Juan “Down” Martinez is on his way to becoming an influential figure in Latin hip hop. The 26-year-old rapper from Oxnard, California, started rapping at age 13 after listening to Straight Outta Compton by N.W.A. – and he spits with a style eerily similar to that of Eazy-E. The self-proclaimed "Brown Super Hero" proudly wears his Mexican heritage on his sleeve, flowing over corridos, mariachi music, soul and Chicano funk.

As Down's street cred grew, he was able to persuade Snoop Dogg, Daz and MC Ren to guest on his 2003 debut, California Cowboys. His second release, Bosses and Jefes, was an unusual bilingual double CD. With each release, Down's flow has matured dramatically, but his greatest asset remains his ability to kick down-to-earth stories about life in the barrio. "Mami Te Quiero" is both an apologetic ode to his mother and a tale of his days running the streets. His newest album, Definition Of An Ese, promises to deliver more West Coast flavor with guests Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and B-Real. There is no flash or fake with Down, just conscious rhymes that allow him to connect with everyday Chicano hip hop fans.

See: myspace.com/kiloakadown

August 17, 1989. Jesus "Jes" Martinez goes on a backpacking trip to Oaxaca, Mexico with his friends from Santa Rosa Junior College. A devoted fan of The Cure and Depeche Mode, Jes packs only black pants, black turtleneck sweaters and Dr. Martens boots. Lulled by the tropical summer heat, he eventually trades his Dr. Martens boots for huaraches with soles made out of used tires. The first Dr. Martens boots were made shortly after World War II with discarded rubber from German air force fields.

Image via Flickr by Moody75.