FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 2, 2021 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 33
buzz
South Jamaica hip-hop artist releases album
to inspire and uplift youth in the community
Roberto Torres, also known as Sabor
Latino, records a song in the studio.
BY BENEDETTA TOMMASELLI
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
South Jamaica hip-hop artist and author
Roberto Torres, also known as Sabor Latino,
released his second album, “Observaciones
de mi Vida Vol. 2,” in October. Th e album
sends a message of inspiration and motivation
to the youth.
Torres’ latest album consists of four songs:
“Victoria (Victory),” “What happened to
you (Que Te Paso),” “Hope (Esperanza)”
and “Almost Passed Away (Casi Me
Muero).”
In 2013, he released his fi rst album,
“Observaciones de mi Vida Vol. 1,” which
was the prequel of his latest album. It’s available
on Amazon, Apple Music, Pandora
and Spotify.
“It feels good having my second album
out. It is a testament that if you work hard
in life, you can accomplish your dreams.
Anything in life is possible,” Torres said.
Torres fi rst became interested in writing
music at the age of 11, and his teachers were
always impressed by his work. In 2012, he
decided to make a career of his writing and
started to record hip-hop music.
In his new album, Torres’ inspirational
messages refl ect on recent experiences the
artist went through in his life, such as growing
up in a low-income
household. Not having
enough is what motivated
him to become someone
that people can look
up to while supporting the
Latino community.
“Th ere has to be a balance.
When there is too much
negativity, a lot of kids will lean
towards the negativity, because
there is more of that. But when you
have balance with positive hip-hop
albums, that kind of balances things out.
Th at’s where I come in,” Torres said.
Torres says he believes in being an advocate
for positive Spanish hip-hop music that,
along with all the general street Spanish
hip-hop. He feels there has to be someone
that gives a more encouraging take.
“Whenever I see that hip-hop is going
too much towards the negative direction,
I gotta put out another project, I feel like
I’m responsible for the Latino community.
I respect what everybody else does; everybody
has their lane and style. But you gotta
have positive hip-hop,” Torres said.
According to Torres, who is a deputy
director of the Beacon Preventive
Program at J.H.S. 008 Richard S. Grossley/
Roy Wilkins Park Family Center in South
Jamaica, his role served a signifi cant infl uence
in his art, songs and books by observing
the families he has worked with.
Torres believes that he needs to continue
to publish positive music and books to help
the youth and individuals who have lost
inspiration in life.
In recent weeks, Torres has completed
his education in alcohol and substance
abuse counseling. He is now a trainee helping
individuals struggling with alcohol and
substance use disorders.
Torres says he plans to release more of his
infl uential art in the coming future.
He is currently working on publishing his
fi ft h book titled “You Are a Beautiful and
Special Person No Matter What” in 2022.
Th e book will talk about diff erent interventions
in life and how to overcome diffi cult
situations, as well as the affi rmation that no
matter the outcome, one is still a beautiful
and special person.
Photos courtesy of Torres
Roberto Torres’ second album, “Observaciones de mi Vida Vol. 2,” refl ects on the artist’s life experiences.
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