When mass protests erupted across Cuba last July 11, “Patria y Vida”—a hip-hop song released earlier this year by Cuban musicians—had become an anthem of freedom on the island and a protest slogan against the dictatorship. The title, “Fatherland and Life” is a play on words on the regime’s “Fatherland or Death,” and a sort of reclaiming of the national slogan.

“Patria y Vida” is a beautiful cry for freedom. Its lyrics express the repulsion that Cubans feel of having to live under totalitarianism and, along with the music, capture this widespread sentiment to the extent that the song helped inspire the mass uprising. NPR has a nice explanation of the lyrics and their meaning here. (Elsewhere I wrote about the social change in Cuba leading up to the protests.)

“Patria y Vida” has been nominated for best song of the year and best urban song for this year’s Latin Grammys, which will be held on November 18. On November 3, one of the coauthors and performers of the song, the rapper known as “El Funky,” visited Cato after having managed to leave Cuba days earlier. We spoke with him about the song, about the current situation in Cuba, and about those imprisoned by the regime, including Maykel Castillo, one of the other author-performers. See a video on the conversation below.

One of the goals of El Funky, who raps about the “evil revolution” in the song, is to make the world see Cuban reality for what it is. “Patria y Vida” deserves to get a win at the Grammys on its own merits; but it also deserves it for the tremendous good it will do for Cuba, Latin America, and beyond.

Update: On November 18, “Patria y Vida” won Song of the Year at the 2021 Latin Grammys.