Album Notes

On "Agua que va a Caer" (Water that is going to Fall), Rasheed Ali has crafted a seamless blend of traditional elements & modern textures to create a new take on Afro-Caribbean music.
Inspired by a desire to celebrate the distinctly Afro-Puerto Rican musical form of Bomba, Ali has "channeled" the best elements of his childhood heroes; Rafael Cortijo, Ismael Rivera & Mon Rivera.

For years, Afro-Puerto Rican culture has been an afterthought, often mistakenly included under the label of Afro-Cuban. Though the two islands are closely linked, Puerto Rican music does have a distinct story to tell.

The music and culture of Puerto Rico is a mixture of several African ethnic groups, (Yoruba, Bantu, Fon, Fulani and Ashanti), Taino Amerindians, Arabs and Europeans.
In their quest for cultural preservation, each group
added an element to this mosaic.

One of Rasheed’s great grandfathers was a successful bandleader in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
His family roots are very representative of the island & the Caribbean region; African, Indian, Spanish and French Corsican.
The Northeast coast (where his family resides) is a fertile stronghold of African descendants and culture.

Another chapter in his continuing mission to bring together the voices of the African Diaspora, this very personal project is Rasheed’s first CD sung entirely in his native Spanish language.
With this CD, Rasheed was able to add his voice to a profound Afro-Caribbean cultural continuum that has refused to change after 500 years.

If you understand Spanish, you will hear “a New Black Voice” with a new perspective on Latin American issues and sentiments.
If you don’t understand a word of Spanish, "Agua que va a Caer" will speak directly to your body and your feet! So be prepared to dance!