Delinquent Habits

Delinquent Habits formed in Los Angeles in 1991. The group was one of the first Latino hip-hop acts, mixing English, Spanish, and Spanglish lyrics together. Delinquent Habits consists of rappers Kemo (David L.K. Thomas), Ives (Ivan S. Martin), and O.G. Style (Alejandro R. Martinez). Upstart record label PMP released the group's self-titled debut Delinquent Habits in 1996. The album, executive-produced by Cypress Hill's Sen Dog, combined obscure funk with traditional Latin rhythms and sold an amazing 350,000 copies in the U.S. and over one million worldwide. The single, "Tres Delinquents," moving 450,000 copies, charted in hip-hop as well as pop and R&B. Their second album, Here Come the Horns, was ready for release when PMP went out of business in 1998. This album may be one of the undiscovered gems of the rap genre as it features an appearance by the late rapper Big Punisher. Merry Go Round, their third album, was picked up by Miles Copeland's Ark 21 label after initially being released by the band. Delinquent Habits has performed on national TV including appearances on NBC's Late Night With Conan O'Brien, Yo! MTV Raps, and La Hora Lunatica With Huberto Luna. The group toured with rap artists like the Fugees, metal acts like Korn, and rockers like Beck, rapping as far away from home as Europe, South American, and Asia. ~ JT Griffith, All Music Guide