Calle 13 Serves Up Sex, Religion & Politics In Cuba

Playing a public square nicknamed Anti-Imperialist Plaza, lead singer Rene Perez told the audience the band was “going to talk about sex, religion and politics.”

Although the concert had its political implications, Perez insisted the audience was there for the music, but admitted the band’s appearance in the communist island nation would stir up some trouble back in the states.

Before the concert, Perez remarked that anti-Castro Cuban-Americans living in Florida denouncing the band’s appearance “are going to come at us, be all over us, but it’s all the same to us.”

Fans expecting controversy were not disappointed. Wearing the same shirts as those worn by Cuba’s national baseball team while Perez performed stripped to the waist, the band played “Querido FBI” – “Dear FBI” – dedicated to Filberto Ojeda Rios, the alleged leader of a radical Puerto Rican nationalist group accused of using stolen money to bankroll bombings and other militant actions. Rios died in a 2005 shoot-out with FBI at a Puerto Rican farmhouse.

“He was a good boricua [Puerto Rican],” Perez told the audience. “And they killed him.”

Perez also railed against America’s policy toward Cuba, shouting obscenities at the U.S. diplomatic mission located behind the plaza. Although the U.S. does not have formal relations with Cuba and does not maintain an embassy in the country, it does maintain a presence through the U.S. Interests Section.

U.S. citizens, including Puerto Ricans, are prohibited from traveling to Cuba without permission, but American officials green-lighted the band’s appearance without comment.

Calle 13 plays Miami as part of White Lion Records’ 15 Anniversary Reggaeton mega-Concert March 25

Click here for the Calle 13 Web site.