One Mic, One Story: An Evening with El Chojín

El Chojín is celebrating 25 years in music, having established himself as one of the most respected voices in Spanish rap. This relaxed, intimate show combines spoken word and live musical performance to create an atmosphere of mutual understanding and positive energy.

El Chojín takes a seat behind the microphone accompanied by his DJ, sharing stories and thoughts about the path he has followed in the world of music with characteristic honesty and brilliance. This event is not merely a show: it's a conversation, an experience, a space to be dazzled by his skills as a rapper and where everyone is welcome.

In Spanish, followed by a Q&A session in Spanish and English.

This event is a collaboration between the University of Leeds International Concert Series, Instituto Cervantes and The University of Leeds School of Languages, Cultures and Societies.

Born just outside Madrid to a father from Equatorial Guinea and a mother from Spain, El Chojín is one of the most renowned MCs in the Spanish-speaking world. Discovering the fusion of beats and consciousness-raising in the music of Public Enemy, KRS-One and other African American rappers as an adolescent, he soon began writing and performing his own lyrics as part of the still-nascent scene in Spain during the 1990s. Over the course of a 25-year career, he has released 15 albums and assorted mixtapes, 4 albums as part of the 995 collective, and featured as guest artist on nearly 50 tracks by artists from Spain and beyond.

He is one of the most prominent Black voices in Spain, routinely using his music to explore and reflect on racial discrimination and other social issues, for which he is often called to speak about such matters in the media. "Ponte en mi piel" (Put Yourself in My Skin), his 2003 collaboration with fellow members of 995, formed part of an Amnesty International publicity campaign about immigration, while "Final del cuento de hadas" (End of the Fairytale) from 2005 recounts a tale of domestic violence. In 2011, "Rap vs Racismo" (Rap v Racism) featured verses from other giants of the scene such as Kase.O, Zatu and Nach, and inspired versions by MCs of African descent and indigenous heritage in Colombia, Argentina and Mexico.

With a flow that is smooth and approachable, since "Ríe cuando puedas, llora cuando lo necesites" (Laugh When You Can, Cry When You Need to) in 2007, El Chojín has also used his rap to reflect upon the pressures that contemporary society exerts on our mental health and to provide solace at times of strife. Lyrics from his 2023 track "No es egoismo" (It's Not Selfishness) were quoted by Spain's Queen Letizia later that year in her opening words at an event to celebrate Mental Health Day.

The deft balance that he strikes between articulate indictments of injustice, loud calls to party, and gentler reflections on the personal are the reason El Chojín has enjoyed such success for so long and is widely loved by so many.