erlinda Orozco, Annie McKnight, Kikey Castillo; actor Ernest Thomas (Everybody Hates Chris), Miss Tammy (The Lyrical boxer), Pop/rock singer Frankee Razor (American Idol), King of Latin Comedy Joey Medina, Music Video producers KC Amos and Dale Stelly; R&B Singer UNE', famed music manager Rick Valenzuela, Cholo Enterprises new talent The Young Hustlers, radio personality Tony Montana and many others. America's darling comedienne and the star of the new VH1 reality show "Hey Luenell," comedienne Luenell hosted the event.
Media outlets including TMZ, King of Latin Internet TV Gordon Vasquez,Carlos Hernandez from Celebrity Extra TV, Rushing For Life TV's T Luv, Urban Heat digital magazine, La Teen, 360 Magazine, EURweb.com, Hollywood Nights and others turned out in droves. For a sneak peek at "Cholo Skate" log on to myspace.com/downakakilo
Record Label: Cholo Enterprises
