Venezuela’s premiere hip-hop crew Cuarto Poder has a brand new mixtape ”Como En Vivo” available for free download.

This is the follow-up to their Nacional Records release “In Tha House,” which is available on iTunes.

The mixtape features 7 new songs that the Caracas-based rap crew has been playing recently at their live shows. Check the mixtape video here below from some more info on the project.

You can follow Cuarto Poder on Twitter and Facebook.

To celebrate the recent GRAMMY nominations for both Los Amigos Invisibles & La Vida Boheme, we’re giving away FREE DOWNLOADS from each album.

Both from Venezuela, Los Amigos Invisibles’ ‘Not So Commercial‘ and La Vida Boheme’s ‘Nuestra‘ are nominated for ‘Best Latin Pop, Rock or Urban Album’.

Click below to get a FREE download of 2 songs: Los Amigos Invisibles’ “Sweet” and La Vida Boheme’s “El Sentimiento Ha Muerto”.

In honor of their 2012 Grammy nominations, both Los Amigos Invisibles and La Vida Boheme will be performing at the Conga Room in Los Angeles the night before the Grammys (February 11).

Make sure to check out the Conga Room website to get your tickets and see these rockeros Venezualenos in action.

If you’re not in the L.A area,  Los Amigos Invisibles and La Vida Boheme will also be performing at the 4th and B in San Diego on February 10th. Grab your tickets here.

Connect with Los Amigos Invisibles on Facebook or Twitter
Follow La Vida Boheme on Facebook and  Twitter

Ana Tijoux‘s ‘La Bala‘ – the follow-up album to her Grammy nominated debut ‘1977‘ – will be released next Tuesday, January 31st, 2012.

But the Chilean MC’s new album is available NOW as a digital-only release exclusive via iTunes.

The album’s first single “Shock” debuted in the Top 40 on iTunes Latino charts and is now  being offered as a FREE DOWNLOAD as the iTunes Latino ‘Single of the Week‘.

The album ‘La Bala’ debuted at #1 on the iTunes Latino Hip-Hip y Reggaeton charts and #5 on the overall Latino charts.

Ana Tijoux is also the ‘Artist of the Week at Remezcla, with a hand-picked video playlist, exclusive interview, and free download of this new remix:

Making deep impressions at LA radio station KCRW, DJ Anthony Valadez has already called ‘La Bala’  one of the best albums of 2012.

The full album is now available for streaming via NPR Music, where you can get an exclusive First Listen of ‘La Bala’ in its entirety.

Like Ana Tijoux on Facebook.

Follow Ana Tijoux on Twitter.

Latin Alternative music has a new home on Sirius XM’s brand new station En Vivo channel 147.

The satellite radio station, in conjunction with National Latino Broadcasting and LAMC/Cookman, just launched the first episode of the LAMC Mix Tape last weekend.

The three-hour radio show airs every Saturday and Sunday at 5 pm EST/ 2 p.m. PST .

Hosted by our very own Tomas Cookman, pioneer of the Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) and founder/president of Nacional Records, the LAMC Mix Tape will feature the latest and classics in Latin alternative music from across the Americas and around the block.

Like the NYC summertime conference it’s named after, the LAMC Mix Tape will showcase the best in Latin music, introducing groundbreaking artists in Latin rock, electronica, hip-hop y mas.

The first episode featured music by The Pinker Tones, Calle 13, Plastilina Mosh, Babasonicos, Systema Solar, Manu Chao and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs.

This weekend will include music from Ana Tijoux, Thievery Corporation, Davila 666, Mexican Dubwiser, Joe Cuba, Fidel Nadal and King Coya.

Follow LAMC Mix Tape on Twitter.

Like LAMC Mix Tape on Facebook.

Listen every Saturday and Sunday at 5 pm EST/ 2 p.m. PST on En Vivo channel 147.

To celebrate the new year, Nacional Records is giving away 24 of our most popular songs from 2011, including tracks from Ana Tijoux, La Vida Boheme,  The Pinker Tones,  Hello Seahorse!,  Diego Garcia, Fidel Nadal and Nortec Collective Presents Bostich + Fussible.

Head over to MTV Tr3s to get your redemption code for the FREE DOWNLOAD.

Nacional Records has been giving away these free iTunes download cards at concerts and events across the country.  Until now, you had to actually get a physical card in order to redeem the free downloads, but now MTV Tr3s is offering online redemptions as part of its promotion of La Hora Nacional, the weekly music video show curated by Nacional Records jefe Tomas Cookman.

Watch La Hora Nacional on MTV Tr3s every Saturday night at 12 midnight PST / 3am EST, or catch the repeat on Sunday 10 pm PST / 1am EST!

Follow @LaHoraNacional_ and ‘Like’ La Hora Nacional on Facebook

Nacional Records is excited to welcome a new artist to the label’s roster: Loquat!

Loquat is a San Francisco-based band with gorgeous, sincere songs filled with nostalgia and emotion. Lead-singer and guitarist Kylee Swenson had previously collaborated with (now) fellow label-mates Bostich + Fussible, singing on 2010′s “I Count the Ways” from Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich + Fussible: Bulevar 2000.

In Loquat, Swenson’s introspective lyrics are matched with haunting vocals floating over the minimal moods of her band mates (from left to right in the photo above: Christopher Cooper, Nacional Records VP Josh Norek, Kylee Swenson Gordon, Anthony Gordon, Jon Langmead, and Chip Cosby, not pictured).

Loquat has made a name for itself throughout the Bay Area and beyond for its addictive brand of guitar pop, with hints of the M83, Cardigans, Metric, and even ABBA. Together for 7 years, Loquat has released a few EPs and toured heavily, earning widespread critical acclaim:

 ”Sugary, sultry vocals from Kylee Swenson were wrapped around bouncy basslines and shimmering guitars, a bit like Rilo Kiley at the more melodic, singalong points or Cat Power in a few soaring, emotion-soaked moments. The overall effect was mellow and easy to swallow — smooth, radio friendly hooks and warm grooves.”     – SPIN

 

“Sometimes it’s nice to just press play and daydream while the world crashes around you. Loquat is very helpful that way.”     – Wired

 

“Swenson’s voice soars like Sarah McLachlan, but her lyrics cut like Cat Power.”     – URB

 

“Lots of bands mix electronic and acoustic instruments, but few pull it off with the grace—or even the shimmering melodies—exhibited by this San Francisco group fronted by Kylee Swenson.”     - San Francisco Chronicle

If you’re in California, check the band perform live on February 11th in San Francisco at their concert at Bottom of the Hill.  RSVP here

Connect with Loquat on Facebook and Twitter and say hello, and congrats!

Today (December 12) at 4pm EST / 1pm PST, visit MTVIggy.com for a special live-stream concert featuring La Vida Boheme.

Hosted by MTV’s Matt Pinfield, Sway Calloway and SuChin Pak, as well as Bollywood and TV actress Shenaz Treasury, today’s Best New Band 2011 concert also features at South Korean girl group 2NE1, Jamaican dancehall star Gyptian, and Malaysian singer/songwriter Yuna.

Nominated this year for a GRAMMY and two Latin GRAMMY’S, Venezuelan rockers La Vida Boheme‘ debut album ‘Nuestra’ was recently selected on NPR’s Top 50 albums of 2011 and iTunes’ “Latino Breakthrough Artist of the Year“.

“MTV Iggy’s Best New Band concert symbolizes America opening its doors to pop music from around the world. It’s a sign of the times. We live in a global, connected world in which music has no borders. We are going to see that come alive tonight,” says Nusrat Durrani,  general manager of MTV World.

“The term ‘world music’ does not describe the acts at this event. The Best New Band concert is about pop music … in all its colorful, loud, chaotic glory — from K-pop to Jamaican dancehall to indie punk from Latin America,” Durrani said. “It reflects the world we now live in — where the Internet and other factors have created a vast and exciting universe of music accessible to anyone with a connection.

The concert will stream on MTVIggy.com, including a global chat with real-time translations in 53 languages run by Ortsbo.com, today at 4 p.m. ET, live from MTV’s Times Square studio and the Best Buy Theater in Times Square.

Don’t miss MTV Iggy’s Best New Band 2011 live-stream concert special today at 4 p.m. ET on MTVIggy.com.

So the year in music is coming to an end, and what a cool year it has been.  Following Nacional Tradition we wanted to share our Top 10 picks with you.  In addition, we would to love to hear which albums were your favorite in 2011. So feel free to give us your Top 10 list of 2011 in the comment section below!
 

 
Tomas Cookman
1. Prince Fatty and the Mutant HiFi – Return of the Gringo (Original Soundtrack)
2. Anthony Hamilton – Back To Love
3. Tito Curet – Sono’ Sono’
4. Soundtrack – Attack The Block
5. Mario Merola So ´nnato Carcerato on the compilation album – Bar Napoli
6. Adele – 21
7. Joe – The Good, The Bad, The Sexy
8. Gregory Isaacs – The Ruler
9. Prince Polo – Brooklyn Bodega
10.The Black Keys – El Camino
11.Our Latin Thing Reissue / Fania
 

 
Canyon Cody
1. Atropolis – Atropolis
2. Freddie Gibbs and Madlib – Thuggin’ EP
3. Quantic – Hip-Hop En Cumbia / Caliventura EP
4. La Vida Boheme – Nuestra
5. Chancha Via Circuito  - Rio Arriba
6. Ritmo Machine – Welcome to the Ritmo Machine
7. Javier Estrada – Ritmos Del Mundo EPs
8. Den5hion – Rusetron EP
9. Los Rakas – Chancletas y Camisetas Bordada
10. Beats Antique – Elektrafone
 

 
Tommy Vargas
1. Various Artists – (?hk-to?ong B?y-Bi) Covered
2. Charles Bradley – No time For Dreaming
3. Silversun Pickups – Swoon
4. The Black Keys – El Camino
5. Yuck – Yuck
6. Gillian Welch – The Harrow & The Harvest
7. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
8. The Black Lips – Arabia Mountain
9. James Blake – James Blake
10. Bjork – Biophilia
 

 
Jessica Martinez
1. Nick 13 – S/T
2. The Kinky Koo Koos – Tons of Fun
3. Pepe Aguilar – Negociaré Con La Pena
4. Adele – 21
5. Amy Winehouse – Lioness: hidden Treasures
6. La Vida Boheme – Nuestra
 

 
Kerry Kendall
1. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
2. Dan Andriano in The Emergency Room – Hurricane Season
3. Diego Garcia – Laura
4. Explosions In The Sky – Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
5. La Vida Boheme – Nuestra
6. Zoé – Musica de Fondo MTV Unplugged
7. Chuck Ragan – Covering Ground
8. Naked and the Famous – Passive Me, Aggressive You
9. Fun – Aim and Ignite
10. Alkaline Trio – Damnesia
 

 
Josh Norek
1. Fitz & The Tantrums – Picking Up the Pieces
2. Foster The People – Foster the People
3. Diego Garcia – Laura
4. Sam Roberts Band – Collider
5. Ritmo Machine – Welcome to the Ritmo Machine
6. Ocote Soul Sounds – Taurus
7. TV On the Radio – Nine Types of Light
8. Gaby Moreno Illustrated Songs
9. Girl In a Coma – Exits & All The Rest
10. Umphrey’s McGee – Death By Stereo
 

 
Jennifer Sarkissian
1. Diego Garcia – Laura
2. La Vida Boheme – Nuestra
3. Little Dragon – Ritual Union
4. SBTRKT – S/T
5. Napoleon Solo – At the Opera
6. Elastic Bond – Frecuencia Natural
7. Hello Seahorse! – Lejos No Tan Lejos
8. Bjork – Biophilia
9. Adele – 21
10. Ana Tijoux – La Bala (ok technically this is a 2012 release, but I can’t wait until next December)
 

 
Abraham Acuna
1. Jedi Mind Tricks – Violence Begets Violence
2. Diego Garcia – Laura
3. 3BALLMTY – Intentalo
4. Ritmo Machine – Welcome To The Ritmo Machine
5. Red Hot Chilli Peppers – I’m With You
6. Gerardo Ortiz – Entre Dios Y El Diablo
7. The Roots – Undun
8. Daft Punk – TRON Legacy Reconfigured
9. Foster The People – Torches
10.Robin Thicke – Love After War

At the end of his 2011 US tour, Manu Chao visited Arizona in support of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network’s ‘Alto Arizona’ campaign, performing a free concert in protest of the state’s anti-immigration policies.

While in Arizona, Manu Chao also visited the infamous Tent City Prison, a makeshift jail created by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, adamant enforcer of Arizona’s anti-immigration law SB-1070.

In Tent City Prison, immigrants deemed “illegal” are incarcerated under inhumane conditions, forced to live outside in tents despite excruciating desert temperatures.

Accompanied by his long time guitarist Madjid Fahem, Manu Chao sings about the struggles of immigration. As the son of parents who fled from Franco’s dictatorship in Spain, Manu Chao is able to personally relate to those who suffer under aggressive governance.

During his visit to Arizona, Manu Chao participated in an immigrant rights protest outside of Sherriff Joe’s offices and performed a free concert in support of “Alto Arizona”.  He stopped at the Tent City Prison to record an acoustic video performance of his classic, “Clandestino”.  Directed by Alex Rivera, the video also includes interviews with immigrant prisoners from inside the jail.

At The Huffington Post, Pablo Alvarado (Director of the NDLON) writes about Manu Chao video, “In times when globalization has invented corporate personhood but dehumanized migrants, and when immigrant-bashing is reaching unchecked heights, artists can help put the brakes on the slippery slope and reframe the terms of debate. ”

NACIONAL RECORDS RECEIVES 2 OF THE 5 GRAMMY NOMINATIONS FOR BEST LATIN POP, ROCK OR URBAN ALBUM

Nacional Records is proud to announce GRAMMY nominations for both Los Amigos Invisibles and La Vida Boheme for ‘Best Latin Pop, Rock or Urban Album’.

Los Amigos Invisible’s GRAMMY nomination comes for ‘Not So Commercial’, the band’s sixth studio record. The Venezuelan disco-funk rockers are notorious for their electrifying live sets and constant global touring.

Since their first album in 1995, Los Amigos Invisibles have developed a sound based on the gozadera, an irresistible fusion of Latin rhythms with fiery funk and lounge music. The band got their first break when David Byrne discovered one of their albums by chance in a Manhattan record shop.

Recently praised by NPR as “one of the best live performances I’ve ever seen”, La Vida Boheme was also nominated for two Latin GRAMMY’s in 2011, including “Best Rock Album” for ‘Nuestra’ and “Best Rock Song” for “Radio Capital”.

On December 12th, the Venezuelan rockers are coming to New York City to perform in Times Square as part of MTV IGGY’s ‘Best New Band In the World’ showcase.  Last time La Vida Boheme performed in NYC, at the Latin Alternative Music Conference this summer, their debut stateside performance earned the band a photo and feature on the front page of the New York Times.