Re/imagining a Mundo Maya: Maya rappers in the Yucatán Peninsula

My project examines the intersection of cultural (ethnic) identity, hip-hop, aesthetics, and language revitalization in the context of the growing community of Maya rappers in the Yucatán Peninsula. I turn our attention toward the Maya hip-hop space and explore the gestures of resistance, language revitalization, and radical world-building that can be created within them. With the funding provided by CLAS and the Tinker Foundation, I visited Felipe Carrillo Puerto and Tahdziú in Quintana Roo, where I conducted informal interviews with Pat Boy and Paalil K'iin. In Felipe Carrillo Puerto, I spent time in Pat Boy’s recording studio and shot promotional videos for his music. I also made a new connection and interviewed Paalil K'iin, another Maya rapper. The funding allowed me to engage directly with these artists, document their musical practices, and gain insights into how hip-hop is being used as a medium for cultural and language preservation. Finally, I traveled to meet with Dr. Juan Castillo Cocom, with whom I shared my research findings and engaged in discussions about key research themes and professional guidance. The findings from this research illustrate the active and powerful role of hip-hop and social media in promoting Indigenous languages and cultures.