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Ozomatli Biography

Brewing a vital concoction of Latin salsa, urban hip-hop, and jazz-funk, Ozomatli formed in Los Angeles in the mid-'90s, eventually settling on a lineup that included Raúl "El Bully" Pacheco, Ulises Bella, Jiro Yamaguchi, Cut Chemist, Chali 2na, Wil-Dog Abers, Mairo Calire, Rene "Spinobi" Dominguez, Justin "Niño" Porée, Asdrubal Sierra, and Jabu. After making their name on the local club circuit, the group made an appearance on the urban late-night talk show Vibe! and released its self-titled debut in June 1998. Embrace the Chaos was released in 2001, followed by an EP, Coming Up, in 2003. A third full-length, Street Signs, which featured a changed lineup (both Cut Chemist and Chali 2na, for example, left the group on good terms), came out in 2004 and subsequently won a Grammy. A concert CD, Live at the Fillmore, with an accompanying DVD of the show, was released in 2005, unofficially honoring the group's tenth anniversary, and in 2006 Don't Mess with the Dragon was released, followed by Live from Soho in 2008. The band returned to the studio with producer Tony Berg to issue Fire Away, its debut album for Mercer Street Records/Downtown Records, in 2010. ~ John Bush, Rovi

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