The REAL Tupac

I came across a street the other day in Lima called Tupac Amaru. Of all the names in the world, I was a bit shocked to see this here in Lima. My mind had automatically placed the street name in conjunction with the only Tupac that was of any relevance in my mind, Tupac Shakur. Most of us in states are familiar with the name Tupac Amaru Shakur because of the legendary hip hop artist who is considered one of the greatest rappers of all time. What many people fail to realize is that this famous figure in American hip hop culture is actually named after an even more notable hero here in Peru.

Tupac Amaru II was a revolutionary leader who led the indigenous uprising against the Spaniards in Peru. He fought for Peruvian independence and had a true passion for reform. I was reading a book recently that talked about his execution that took place in a Lima public square. The book stated that, “His tongue was torn out and he was pulled apart by horses until he looked like a spider; and this did not kill him. His hands and feet were then cut off, after which the various elements remaining of his body were put to flames.”

His death was a a significant moment in Peruvian history and his martyrdom helped many other groups to rise up against the Spanish throughout the Americas. To this day, there are other revolutionary groups in Latin America that have adopted his name/brand for their purposes in opposing oppressive regimes.

Knowing the history behind the original Tupac Amaru truly gave me insight; not only about a Peruvian hero but a true visionary. His name is deeply rooted into the culture of Peru and South America in general. The irony that such a recognizable name, could have two completely different correlations among various cultures is amazing. Both Tupac Amaru II and Tupac Amaru Shakur are legends in their own right. One was a historical figure whose impact was evident generations after, while the other was a leading voice in the culture of hip hop. The next time you hear the name Tupac Amaru, remember the history behind that name. It goes deep....

The NEW New York Knicks

By Christopher Ortiz

Close friend, sports enthusiast, & die-hard Knicks fan. 

Has anybody seen the New York Knicks this year? If not you must be living under a rock! Let’s take a brief moment and look back at the 2012 season for a moment shall we? The Knicks were a sub-par team playing in the MECCA of the basketball world and with an abysmal record of 9-15, they weren’t making any plans to be in the big dance come June. Granted the team had 2 perennial All-stars in Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, but due to bad chemistry and the injury bug; the Knicks fell short in the first round of the playoffs to the Miami Heat. Ok fast forward to the 2013 season, New York Knicks fans are on their feet, Madison Avenue is buzzing and the Garden is packed night in and night out with the emergence of the New "Look" Knicks.  With Carmelo taking the reigns as the true leader of this team and Tyson Chandler controlling the painted area with his defensive prowess; the Knicks look better than ever. 

Currently they are the 2^nd seed in the east with 31-15 record and are just a ½ game back behind the heat for the top spot. The Knicks are clicking on all cylinders and are currently riding a 5 game winning streak. The biggest contribution outside of Carmelo is the role Amare has taken over since coming back from injury. Taking a role off the bench, Amare provides a fire the team needs along with JR Smith and Steve “Novocain” Novak. With Iman Shumpert back from a knee injury that he suffered in last year’s playoffs, and the arrival of Father Time himself Jason Kidd; the Knicks have put themselves in prime position to make a run deep into June to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy and dethrone the Miami Heat.  

As a die-hard knick fan, I can only hope the Knicks continue this route and get better defensively as this may be their only Achilles heel. So I guess time will be our true judge… is this a phase or are these truly the NEW New York Knicks…… #KnicksTape

The Land of Reggaeton

Reggaeton is huge here in Lima. These are a few of the hottest tracks that I've come across. They play these songs non-stop. Enjoy.