Meet Ivan Torres ( Van-T) | Hip-hop artist & Culture manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ivan Torres ( Van-T) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ivan, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
At first all I wanted to do was hip-hop music, rap, produce beats, have my home studio. I did, but I needed more money. So hip hop gave me the opportunity to do rap workshops for youth and children and to be a cultural manager in the state system (Ministry of Culture).
That led me to discover the children’s world of storytelling and mix it with hip-hop music, something that didn’t exist.
I really liked the experience and the scope it could have, so Funky Narración became an important project for me. It stopped being the alternative project to become the main one.

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.
My name is Van-T, I’m a artist hip-hop independent since 2000 with the group Magisterio with the Femcee Ximbo. With my group I have worked on the national scene to date, participating in numerous forums and festivals from Mexico, and some others the United States, France and South America. Our cd “Cuadrivium era deuda”, is considered a classic at the national hip hop scene.
As a solo artist I have participated in the song “Protesta” with Lengualerta, Mare Advertencia Lirika, Bungalo Dub, among others. Also on the subject of the campaign #yoprefieroellago.

The song “En La Esquina”, from my EP “Van-Titlán” is part of the soundtrack in the Mexican film “Asalto al cine”, directed by Iria Gómez.

I have written letters and produced music for rap songs to theater-cabaret companies Cabaret Misterio and Loaria Kids, for the “Ñeñe zombies” and “Luka y su otra mitad”, respectively.

I have taught rap poetry and hip hop music workshops for children and youth in the National Alas y Raices Program of the Federal Ministry of Culture and various Cultural Centers in Mexico. I currently impart these workshops in the Red de FAROs (Factory of Arts and Crafts) of the Ministry of Culture in Mexico City, exactly in FARO Tlahuac.

Actually, I have a cultural offer for children, adolescents and young people. For children it is Funky Narracion; and for adolescents and young people are the rap, poetry and hip hop music workshops named Poesía Con Actitud (poetry with attitude).

Funky Narracion is the main project, it’s a family show, a combination of narration – storyteller – and rap music, beats, scratches, samples, beatboxing and a lot of dance is aimed at girls and boys from 5 to 12 years old.

In 2012 I diversified my music and cultural offer for children’s and family audience in the national program “Alas y Raíces” of the Federal Ministry of Culture. During that time Funky Narración was born and grew up with the account stories at the book´s fairs and cultural festivals.
In 2018 I released the first single in the official site for free download, “Es la Hora pa´rapear” (It´s time to rap), a fun approach with rap from word games. In May 2019 I released the first EP “Drompardofante” for all digital platforms consisting of a series of stories inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s work and one of my own authorship in the asphalt jungle, counted in the style of hip hop. In November 2020, on the occasion of the traditional celebration of the Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos), I released the second EP: “Ñaca ñaca, el último es calaca flaca” inspired by ancient and popular stories as well as Carmen Leñero and Marcela Romero. In April 2021 I released a new single to dance with the friends and the whole family at the rhythm of funky-disco, “Funk, Funk, Funk, Funky Narra”.
You heard us in all digital platforms and follow us in our social networks too.

To me Funky Narracion it’s very funny, however the children’s audience is the most difficult, they have no filters, they like it or they don’t like it.
Surprising them is not easy but when you succeed it is a real triumph. Every smile, laugh, sing, shout… uff that’s it.

Also I like to see the girls and boys dancing and the enthusiasm of dads and moms to play rap with their children, I love it.

It has been very nice to work from Hiphop because there I found myself and discovered myself as a poet, musician, artist – a more sensitive person. Thanks Hiphop

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In Mexico City I would take him to eat at vegetarian-vegan restaurants, in the downtown area to the Vaisnava temple, Vegamo and Veguerrero. To the south Gold Taco, Vegetaco and Vegicano.

A ride through the Zócalo of the capital, Chapultepec Forest by bicycle, Paseo de la Reforma, Downtown Coyoacán, Trajineras de Xochimilco-Embarcadero de Cuemanco and the Pyramids of Teotihuacán.

Listen to music and dance in an open-air concert on the days of the national holidays, tasting typical (vegan) dishes and a visit to the Pulque and Pulquerías Museum.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Parents, family, friends, partners, books, music, movies, Hiphop, the life.

Instagram: @funkynarracion; @mcvant

Twitter: @funkynarracion; @mcvant_1

Facebook: @funkynarracion; @vant_1

Youtube: @funkynarracion; @vant1

Other: funkynarracion@gmail.com mcvant@gmail.com

Image Credits
Salomón Studio Blacksay Juan Pablo Torres Flor López