Latin House
House · 1987 · 122 to 128 BPM · also known as Latino House, Tribal Latin
Latin house is house music spoken in Spanish and played in clave: Afro Cuban percussion, montuno piano and sampled or live brass. Chicago and New York began producing it in the 1980s within their Puerto Rican and Mexican communities, and Masters At Work later gave the style its noble credentials. It keeps returning in waves, whenever a dancefloor wants some warmth.
7 reference tracks
- Ralphi Rosario: You Used to Hold Me (1987)
- Todd Terry: Weekend (1988)
- Liberty City: Some Lovin' (1992)
- David Morales: In de Ghetto (1996)
- Armand Van Helden: Witch Doktor (1994)
- HUGEL & Cumbiafrica: Morenita (2022)
- Mochakk: Jealous (2022)
At a glance
- Tempo: 122 to 128 BPM
- First appeared: around 1987
- Machines: Congas, Timbales, Roland TR-909
- The sound: Congas et timbales, Piano montuno, Cuivres
- Labels: Strictly Rhythm, Cutting Records, Nervous Records, La Vida, Stereo Productions
- Key artists: Ralphi Rosario, Masters At Work, India, Liberty City, David Morales
Producing Latin House
Latin house sits between 122 and 128 BPM, though the tempo matters less than the clave: everything locks to a son clave, two three or three two, that the montuno piano, congas and often the bass all respect. A 909 supplies the kick, clap and hats, while an Afro Cuban layer carries the character, congas in a tumbao pattern, timbales with a cascara ride, bongos, guiro and cowbell. The bass alternates between a tumbao and a house feel, in tumbao anticipating the next chord on the upbeat of two and beat four while leaving beat one empty, or switching to octave eighths for the choruses over a simple progression. A montuno piano arpeggiating a two chord figure, sampled or played brass stabs, and bilingual call and response vocals complete the sound.
The full production course, in French: tempo, drums, bass, sounds, arrangement, mix, plugins and machines, and a step by step start.
Frequently asked
What is Latin House?
Latin house is house music spoken in Spanish and played in clave: Afro Cuban percussion, montuno piano and sampled or live brass. Chicago and New York began producing it in the 1980s within their Puerto Rican and Mexican communities, and Masters At Work later gave the style its noble credentials.…
What tempo is Latin House played at?
Between 122 and 128 BPM.
Who are the key Latin House artists?
Ralphi Rosario, Masters At Work, India, Liberty City, David Morales.
