Prepare to have your history textbooks updated! The legendary Underground Railroad wasn’t just a northbound route to freedom; it also stretched south across the flowing waters of the Rio Grande. Thousands of courageous, escaped, and formerly enslaved individuals found sanctuary in an emancipated Mexico, a vital but often overlooked chapter of this incredible journey.
This forgotten narrative bursts to life in ‘Mexodus,’ a groundbreaking hip-hop musical by Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson. It’s a captivating blend of historical fiction, an exhilarating jam session, and a testament to boundless curiosity and ingenious technological creativity.
Experience an electrifying theatrical journey at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theater, where Quijada and Robinson masterfully build their musical landscape using layered loops. Starting with simple plucks of a stand-up bass, acoustic guitar strums, and a cascade of piano keys, they ingeniously layer beatboxing, smooth, soulful vocals, and even an accordion. These meticulously repeated sounds organically craft a rich, immersive sonic universe from the ground up. Each instrument adds a new dimension, allowing them to construct an entire song, riding its evolving waves. It’s a truly dazzling display, not just of musical potential, but of the sheer joy and exhilaration of creation itself.
Having graced stages from Baltimore Center Stage to Berkeley Repertory Theater, Quijada and Robinson effortlessly embody multiple roles. They shine as M.C.s, drawing the audience in with the vibrant call-and-response style of hip-hop theater. They become modern-day griots, sharing deeply personal, memory-rich monologues, and passionate advocates disrupting the status quo for Black and Latino liberation. Ultimately, they transform into Carlos and Henry, two fictional figures from opposing sides of the U.S.-Mexico border whose intertwined destinies force them to rely on each other for survival.
Meet Carlos, a former Mexican-American War medic haunted by his desertion, now awkwardly working on a farm. Then there’s Henry, an enslaved Texan fugitive fleeing after a desperate act. Their paths collide when Carlos, witnessing Henry injured in the Rio Grande, saves his life. What begins as a begrudging alliance born of necessity soon blossoms into a genuine friendship, transforming the historical research into a deeply personal buddy tragicomedy – a brilliant artistic choice that roots their extensive archival work.
As our captivating narrators, Quijada and Robinson radiate charm, demonstrating breathtaking musical agility and rapping at an almost unbelievable pace – they’d surely win gold in any linguistic competition! Beyond their rapid-fire rhymes, they possess siren-like singing voices and masterfully play a plethora of instruments scattered across Riw Rakkulchon’s remarkable set. This quasi-barn, resembling a forgotten shipping container, cleverly disguises itself as a rickety trove of hidden treasures, akin to a life-size hidden object game where guitars, washboards, and percussion seamlessly merge with the walls. The constant switching between instruments and the intricate, word-heavy performances create a ‘never-ending loop’ of effort, a profound metaphor mirroring the musical layering. One particularly stunning scene sees Henry offering to help Carlos dig a trench; instead of shovels, they grab guitars, strumming soulfully while miming the laborious work.
Despite its improvisational, freestyle vibe, director David Mendizábal guides ‘Mexodus’ with the effortless precision of a perfectly executed cypher. It’s clearly an incredibly demanding performance, yet Quijada and Robinson maintain unwavering control, even as musical tempos surge mid-song. And let’s not forget Mikhail Fiksel, the genius architect and sound designer behind the complex looping systems. Though unseen, Fiksel’s technical mastery is on full display for a solid 90 minutes, a clear showcase of his extraordinary talent.
Collectively, these artists have forged a truly dynamic experience: a universe where passionate, rapid-fire rap intimately converses with lyrical bolero, where English and Spanish flow seamlessly together, and where cross-cultural solidarity isn’t just a lofty ideal, but an absolute necessity – a profound truth too often obscured by the shadows of colonialism, colorism, and other societal distractions. Quijada and Robinson embody the very unity they advocate, transforming into a living testament to their message. While ‘Mexodus’ is slated for Audible’s streaming app, this powerful hip-hop ‘homily’ is an absolute must-see live performance.
Mexodus
Playing through October 18 at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theater, Manhattan.