That the immigrant experience in the U.S. is not always, or often, what it's cracked up to be -- a fairy tale of moving, hope, hard work, and eventual success of the kind you hear at political party conventions -- is the subject of "Sueño Americano," the new single and video from Oakland's
Los Rakas. These two should know. Born in Panama, Raka Rich and Raka Dun take their name from a Panamanian slur used to describe someone from the ghetto. Their latest single, off of today's major-label debut,
El Negrito Dun Dun & Ricardo, tells how the hopes of the migrant can so easily be squelched by a system that offers little opportunity and even less concern. "Here, if you want something, you have to find it, and if you don't have work, you have to sin," they sing in Spanish. "'Cause the rent is high, the law is bad -- without papers, you're nothing." The video, directed by the Perez Bros., offers a frightening look at how bad the struggle can get. Watch it below, and read a translation of the lyrics as well. "Sueño Americano" is also the
Latin single of the week on iTunes, so you can download it there.