BOOK TRAILER - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

BOOK READING - FREESTYLE FOR LIFEOR LIFE

BOOK READING - FREESTYLE FOR LIFESTYLE FOR LIFE NOVEL

BOOK TRAILER - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

BOOK READING - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

BOOK TRAILER - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

BOOK READING - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

BOOK TRAILER - FREESTYLE FOR LIFEOVEL

BOOK READING - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

BOOK TRAILER - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

BOOK TRAILER - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

BOOK READING - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

BOOK TRAILER - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

BOOK READING - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

BOOK TRAILER - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

BOOK READING - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

BOOK TRAILER - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

BOOK READING - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

BOOK TRAILER - FREESTYLE FOR LIFE

Latif Mercado Interview with Salsa Magazine

 

Interview with contemporary Latino author Latif Mercado
By Arnold Wolf

Arnold Wolf

Latif Mercado

AW: Where were you born and where do you most identify with?

LM: I was born and raised in the Bronx, lived there till I was about 10 years old. The neighbor's apartment burnt down which forced us all to leave. It was only a 4 family. It was just my mother and I. She worked in real estate so we were fortunate to get another apartment by the next day. It was in Jackson Heights, Queens. Wow, what a change. My neighborhood in the Bronx was mainly Puerto Rican and Black. In Jackson Heights at the time, there we’re neither. There I grew up with the Colombian's Ecuadorians, Peruvians and then came the Cubans, early 70’s you know!

When I was about 14 years old, my Mom and I decided to try something a little different. We moved to Youngstown Florida. This was in Panama City. The Panama City now that we see on TV during Spring Break was nothing like that when we were there. The racism was out of control. I wasn’t use to that. The Black kids called me “Bronx”, The Teachers called me Puerto Rico and the white kids called me Julio… Back then, Julio from Sanford and Son was pretty popular, it was the only other Puerto Rican they were exposed to… They use to say “Julio… Where’s your goat?” It’s funny now, but back then it was scary.

We left Florida about a year later, there wasn’t a day that went by that I wasn’t fighting. We moved again, Mom saw I was getting older and was just trying to find the perfect place for me. We tried Alabama and Mississippi because we had family there, but that was just Youngstown on steroids. We ended up moving to Puerto Rico. I had only been there once when I was a baby and Mom thought this might be good, it’s where she was born. We moved in with my Aunt, who was pretty wealthy, and she was ready to help in whatever way she could to keep us there. I enrolled in public school, but the only classes I understood where English and Math, my two worst subjects in the states. The teachers would just tell me to sit out in the yard because I was a distraction. The kids knew I couldn’t understand, and whenever the teacher spoke, they all looked at me. I just looked dumb. The next time the teacher sent me to the yard, I just kept walking.
My aunt tried to enroll me in a Private School full of rich kids, but they scared me so much I purposely failed the entrance exam. I would’ve failed it anyway, it was so hard.
One afternoon I was standing with my aunt in front of her house when a van for Lincoln Military Academy pulled up to drop off some kids across the street. My eyes lit up and my aunt noticed. The next day we were at the academy taking a tour of the campus. It was incredible and everyone spoke English. Then came the entrance exam… Though I gave it all I had, the teacher said I failed it with flying colors.

Mom was taking classes to be a travel agent, and I asked if I could go back to New York to at least finish school for the year, I had missed so much school. She sent me to live with my sister and her family. I think I was there for about four months, when Mom came back to get me. She wasn’t use to being away from me, nor me away from her. We moved in with another aunt in the South Bronx until we moved back to Jackson heights. The funny thing was, not only did we move back to the same exact building as the one we left, it was directly across the hall.
Most of my growing up memories are of Jackson Heights, which is probably why my first Novel takes place there, but when I became an adult, I ended up purchasing my first home back in the Bronx… So where do I most identify with? A little bit of both I guess.

AW: What kind of writer do you consider yourself?
LM: I love to read things that are inspirational. They don’t have to be inspirational books per se, but there has to be something in the story that inspires. So that’s what I want to write. I haven’t chosen a particular genre yet, nor do I think I will ever settle for just one, but whether it be a comedy, horror or mystery, I believe it will be obvious that I wrote them.
AW: What inspired you to write?
LM: I always loved to write, as far back as I could remember. I also lied a lot as a kid which I guess is how I developed my story telling skills. Growing up I wrote songs, poems and scripts, but felt that writing books were a bit too professional for me. My spelling was pretty good, but my grammar I felt sucked. I still do! My wife had some great ideas for some stories and since she read so much, sometimes knocking out two books in a day, that I thought she would be able to write an incredible novel. You see, I’m a huge reader, and own tons of books, but most of my reading is “How To” and Biographies. My experience with novels was borderline nonexistent.
I ordered a book for my wife called, what else How to Write a Novel. It sort of sat there for about a week because she had a pile of Library books she was grinding through. One evening I grabbed the book and began flipping through it. The next morning, I started the first Chapter of Freestyle For Life. As I was writing, I also ordered and read every How To Write Novel book I could find.

AW: How long have you been writing?
LM: As I mentioned, I’ve written tons of songs and Scripts in the past, going back to my childhood days, but I actually started on my first novel Freestyle For Life back in 2008. I swear, I never thought it was ever going to be finished. I would write a chapter, then put it down for a couple of months, then another two chapters and so on. I had no intention to ever release it. This was just a sort of pet project. Whenever I came back to the book I forgot everything, what year it took place, the names of clubs, people, relationships. It was a mess. I took absolutely no notes. One minute I was writing about Paul, then suddenly on the next page his name was Rick. Yolanda had red hair, then golden, then black. People who died in one chapter were suddenly on the phone in the next. This book was a total mess. It was like printing 500 un-numbered pages then tossing the whole batch into the air then trying to put it all back together. Terrifies me every time I think of it.
Finally in April of 2011 I finished it, then proudly placed it up on my shelf. My wife was like, “What are you doing?” I said, “I finished it!” “She said, so put it out!” I laughed. “No one’s gonna wanna read this mess. “They will!” She said, “Trust me!” and so on may 25th 2011 I released Freestyle For Life on Kindle.
AW: Tell us about your latest work or work-in-progress.
LM: I just finished my second novel called Feastyle, about a Freestyle artist who just so happens to be a Vampire. Oh and by the way, I am heavily involved in the Freestyle Music Business so I tend to use that genre as a sort of backdrop in all my stories, so far. Feastyle was going to be released for Halloween 2011, but as I was approaching the final five days, I didn’t feel that the story was ready, and because of the huge success I was so far experiencing with my first novel, I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. So I canned the released till Halloween 2012.
It’s really a great story. I started researching Vampires, and though I was never really into them, I learned what an incredible system they live in. I was hooked! It’s uncanny how the world of Vampires coincides so well with the music business … you know, blood suckers!
In the meantime, I am finishing up another book, this one is, what else, a How To book, or better yet, a guide. It’s called, of course, FREESTYLE ‘An Insiders Guide To Club and Concert Promotions.” My primary occupation is that of a booking agent, Been doing it over 25 years. This book basically teaches aspiring concert promoters to consider the Freestyle genre to launch their new venture. It’s a win win book. This will help the market in general, not to mention the artist, clubs, agents, managers and more importantly, the fans. I’ve learned some really great things from promoters throughout the country… and I’m gonna share it!

AW: Have you done any speaking engagements concerning your book? If so, What, where, and when is your next engagement?
LM: Let me start by saying that I am shy as hell! I am terrified of talking to anything more than two people about my book. But, I know I really have to break out of it. You see, I have an incredible platform from where I could promote my work. Not only am I a booking agent, I am also the manager of such Freestyle Icons as Lil’ Suzy, Angel “The Original CoverGirl” who is also my wife. S.A.L. featuring Lisette Melendez, and the recently re-united Cover Girls. I travel the country almost every week with some of my acts and we do events at venues that hold anywhere from 500 to 6000 people. After every show we set up a table for autographs, a table where by book would fit in perfectly. 2012 is going to be a great year for Freestyle… I’m ready!
AW: Are there any other poets and/or writers whose work you admire?
LM: There are a few, but I have a new goal this year and that is to become very familiar with more Latino authors. My wife is going to help me, she knows them all and has read everything, so she will be my teacher in this. Not only do I want to read their works, I want to do whatever I can to help expose their work to others. I have an incredible marketing system that I’ve developed over the last 10 years and I want to utilize it to help them out. I’ve always been a believer in that the fastest way to reach your goal, is by helping others reach theirs.
AW: Coming back to your own works, do you have a website and/or blog where readers can find out more about you and your work?
LM: The absolute best way I found was to simply Google my name, Latif Mercado.
AW: What do you see as being next on the horizon for you?
LM: Well, I recently purchased about $50,000 in filmmaking equipment…
AW: Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
LM: Just that Freestyle For Life is the First Ever Urban Latino Novel based on this particular music Genre.

AW: Thank you!
LM: Thank you too Mr. Wolf!

SAL

Book SAL call 704-226-8900 or Email Latif@La-Entertainment.com

Three beautiful ladies, twelve hit songs, All together on just one stage. Let me introduce to you S.A.L. Featuring Lil' Suzy, Angel (The Original CoverGirl) and Lisette Melendez. We've watched and enjoyed them perform for many years and now is your chance to see them like never before.

SAL

Book SAL call 704-226-8900 or Email Latif@La-Entertainment.com

Three beautiful ladies, twelve hit songs, All together on just one stage. Let me introduce to you S.A.L. Featuring Lil' Suzy, Angel (The Original CoverGirl) and Lisette Melendez. We've watched and enjoyed them perform for many years and now is your chance to see them like never before.

SAL

Book SAL call 704-226-8900 or Email Latif@La-Entertainment.com

Three beautiful ladies, twelve hit songs, All together on just one stage. Let me introduce to you S.A.L. Featuring Lil' Suzy, Angel (The Original CoverGirl) and Lisette Melendez. We've watched and enjoyed them perform for many years and now is your chance to see them like never before.

FREESTYLE

To Book Freestyle Artist call La' Entertainment at 704-226-8900 or Email: Latif@La-Entertainment.com

ANGEL (Original CoverGirl)

LIL' SUZY

LISETTE MELENDEZ

S.A.L. (Suzy, Angel, Lisette)

ALISHA

ANGELINA

APRIL (Seduction)

BABY BASH

CAROL DOUGLAS

CLUB NOUVEAU

CONNIE

CORO

THE COVER GIRLS

CYNTHIA

DEBBIE DEBB

DJ MICKEY (MIC MAC) GARCIA

DOUG E. FRESH

EYGPTIAN LOVE

FRANCE JOLI

FREEDOM WILLIAMS (C&C)

FREESTYLE EVOLUTION

GEORGE LAMOND

EXPOSE

GQ

GRANDMASTER FLASH

GRANDMASTER MELE MEL & SCORPIO

KRS 1

JOHNNY O

JOYCE SIMMS

JUDY TORRES

K7

KRS1

KOOL MOE D

KURTIS BLOW

LISA LISA

MARTHA WASH

MC LYTE

NAUGHTY BY NATURE

NAYOBE

NEWCLEUS

NINA SKY

NOEL

PLANET PATROL

PRETTY POISON

REINA

ROB BASE

ROBIN S.

ROCHELL

ROCK PROJECT

SHANNON

SLICK RICK

SPECIAL ED

SWEET SENSATION

STEVIE B

SUGARHILL GANG

TAVARES

TAYLOR DAYNE

THE JETS

THE LEGENDS OF FREESTYLE

THE LEGENDS OF HIP HOP

TIM “SPINNIN’ SHOMER

TIMMY T

TITO PUENTE Jr.

TKA

TRINERE

VANILLA ICE

YOUNG MC

& MORE

CNR (TRILOGY)

FASCINATION

COMPANY B

BRENDA K. STARR

DMC (RUN DMC)

WILLIE VALENTINE

STEPHANIE BENNET

NOCERA

FREESTYLE

To Book Freestyle Artist call La' Entertainment at 704-226-8900 or Email: Latif@La-Entertainment.com

ANGEL (Original CoverGirl)

LIL' SUZY

LISETTE MELENDEZ

S.A.L. (Suzy, Angel, Lisette)

ALISHA

ANGELINA

APRIL (Seduction)

BABY BASH

CAROL DOUGLAS

CLUB NOUVEAU

CONNIE

CORO

THE COVER GIRLS

CYNTHIA

DEBBIE DEBB

DJ MICKEY (MIC MAC) GARCIA

DOUG E. FRESH

EYGPTIAN LOVE

FRANCE JOLI

FREEDOM WILLIAMS (C&C)

FREESTYLE EVOLUTION

GEORGE LAMOND

EXPOSE

GQ

GRANDMASTER FLASH

GRANDMASTER MELE MEL & SCORPIO

KRS 1

JOHNNY O

JOYCE SIMMS

JUDY TORRES

K7

KRS1

KOOL MOE D

KURTIS BLOW

LISA LISA

MARTHA WASH

MC LYTE

NAUGHTY BY NATURE

NAYOBE

NEWCLEUS

NINA SKY

NOEL

PLANET PATROL

PRETTY POISON

REINA

ROB BASE

ROBIN S.

ROCHELL

ROCK PROJECT

SHANNON

SLICK RICK

SPECIAL ED

SWEET SENSATION

STEVIE B

SUGARHILL GANG

TAVARES

TAYLOR DAYNE

THE JETS

THE LEGENDS OF FREESTYLE

THE LEGENDS OF HIP HOP

TIM “SPINNIN’ SHOMER

TIMMY T

TITO PUENTE Jr.

TKA

TRINERE

VANILLA ICE

YOUNG MC

& MORE

CNR (TRILOGY)

FASCINATION

COMPANY B

BRENDA K. STARR

DMC (RUN DMC)

WILLIE VALENTINE

STEPHANIE BENNET

NOCERA

FREESTYLE

To Book Freestyle Artist call La' Entertainment at 704-226-8900 or Email: Latif@La-Entertainment.com

ANGEL (Original CoverGirl)

LIL' SUZY

LISETTE MELENDEZ

S.A.L. (Suzy, Angel, Lisette)

ALISHA

ANGELINA

APRIL (Seduction)

BABY BASH

CAROL DOUGLAS

CLUB NOUVEAU

CONNIE

CORO

THE COVER GIRLS

CYNTHIA

DEBBIE DEBB

DJ MICKEY (MIC MAC) GARCIA

DOUG E. FRESH

EYGPTIAN LOVE

FRANCE JOLI

FREEDOM WILLIAMS (C&C)

FREESTYLE EVOLUTION

GEORGE LAMOND

EXPOSE

GQ

GRANDMASTER FLASH

GRANDMASTER MELE MEL & SCORPIO

KRS 1

JOHNNY O

JOYCE SIMMS

JUDY TORRES

K7

KRS1

KOOL MOE D

KURTIS BLOW

LISA LISA

MARTHA WASH

MC LYTE

NAUGHTY BY NATURE

NAYOBE

NEWCLEUS

NINA SKY

NOEL

PLANET PATROL

PRETTY POISON

REINA

ROB BASE

ROBIN S.

ROCHELL

ROCK PROJECT

SHANNON

SLICK RICK

SPECIAL ED

SWEET SENSATION

STEVIE B

SUGARHILL GANG

TAVARES

TAYLOR DAYNE

THE JETS

THE LEGENDS OF FREESTYLE

THE LEGENDS OF HIP HOP

TIM “SPINNIN’ SHOMER

TIMMY T

TITO PUENTE Jr.

TKA

TRINERE

VANILLA ICE

YOUNG MC

& MORE

CNR (TRILOGY)

FASCINATION

COMPANY B

BRENDA K. STARR

DMC (RUN DMC)

WILLIE VALENTINE

STEPHANIE BENNET

NOCERA

FREESTYLE

To Book Freestyle Artist call La' Entertainment at 704-226-8900 or Email: Latif@La-Entertainment.com

ANGEL (Original CoverGirl)

LIL' SUZY

LISETTE MELENDEZ

S.A.L. (Suzy, Angel, Lisette)

ALISHA

ANGELINA

APRIL (Seduction)

BABY BASH

CAROL DOUGLAS

CLUB NOUVEAU

CONNIE

CORO

THE COVER GIRLS

CYNTHIA

DEBBIE DEBB

DJ MICKEY (MIC MAC) GARCIA

DOUG E. FRESH

EYGPTIAN LOVE

FRANCE JOLI

FREEDOM WILLIAMS (C&C)

FREESTYLE EVOLUTION

GEORGE LAMOND

EXPOSE

GQ

GRANDMASTER FLASH

GRANDMASTER MELE MEL & SCORPIO

KRS 1

JOHNNY O

JOYCE SIMMS

JUDY TORRES

K7

KRS1

KOOL MOE D

KURTIS BLOW

LISA LISA

MARTHA WASH

MC LYTE

NAUGHTY BY NATURE

NAYOBE

NEWCLEUS

NINA SKY

NOEL

PLANET PATROL

PRETTY POISON

REINA

ROB BASE

ROBIN S.

ROCHELL

ROCK PROJECT

SHANNON

SLICK RICK

SPECIAL ED

SWEET SENSATION

STEVIE B

SUGARHILL GANG

TAVARES

TAYLOR DAYNE

THE JETS

THE LEGENDS OF FREESTYLE

THE LEGENDS OF HIP HOP

TIM “SPINNIN’ SHOMER

TIMMY T

TITO PUENTE Jr.

TKA

TRINERE

VANILLA ICE

YOUNG MC

& MORE

CNR (TRILOGY)

FASCINATION

COMPANY B

BRENDA K. STARR

DMC (RUN DMC)

WILLIE VALENTINE

STEPHANIE BENNET

NOCERA

FREESTYLE

To Book Freestyle Artist call La' Entertainment at 704-226-8900 or Email: Latif@La-Entertainment.com

ANGEL (Original CoverGirl)

LIL' SUZY

LISETTE MELENDEZ

S.A.L. (Suzy, Angel, Lisette)

ALISHA

ANGELINA

APRIL (Seduction)

BABY BASH

CAROL DOUGLAS

CLUB NOUVEAU

CONNIE

CORO

THE COVER GIRLS

CYNTHIA

DEBBIE DEBB

DJ MICKEY (MIC MAC) GARCIA

DOUG E. FRESH

EYGPTIAN LOVE

FRANCE JOLI

FREEDOM WILLIAMS (C&C)

FREESTYLE EVOLUTION

GEORGE LAMOND

EXPOSE

GQ

GRANDMASTER FLASH

GRANDMASTER MELE MEL & SCORPIO

KRS 1

JOHNNY O

JOYCE SIMMS

JUDY TORRES

K7

KRS1

KOOL MOE D

KURTIS BLOW

LISA LISA

MARTHA WASH

MC LYTE

NAUGHTY BY NATURE

NAYOBE

NEWCLEUS

NINA SKY

NOEL

PLANET PATROL

PRETTY POISON

REINA

ROB BASE

ROBIN S.

ROCHELL

ROCK PROJECT

SHANNON

SLICK RICK

SPECIAL ED

SWEET SENSATION

STEVIE B

SUGARHILL GANG

TAVARES

TAYLOR DAYNE

THE JETS

THE LEGENDS OF FREESTYLE

THE LEGENDS OF HIP HOP

TIM “SPINNIN’ SHOMER

TIMMY T

TITO PUENTE Jr.

TKA

TRINERE

VANILLA ICE

YOUNG MC

& MORE

CNR (TRILOGY)

FASCINATION

COMPANY B

BRENDA K. STARR

DMC (RUN DMC)

WILLIE VALENTINE

STEPHANIE BENNET

NOCERA

FREESTYLE

To Book Freestyle Artist call La' Entertainment at 704-226-8900 or Email: Latif@La-Entertainment.com

ANGEL (Original CoverGirl)

LIL' SUZY

LISETTE MELENDEZ

S.A.L. (Suzy, Angel, Lisette)

ALISHA

ANGELINA

APRIL (Seduction)

BABY BASH

CAROL DOUGLAS

CLUB NOUVEAU

CONNIE

CORO

THE COVER GIRLS

CYNTHIA

DEBBIE DEBB

DJ MICKEY (MIC MAC) GARCIA

DOUG E. FRESH

EYGPTIAN LOVE

FRANCE JOLI

FREEDOM WILLIAMS (C&C)

FREESTYLE EVOLUTION

GEORGE LAMOND

EXPOSE

GQ

GRANDMASTER FLASH

GRANDMASTER MELE MEL & SCORPIO

KRS 1

JOHNNY O

JOYCE SIMMS

JUDY TORRES

K7

KRS1

KOOL MOE D

KURTIS BLOW

LISA LISA

MARTHA WASH

MC LYTE

NAUGHTY BY NATURE

NAYOBE

NEWCLEUS

NINA SKY

NOEL

PLANET PATROL

PRETTY POISON

REINA

ROB BASE

ROBIN S.

ROCHELL

ROCK PROJECT

SHANNON

SLICK RICK

SPECIAL ED

SWEET SENSATION

STEVIE B

SUGARHILL GANG

TAVARES

TAYLOR DAYNE

THE JETS

THE LEGENDS OF FREESTYLE

THE LEGENDS OF HIP HOP

TIM “SPINNIN’ SHOMER

TIMMY T

TITO PUENTE Jr.

TKA

TRINERE

VANILLA ICE

YOUNG MC

& MORE

CNR (TRILOGY)

FASCINATION

COMPANY B

BRENDA K. STARR

DMC (RUN DMC)

WILLIE VALENTINE

STEPHANIE BENNET

NOCERA