The Big Boss

Tego Calderon is the anti-50 Cent. He’s been crowned the king of Latin rap and never once acted like snotty royalty. Whether it’s signing an autograph at a bodega in NYC or chatting like old friends with journalists the PR-native remains the same—cool. Now as a label CEO (he signed a joint venture with WEA and his own imprint Jiggiri in 2006), Tego is a dream boss. In less than a year of his third album, The Underdog, being released, he’s already finished his next one, El Abayarde Contra-Ataca. While he's prepping for its release on Aug. 28, Tego is molding his protégé Chyno Nino and opening his own studio, Hecho En Puerto Rico, in Santurce, PR. Peep how the man with the tightest Afro in music (sorry ?uestlove) goes about his business.

[Sí] Ent.: What does an artist need to possess for you to sign him to Jiggiri?

Tego Calderon: I’m not looking for any artists right now. I’m not saying there aren’t any others out there but because of the schedule I have I don’t have the time to dedicate to molding an artist. So if I did sign someone who wasn’t somewhat established I’d be cheating myself and that person [of getting the attention they need.] In my way of thinking the most important thing is not to look for artists to mold. Personally I don’t have time for that, I need people who have their own talent, own identity and know where they’re going.

[Sí] Ent.: When owning your own record label, how important is your team?

TC: You should always have a good team around you. I look for people who are apt, people who can do all types of work and also people who aren’t caught up in this music business hype.

[Sí] Ent.: What’s the ultimate goal for Jiggiri?

TC: In reality I don’t want to do anything out of this world. I’m interested in my studio, my music and [signing] artists who aren’t urban. Like an orchestra, R&B singers. Now with my studio what I’ll offer is a place for musicians to record. Some artists don’t have a place to record or producers. I’m going to have a team of in-house producers, engineers, etc. That’s going to help them out a lot. We’re going to be producing a lot. I’m composing a lot of music myself for prospective artists also.

[Sí] Ent.: Being an artist yourself, what kind of advice do you give your artists?

TC: I’ve done it before. Like for example Voltio. To see [where Voltio is now compared] to when I first met him is incredible. It warms my heart to see how the life of his family has changed. Not even financially because it hasn’t been any significant change, it’s the satisfaction of giving back what someone did for me. It really fills me. When I work with someone it needs to be someone who’s compatible with me. I was talking to Voltio yesterday and telling him how proud I am of him and Chyno. They’re humble people who aren’t ashamed of what they were and are grateful for the opportunity they have now.