Tegp Es Tego!

Puerto Rican rapper wows with his street cred

In his song "Punto y Aparte," Puerto Rican rapper Tego Calderón describes himself as "calle pero elegante" – from the streets, yes, but still elegant. That's the perfect way to describe the versatile rapper, who made his first visit to Dallas in the wee hours of Friday morning at popular Latino club Far West.

Mr. Calderón hasn't enjoyed the massive crossover success of fellow Puerto Ricans such as Daddy Yankee, who helped bring the jumpy, dance-friendly style called Puerto Rican rapper to mainstream U.S. radio. But Mr. Calderón's authoritative voice and musical sophistication have won him a loyal following.

Fans packed into Far West, waving Puerto Rican flags (or Mexican flags) and chanting along with the rapper's thick baritone. He gave them the sounds of the streets, a versatile mixture of reggaeton and hip-hop jams. The elegance was in the components of the beats: complex percussion, jazzy horns and other elements of Afro-Caribbean music.

English-language hip-hop stars could learn a lot from Mr. Calderón's stage presence. He never shouted over the booming bass, confident that his voice could command attention on its own. Though he often dresses nattily in suits and stylish hats for public appearances, Mr. Calderón was more casual on this night in baggy shorts and an extra-large T-shirt, concealing his wiry frame.

Rapping in a thick Puerto Rican accent, he slurred his words and dropped his consonants, his lyrics teeming with enough slang to fill a new dictionary.

But it wasn't necessary to understand every lyric. Rap fans of any background would appreciate his laid-back flow, his ability to precisely time his syllables so that they danced around the beat.

Like Muhammad Ali, Mr. Calderón seemed to move slowly, almost lazily, making his powerful jabs seem almost effortless. Even on happy dance songs, such as the new "Dale Mami Mueve," he sounded more like a cool, witty observer on the sidelines than like the party emcee in the middle of the action.

His voice sounded best, though, over slower, grimier beats, such as the menacing growl of cellos in the Fat Joe hit "Lean Back." "Bandoleros," another highlight, had a simple, easy rhythm flecked with acoustic guitar.

Fans sang along all night. Women, and some men, climbed on their companions' shoulders for a better view. One young man, lifted above the crowd, extended his arms above his head and repeatedly bowed low in adulation.

Mr. Calderón clearly enjoyed his audience's energy, grinning widely when it began chanting his first name. "Que lindo," he responded softly, shaking his head. How beautiful.