Meet D’shon El Villlano | Artist, Activist & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with D’shon El Villlano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi D’shon, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born in Miami, im first gen born in the u.s. of Colombian Immigrant parents.

I grew up partly in Colombia between the cities of Barranquilla and Valledupar as well as in Miami so I grew up with the best and worst of both worlds.

From the Beginning I learned the importance of hard work and making your own opportunities from watching my parents, family, and friends really really go thru their struggles and so that’s something that I have applied to my life and career. And then I have the external influences of being fortunate enough to be exposed to many many different musical genres and the culture that inevitably comes with them. My father was a professional dancer, my uncles were musicians, so music was an important part of my household and of me growing up. My father passed when I was young but I definitely inherited his passion for the arts and I truly believe that that same passion makes a huge part of who I am.
 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’d like to preface my obnoxious rantings by saying: Go check out my latest project called NUEVO DOOM hosted and executive produced by the legendary DJ Epps. It’s a game changer and disruption to the same ol same gatekeeping and bs scattered in this Miami music game and a reflection of the cultural diversity of the city and the culture.
It’s available on all streaming platforms, go check it out!

First things first: In Miami, if you don’t have money to invest in yourself or a backer to help grease (with money) those gates that some keep so tightly, you don’t get anywhere fast. so keep in mind I never had money or anyone to invest in me until eventually, some believed in me so they’ve invested their trust, time, and resources, in me.

It hasn’t been easy being a Spanglish rapper in Miami. One would think, since Spanish is so present all the time here, what could be the problem? The thing is: Miami is the city of gatekeepers. I’ll go more in-depth about what I mean in a moment, first id like to make it clear that my style has always been rap in Spanish with some English sprinkled in there. We call it Spanglish out here, so that’s how I partly describe my style. I was rapping on the same beats and in the same ciphers as rappers spitting in English, I always got compliments but most ppl didn’t understand what I was saying, they just liked the flow. For a while im sure I wasn’t that good so I understand why it didn’t click for some ppl but I know iv always been on another level, in my own lane but always dope and competitive with any English mc. I very soon discovered that lots of ppl who had the resources and/or connections to help, wouldn’t. Why? Because if u aint from the crew, then you can’t rock. It doesn’t matter how talented you are if all you can bring to the table is talent and hustle, then they don’t fuck with you. They only put their own on.
So I spent many years studying these situations while grinding and keeping my name in this game.
I Started Traveling to Mexico City to look for success in this rap thing in 1999. Unfortunately, I got involved in street shit and ended up getting shot, surviving, and coming back to Miami. By 2005 I was returning to Mexico City to promote my music again.

I always felt I was born to make music but after surviving that crazy shit, I knew this is what I was gonna do. I just hadn’t reached the bottom and stayed active in the street even after almost dying.

Since the start of my career, there has been something special there. Maybe luck? I don’t believe in luck tho. I believe in opportunity meeting preparation in moments that make magic happen. I don’t believe in magic either tho lol.
The first time I recorded in a professional studio (2001) I hit it off really well with the producer that he ended up putting me in a JLo Spanish remix lol yo big s/o to Denis Nieves aka Dmenace, thank you for teaching me so much!
I took those songs I made in 2001 and sent them around in this brand new thing called the internet and I ended up connecting with a huge independent label of that era from Spain: Estao’ Chungo Records, they placed me on a compilation CD called RAP LATINO where they placed many other South/Central American artists and groups that would make an impact in Spanish rap for the coming decades. That CD was distributed physically in over 11 countries in South and Central America and was one of the reasons I stayed traveling to Mexico and Colombia.
One of those South American Spanish rap groups featured in that compilation was Sindicato Argentino Del Hip Hop, winners of the very first Latin Grammy ever awarded to the genre of Spanish Rap. They came to Miami for a few days, I opened for 2 of their shows and we hit it off to the extent that they wanted to make me a member lol it was a dope time. We stayed in touch over email and all that and they ended up putting me in their second and last album where they paid homage to Reggeton and made an incredible statement about their place in Spanish rap history.

One of the most important decisions that I ever made was going to school. But before that I covered a few bases as an artist, meaning I got my paperwork straightened out, started my own label, and put together my own group called Sindicato Parlamento. By 2009 I had been looked over by legacy crews from Kendall and Hialeah, labels who recognized me as a better MC than their artist, but wouldn’t take me on cus I wasn’t a certain nationality or didn’t go to middle school with them or their ppl, I wasn’t able to part of what they were doing.
Going to school was pivotal because I stepped up my networking and took advantage of everything my school had to offer.
The most important thing I got from school was the tools and the relationships to make my own path and opportunities in this game and this business.

It hasn’t been easy to navigate the politics of the rap game and the business of music. Its a daily grind that most ppl don’t have the endurance and consistency for what this entails.
Today my business partners are a Grammy-winning engineer/producer and a Legendary and relevant DJ/entrepreneur, I’m truly blessed and standing on the shoulders of giants while I grind to make my mark.

Another opportunity that I created for myself was that I started doing radio with my wife in 2015 with a Local digital station: WKMT-DB Dagr8fm Radio. My wife became the producer of the show and we started doing artist interviews, countdowns, and highlighting local businesses and owners. We were the only Spanglish show in an all-black, Haitian, and Dominican-owned station. Eventually, we agreed to help them develop a Latin division of the station called Dagr8fm Latino and since then we’ve maintained a strong relationship with the station owners and management and kept our program: El BadGuy Show going while helping grow their audience and following on both English and Spanish platforms and till this day still working as the main designers and content creators for the Radio Station and related business such as their recording studio and management company: Triple One Studios and Triple One Management.

One of my main goals has always been to make a lasting impact in the industry with my music and business deals.
I want to change the face of radio as an artist and producer the way, so many of the ppl I look up to have done.
I want ppl to know that the ppl who say they’re “the best rapper in Miami” look at me and wish they had the skills, business acumen, and support system I have.
My brand and my story are heavily tied to my latest Mixtape NUEVO DOOM produced by Drezs of Macana Estudio en Medellin, Colombia and by my brother Ima305. Its a real Miami vibe. Im hitting the ppl with real spanglish rap with substance and versatility. Its also pays homage to Hip hop culture in a big way. The fact that the brother Dj Epps jumped on and basically co-signed this Chico in the is game says so much about where we stand in the culture.
It’s the height of my career but at the same time it’s just the beginning of what my team and I are about to unleash on the world!
Whatever the next level is, we, as in me and my team, are ready for what comes next.

I just wanna say thank you real quick to DiRagga, ima305, Dj Epps, Drezs, and the Dagr8fm family for supporting my vision and my dreams so far and for your continued support.

Thank you Shoutout Miami for this opportunity.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One thing Miami has is great spots to hang out with, it can get a bit pricy but if u really from the city you know how to hang out anywhere lol. For some reason, I like hanging out at bars and breweries so a spot like that would be common place to find me.

In the Homestead area, they have an excellent winery/brewery called Miami Brewery.

Kendall has a few spots but Spanish Marie or Shooters are my spots down south.

When I’m in Doral I like hitting up Trippling Animals or MIA Brewery, they always have incredible beers and food. Another thing in Doral we love is Colombian cuisine, We like going to Narcobollo which serves more of the northern, Caribbean cost dishes from Colombia, from where my family is from, but there’s another spot called El Machetico which serves more central Colombian dishes but its just as delish!

In Hialeah, there are also many places to go drink and chill. I go serval times a month to the Unbranded Brewery, where I meet up with my Breaded Villains 305 brothers and where lots of my ppls chill.
Around the corner, some of my closest friends work at Kush By Stephens and La Cocina have the most original and Miami-centric menu!
In the mornings I like going to Vickys Bakery in 8th for the best OJ and latin morning food.

In my neighborhood, the Historic Overtown, has THE best restaurant in the city: Jackson Soul Food. The food and the service are 10/10 and the history of the establishment goes back to the days of segregation so there’s also so much to learn and take in when you go there.
Not far from there the kinda new Overtown bar called Red Rooster, its a great place to have a drink, eat and chill but it’s also a sign of the gentrification going on in my neighborhood, but that’s an entirely different convo. Down the street from there, the crown jewel of Overtown: The Historic Lyric Theater. Anything Is can say is little to describe the history and culture that has gone down and been created by this historic venue. Google: The Historic Lyric Theater, and learn about the good and bad of our great city!
Not far from The Lyric, right on &th heading south over the bridge, coming down off the bridge headed south, on the right-hand side, Little River Cafe is the best Mexican food in Miami, and the second-best taco spot real talk!

In Wynwood there are so many spots, unfortunately, lots of tourists lol, nah they cool lol, my personal hangouts: Veza sur has the best beer in Wynwood, Joe’s Pizza, fireman Derick’s. And if ur lucky, not far from the heart of Wynwood u can find a street taco spot on 7th nw and about 32nd, in my personal ranking its the 3rd best taco spot in the city.

Driving up 7th not far from Wynwood, you eventually reach North Miami where my Haitian Brothers and Sisters from WKMT-Dagr8fm Radio stay. Little Haiti, and Opalocka, are some of my favorite spots in the city, hands down. Im a huge fan of stew goat and Griot so, Yeah you can hit delicious spots like Pates Plus or Lauberge but if you dare to taste I’d recommend being adventurous and stopping at one of the many lesser-known restaurants u can find up and down 7th ave in that area, you won’t be disappointed!

If you head North East from the Opalocka area, there’s a place called the Citadel. It’s different. It is an open-concept food court with a huge selection of food from different countries, a full bar, and great music. The roof top is completely different from the ground floor, but the vibes are just as incredible. They have a great menu and great music. ps: one of the shops in the lobby is one of those vintage-type stores, im such a retro geek, I have an addiction to shit like that lol, its hella dope!
On the opposite side of the same block as the Citadel, There’s a Mexican spot called La Santa Taqueria. Its a little bit pricy but the food NEVER disappoints! My wife who was born in Mexico City, went to school with the head Chef of the restaurant so we like going over there. I guess kinda for her the food there is a little piece of home, and I get it. Now if you into Mescal, there’s a connected bar behind the restaurant that specializes in Mescal, im not gonna go in to it but if you know you know. That’s some Miami shit for ya lol I can’t give y’all all the secrets, I gotta keep some for my self!

I wanna point out that I don’t really hang out in south beach, its just not my speed. You can probably run in to me at the 420 building on Lincon Rd because I hang out at the ASCAP offices from time to time after iv handle what ever business I’m there for. Or you might catch me walking out of any of the Marijuana dispensaries. Nightlife wise there’s only one spot at the beach I be hitting: Monday nights at Kill Your Idol where my good friend and collaborator Dj Te$la is the Main Dj and host of Glow Mondays!

Finally, id like to tell ya about the best taco spot in Miami. Right down the street from our music studio: Ima3o5 Studios, There’s a place called Carniceria y Taqueria Franco’s. that’s 5941 nw 176th st unit 2 33015. My favorite are the tacos de barbacoa, damn them joints is good! look them up, they have an incredible menu and plenty of goodies to stock up on if you like Mexican products. Best tacos in Miami, change my mind lol!

So there you have it. Those are my favorite places to go in the 305.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
honestly, I would be no one and nowhere if not for my very small family and team/mentors/collaborators.

For the last 10 years My wife, my children, and my little brother (and his small family: wife and kids), have been my rock, my perspective, and my source of motivation.
My wife was born in Mexico City, and much like me she grew up in hip-hop, hip-hop is the reason we met and our shared worldview is informed, in part, by the (hip-hop) culture we live.
She is an artist in her own right and is a very successful graphic designer, muralist, photographer, director, and documentarist. She runs the label we started back in the late 2000’s and which has had a distribution deal in place with Empire Distribution since 2015. She’s my best friend, my partner at home and in business, and the love of my life. I swear lol iv written over 100 love songs to her in the almost 20 years we’ve been together lol.

Of course any measure of success that I have I owe also to my mentors. I have 3 main mentors:
Immanuel “Ima305” Ramirez is a Grammy-winning engineer/producer from Canada, actually, he’s Philopeno-Canadian but he specializes in latin music and he was my professor at school. In 2010 I studied sound engineering and video production and Ima305 was my sound engineering teacher. after graduation I never stopped bugging him lol and eventually thru out the years I guess he started seeing my vision and my hustle, from there slowly he started trusting me and we started making music, at first just making good music to put out but eventually the choice was made that the goal was to win a Latin Grammy. I can’t pinpoint that day we agreed on it cus for me it was always a personal goal as an artist before I even met Ima305, because I saw that my friends, Grammy-winning Spanish rap group: Sindicato Argentino Del Hiphop had won one, a confirmation that Spanish rap was my lane, so the fact that a grammy winning dude like Ima30 was ready to embark on this journey with me to win a Grammy was just mind-blowing to me. In The years we’ve worked he’s become my closest friend, main producer and business partner. iv learned so much from him, I call him “sensei” cus his demeanor is always collected and stoic but when its time for action he’s always on point and hands down he’s the most talented person I have ever met, period.

I worked in the strip club business for almost 10 years as a Mc/Dj in the Hialeah and Doral area in Miami. It Just so happens that the world-famous Dj Epps was the star Dj for Saturday nights at one of the clubs in Hialeah and for the most part another Dj was the house Dj those Saturdays when Epps came in, that Dj was in charge of getting the party going before and after Super star Dj Epps went on, but I did cover that shift plenty of times and sure enough I got a chance to watch him work and I would help him a little with the girls, making sure they got on stage so he could concentrate on the music. He even started sharing his tips with me because I actively helped out, he also would give me pointers on mixing and advice on how to deal with management and other co-workers. Fast forward to now, iv been out of the strip club game for some years, and in that time iv concentrated more and more on the artistic side of things and my goal of making timeless, memorable, beautiful music.
One of the reasons Dj Epps is an icon in the industry and the culture is because he’s been a disruptor in how things go in the industry, he’s been able to adapt and keep up with changing trends and technology and which has allowed him to blaze his own path and not have to depend on big companies to build his brand, make a living and stay relevant. At the same time, Dj Epps has maintained his relevance by doing what Djs do: breaking new music and artists, entertaining and rocking crowds, and most importantly, in my opinion, maintaining that direct contact with the culture and your core/growing audience. all that so say that now im part for his team, im a business partner in a new distribution venture he’s doing and he’s one of my main musical collaborators.

The best way to describe my musical and business situation is: im standing on the shoulders of giants.

Website: www.sparklecraftmia.com

Instagram: @villanomuzik

Twitter: @villanomuzik

Facebook: D’shon El Villano

Youtube: YouTube.com/villanomuzikvevo

Other: spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6vAsf8TTP4TafS9YMRFT3a?si=czJM2P_jSH6JiCZdUmj0_g El BadGuy Show: https://www.dagr8fm.com/post/el-bad-guy-show-dont-miss-out-this-sunday-at-7pm-cus-we-re-blessed-to-have-the-incredible-activist