Latinx Culture Through Music: Nick Barili Talks De La Calle

We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Nick Barili, the creator and host of De La Calle. If you haven’t seen his work yet, you’re missing out on a powerful exploration of Latino music and culture from all around the world. Nick’s been nominated for an Imagen Award, and for a very good reason—his documentary series is breaking barriers, highlighting stories that have been overlooked for far too long.

The Story Behind De La Calle Docu Series with Nick Barili

Nick Barili is an Argentinian-American journalist, director, and producer who’s been a strong advocate for Latino representation in media. He’s best known as the founder of Hard Knock TV and has been working in the industry for over 25 years. His dedication to telling the stories of marginalized communities has made him a respected voice in the world of music and culture.

For Nick, De La Calle is more than just a show; it’s a journey into the history, culture, and music of Latinx communities across the globe. As he states, “I’ve been a music journalist for the last 25 years, and covering hip hop, I wasn’t seeing a lot of our contributions and stories.” This inspired him to create De La Calle, which showcases how deeply Latino culture has shaped the urban music scene. From reggaeton to Latin trap, the series gives a voice to those who have been part of the movement from its origins.

Each episode is packed with insightful interviews with legends like Fat Joe, NORE, Residente, Villano Antillano, Nathy Peluso, Jessie Reyes, Gente De Zona, and Nicky Jam, amongst many more. As Nick explains, De La Calle isn’t just about music—it’s about understanding the unique stories and experiences that shape it. “What better way to tell those stories than through music?” he says.

Whether it’s Puerto Rico, Colombia, or Spain, Nick helps viewers explore the rich diversity of Latino music and culture. He’s passionate about showing the world that every region has its own unique sound and story. “There’s so much beauty in understanding how an experience from Puerto Rico is different than Mexican, Cuban, or Colombian,” he shares.

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In one of Nick’s favorite interviews with NORE, he illustrates the complexity of being both Black and Latino in the music industry. “NORE talked about the beauty of being Black and Latino, and how it was a struggle at first, but now we can appreciate how he united cultures through music,” Nick recalls.

De La Calle also covers important social issues, from feminism to identity politics, all through the lens of urban music. Nick is proud of the feedback he’s received from viewers, many of whom say they’ve never seen conversations like these on TV. “A lot of times, content about our community leans on negative tropes,” he says, “but there’s so much beauty, perseverance, and creativity in our stories.”

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Nick’s journey to where he is now hasn’t been easy. He grew up in the US after migrating from Argentina, and after turning 18, he became undocumented. But that experience, he says, made him realize the power of having a platform that speaks for his community. “Being behind a microphone is a power, not just for myself but for the people going through the same things I did,” he explains.

Looking ahead, Nick’s excited to expand the series. “We’ve done New York, Panama, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Spain,” he says, “but I still want to visit places like Brazil and Peru.” The goal? To keep celebrating the incredible diversity within Latinx culture and music.

Nick’s passion for representing Latinx voices is also why he’s honored to have been nominated for an Imagen Award. “Awards like these are important because, unfortunately, when we turn on the big award shows, we’re often missing from the narrative,” he says. The Imagen Awards are a way to celebrate the talent and achievements of the Latino community, something Nick is deeply committed to.

Stay tuned for a brand new episode of Blacktinidad and get to know more about Nick Barili—the man who’s making sure our stories are told, our music is heard, and our culture is celebrated.