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No Otro Lado

by Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela

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    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.

    Other than in-person, or select record stores, this is the only place where you can buy the entire 13-track album.
    Check vimeo for two music videos: one for "Philly Kitchens" and another that is a No Otro Lado album sampler music video by Rashid Zakat.
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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    All 13 tracks + a liner notes zine that contains all of the lyrics and additional texts.

    No Otro Lado posits that the U.S. and Mexico are one country with a border that is used to justify a caste system.

    Includes unlimited streaming of No Otro Lado via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    edition of 500  80 remaining

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  • This is the liner notes zine that will accompany all vinyl versions of the record. It includes the lyrics and additional information and text related to the concept of the album.

    ONLY BUY THIS TO SUPPLEMENT THE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD. You can purchase the digital album by itself, or you can add this liner notes zine to your order and it will be mailed to you. But do not order the zine without buying the digital download. That would just be weird. Orders for the liner notes zine only will be cancelled.

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    Includes "birth certificate lottery ticket" on the back cover with scratch off detail
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  • T-Shirt/Apparel

    pre-shrunk 100% cotton
    made in mexico
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      $10 USD or more 

     

  • T-Shirt/Apparel

    pre-shrunk 100% cotton
    made in Mexico
    ships out within 4 days
    3 remaining

      $10 USD or more 

     

1.
A history of fuckery brings us to this fuckery. The separation of a baby from its mother's breast. The savagery is loud in its capital rhythm. A caste system works by design. Drives down wages and rights. Denies dignity. Y chingon tus heroes. We cannot wait for others to save us. Together, we must wage a war for liberation. To make a revolution that can and must transform us, and these so-called-countries. The border does not stop at the border. No one has crossed it. What is the opposite of a wall? You can work but you can't win. Though with what's been defined as winning, maybe nobody should want to. Gold chains and cuffs. Stained white pants and soft hands.
2.
Here in Philadelphia, the city that bombed itself. In almost every kitchen there are Mexicans working. Making food. Cleaning dishes. Serving public hunger and public filling. We are what we eat. (Kicio verse) America, dirty, dirty. In its greedy, greedy. America, dirty, dirty. In its greedy, greedy. (Kicio verse) America, dirty, dirty. In its greedy, greedy. Tengo hambre para luchar y para dignidad por la gente. Tengo hambre para estar libre y fuerte.
3.
herencia 03:37
The number of Mexicans executed by vigilantes compels us to reconsider the geography of mob violence as a whole. A standard lynching map of the United States depicts mob violence as being predominantly a phenomenon of the South. But it is a much more common occurrence than has been previously understood. September 17th, 1915, Juan Rodriquez, an alleged outlaw, was dragged with wire around his neck and then shot. November 9th, 1894, in Louisiana, Charlie Williams was taken from jail by an infuriated crowd who shot the "half-breed Mexican." On June 10th, 1881, Narcisco Montoya had his head pounded and body hanged inside a court room in New Mexico. May 1st, 1880, Ramirez, family of three, was burned for witchcraft in Texas. In late March 1855, four unknown Mexicans were taken from jail and hanged for robbing an Anglo clerk and abusing his wife. May 11th, 1856, three different unknown Mexicans were taken from jail and hanged on "rather slight proof" in Monterrey, California. In late October of 1856, Jose Castro was hanged by Matt Targe and his vigilantes after being forcibly removed from Mexicans who were trying to protect him. In February 1857, a man known only as "Mexican Joe" was hanged and decapitated near El Monte, California. May 17th, 1874, Tomas Valencia was taken from his home with a rope around his neck and dragged until his life was extinct. In April 1875, an unknown Mexican man was killed and fed to hogs by vigilantes for horse theft near Corpus Cristi, Texas. July 5th, 1851, Josefa Segura was hanged before a crowd of 2,000 miners. June, 1851, Antonio Cruz and Patricio... Ours is not a dead inheritance. I do not speak of death. I speak of a history that lives in each of us, that lives in the land. Tierra de sangre.
4.
Who is looting whom? Who is looting whom? Baby, I know you know. Baby, I know you know. Who is looting whom? Baby, I know you know. Baby, I know you know. Who is looting whom? Baby, I know you know. Baby, I know you know. Who is looting whom? Baby, I know you know. Baby, I know you know. Who is looting whom? Baby, I know you know. Baby, I know you know. Who is looting whom? When the children won't share we take away the toys. Wounded masculinity, desperate femininity. I wanna queer us all. End fool belief en transa, in excess lottery exceptionalist ethics and xmas bonuses for the help supposed to say thank you masta all grateful grovel fuck that racist paternal novel. Migrantes grind like this to shine like that see dreams unfold while nightmares come true. Baby, I know you know. Baby, I know you know. Who is looting whom? Baby, I know you know. Baby, I know you know. Who is looting whom? Baby, I know you know. Baby, I know you know. Who is looting whom? Baby, I know you know. Baby, I know you know. It is violently simple there are so many more of us.
5.
recognize 02:34
6.
When that love wheel starts a turning we gotta ride it all the way. Pretty good ain't good enough Cuz halfway loving just don't get it. Pretty good ain't good enough Cuz halfway loving just don't get it. An all the way lover loves til everyone gets to eat and everyone has a home and no one is on their own Egos and guns are down. Now laughter, music next level sound bodies pressing in consent queer futurity where we went. And no one is on their own. Pretty good ain't good enough Cuz halfway loving just don't get it. Pretty good ain't good enough Cuz halfway loving just don't get it. An all the way lover loves. Cuz halfway loving just don't get it. Stay there til the job is done. Pretty good, ain't good enough. Stay there til the job is done. Pretty good ain't good enough Cuz halfway loving just don't get it. Pretty good ain't good enough Cuz halfway loving just don't get it. When that love wheel starts a turning, we gotta ride it all the way.
7.
Hasta la victoria siempre (Mayate del Sur verse) For shame, mi tia went and changed her name trying to play the game pero for her Hollywood was the opposite of fame from the start she didn't look the part even with her face painted white, she couldn't fit the color chart.
8.
(Dirty Corolla) You're right, it's not your problem. It's our problem. Paper won't save you. Porque es claro no hay libertad sin todos. Mentiras de oro. All the things you can buy. I should've been a we. Not one, not two, not three, No all, all, all, all the we we will free. I should've been a we. Not one, not two, not three, No all, all, all, all the we we will free.
9.
justicia 01:47
10.
other riches 03:00
Make America Mexico again? Nah. We gotta go to a better world. We transcend. Stay escaping. And I want, a real love to ride. We know other ways are possible. Like the bucket lines in Mexico City, we have to unbury ourselves. Not simply bearing witness. Not only collecting records, facts, figures, donations. An inclusive future where the rights of others are equal to one's own. We need a new rich in redistribution and an honest constitution. Anti-racismo Anti-machismo
11.
Though I've always flown to the flame I'm not sure what to wear to a fire So I check the temperature erratic as it is saw my memory changed too not hell, the fire everywhere the warmth of a room of learning all I need to know about someone from how they move Y si, mi espanol no es perfecto pero it's the sound of assimilation of a family's forced disintegration The sound of how my mother, unable to do so for herself tried to protect us. My pride. My pride. Part responsibilidad. It's a response to a question I've been asked my whole life, What are you? What are you?
12.
viva la vida 02:33
Trabajamos para liberacion entonces bailamos baila conmigo, baila con la gente x4 got more in common than different stop thinking you alone are special believe in us, dance to our potential vida vibrante y amor picante x4 no ennui para mi y no ennui para ti tenemos otras riquezas creamos in nuestra posibilidad y en dignidad para todos baila conmigo, baila con la gente x5 al ritmo de la calle sucio al ritmo de orgullo al ritmo de la cocina y de justicia justicia mas que una persona
13.

about

No Otro Lado is a record by Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela with point production and incalculable expertise and patience from producer Josh Hey.

No Otro Lado posits that the United States and Mexico are essentially one country with a so-called border that is used as justification for a caste system; as justification for oppression.

No Otro Lado is a "conceptual reggaeton" album that exists at an intersection of hip hop, poetry, Latin music more generally, and politics.

credits

released November 17, 2018

side a

1. The Opposite of a Wall
2. Philly Kitchens feat. Kicio
3. Herencia
4. Know You Know
5. Recognize
6. Puño de Amor


side b

7. Victoria feat. Mayate del Sur
8. Para Todos Todo feat. Dirty Corolla
9. Justicia
10. Other Riches
11. Tambores de Orgullo
12. Viva la Vida
13. Dancing Despite

No Otro Lado features Dan Nosheny on tuba, Patrick Rosal on congas, and Vince Klopfenstein on drums

cover: "Near Nogales Maximally Stable Extremal Regions; Good Features to Track, 2017" detail of the original by Trevor Paglen. This is a photograph of the U.S.-Mexico Border, as seen through some of the computer vision algorithms that continually monitor the border for movements and any changes in the landscape from one moment to another.

back cover: “Untitled, 2018” by Raquel Gutiérrez. This is a photograph from the U.S.-Mexico border of prototype walls commissioned by the United States.

cover design: Aay Preston-Myint

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Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Check out the feature on Colorlines about Marissa and this album

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