Odaymar Cuesta and Oli Prendes use their music to extend their political commitment to Black feminist, queer and vegan politics within the Caribbean and beyond. “El Hip Hop viene del Caribe” “Hip Hop comes from the Caribbean,” says Oli Prendes in the documentary Somos Krudas produced by PBS as part of their Arts in Context series. Although now residing in the United States, Cuesta and Prendes continue to centralize the experiences of their communities in Cuba including speaking out against authoritarianism. Coming into prominence at the International Hip Hop Festival of Alamar in 1998, over the last two decades Krudxs Cubensi have maintained an explicit connection to the political roots of Hip Hop music. In 1999, they along with Wanda Kruda, Odaymar’s sister, founded the group; in 2004 they began working as a duo. Central to their mission is the belief that music is medicine for the people and for themselves. 

“I’m really excited that Krudxs Cubensi will be joining our phenomenal cohort of fellows. They have been making beautiful music, poetry and curating artistic spaces that center on transnational Black feminism and expansive expressions of gender and sexuality” says Tianna S. Paschel, Co-principal investigator of the Black Studies Collaboratory. “They also embody the spirit of collaboration in this project, and I look forward to seeing their work unfold over the next year."

In anticipation of their time at Berkeley beginning in the fall, Krudxs Cubensi write: “This invitation to the Abolition Democracy program means a lot to us to keep evolving, learning and unlearning as artists, as musicians, as activists, as human beings, we are very grateful and deeply honored.” Oli and Odaymar have a couple of projects in mind including producing and recording new tracks, “More songs, more poems, more talks, more videos. Muchas gracias.” Krudxs Cubensi have close ties to the Bay Area and are looking forward to exploring collaborations both within the ADFP and among the vibrant community of Cuban musicians and artists in the area.