No ice gold. No low riders. No G-strings. Just pure anger.

Hip-hop has been around in Mexico since Chicano rapper Kid Frost dropped his "Hispanic Causing Panic" album in 1990, mixing rhymes in Spanish, English and Spanglish. However, it was mostly an underground scene, confined to basements and house parties, while the clubs played rock and pop.

But last year's sudden explosion of Puerto Rican reggaeton -- that catchy fusion of dance hall reggae, hip-hop and tropical music that has scored a series of international hits -- has opened the door for the Mexican rhymers. Now, night clubs in barrios across Mexico have started playing a mix of reggaeton and hip-hop to heaving dance floors.

Rappers here take their inspiration from the United States and Caribbean, but give it a distinctive Mexican twist.

The music is filled with rich Latin sounds such as salsa piano licks and norteno horns in place of the soul and funk samples that drive U.S. rap.

And the lyrics are more socially conscious and political than the "bling bling" talk of wealth and women dominating U.S. hip-hop or the pure party buzz in the Puerto Rican sound. Sociedad Cafe, a crew from one of Mexico City's toughest barrios, raps about the gun violence plaguing poor neighborhoods, a problem that has given Mexico one of the highest homicide rates in the hemisphere.

Mexican society is opening up after recently emerging from seven decades of one-party rule under which issues such as race and class were plastered over. After the divisive July 2 elections, these topics are now at the forefront of political debate.

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JEZZY P

Mexican rapper Jezzy P grabs the microphone and unleashes total fury. She's mad about gangs of trigger-happy kids in her Mexico City slum. She's furious about sexism in macho Mexico. But most of all, she's angry about being broke in a country where the minimum wage is $4 a day.

"A lot of rappers in the United States talk about their luxury cars and the diamonds on their teeth. But it's stupid doing that here in Mexico City, where most of us don't even have cars," Jezzy said, catching her breath after tearing out fearsome rhymes in a makeshift studio on the outskirts of the Mexican capital.

Jezzy P, whose real name is Jessica Roldan, is part of a growing army of Mexican rappers rhyming about their lives and problems in the tough urban jungles south of the Rio Grande.

In a song called "Time Doesn't Stop," Jezzy P launches a scathing attack on the inequality that leaves 50 million Mexicans in poverty.

"Some fight for justice and blood is spilled, while poor little rich girls buy expensive clothes," Jezzy P raps in Spanish before switching to singing in a soulful melancholic voice.

Mexico's complicated relationship with its powerful northern neighbor often comes out in rap lyrics.

On one side, Mexican rappers are inspired by U.S. hip-hop culture and fashion and most have family and friends north of the border. But they are also angry about undocumented Mexicans dying in the desert and see the United States as an aggressive world power.

A group of Mexican rappers, including Jezzy P, recently produced a track attacking U.S. plans to build more fences on its southern border.

"We'll rip out hearts for every immigrant that dies," Jezzy raps. "If you don't want problems with the Aztec race then don't screw us with these filthy laws."

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BIG METRA

Rapper Big Metra, whose real name is Oscar Castro, rhymes about the racism that he has experienced in both Mexico and the United States. The son of a Mexican father and Puerto Rican mother, Metra spent some of his youth in the Los Angeles Watts neighborhood before moving down to Mexico City. He used to be angry about the racism he confronted in California, but he found it was just as bad south of the border.

"You can be in a McDonald's in Mexico City and they make you wait longer because you are dark skinned and there is a lighter skinned person there," said Metra, who sports a three-inch high afro haircut. "I used to have a song called 'What's Up Gringo,' criticizing Americans. But now I think that was kind of stupid, because Mexicans can be just as racist."

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MC LUKA

Luis Carlos Fernandez, alias MC Luka, a Mexico City native who started rapping in San Diego, says the love and hate for the United States go hand in hand.

"When you are close to the U.S. or live there you get involved in its street culture. But you are also closer to its racism and problems," said Luka, who wears a huge Mexico City tattoo across his chest.

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JUAN CARLOS RODRIGUEZ

The force of Mexican rappers rocking dance floors has finally grabbed the attention of major record labels. In November, Universal music signed a deal with Mexico City hip-hop label Mantequilla Records to promote their artists. Their first release was a thumping single by Big Metra called "La Crema," and it rapidly became one of the first homemade hip hop tracks to get national radio and video play.

Mantequila manager Juan Carlos Rodriguez believes the scene is heating up for an explosion, and is confident it will soon score hits in the United States.

"This is just the beginning. People are getting into this sound more and more," Rodriguez said. "It's like a disease, and you can't stop it."

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asap contributor Ioan Grillo is an Associated Press reporter in Mexico City.

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