Papa Rap
ArkanSalsa: where Caribbean rhythm meets Arkansas soul.
Al “Papa Rap” López is a Puerto Rican-born, self-taught musician who has called Arkansas home for 33 years. Creator of “ArkanSalsa,” a vibrant fusion of Caribbean rhythms and Arkansas influences, he uses music to bring communities together. His song “What’s Up, Qué Pasa!” won the International John Lennon Songwriting Contest. A recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Award and inductee into the Arkansas Latino Hall of Fame, López champions the arts through his mottos: “Smart Starts With Arts” and “Together Is Better.”
Festival Appearances
Find their time and stage at the festival
Related artists
Explore other musicians and makers from the festival.
Jude Brothers
A folk-derived singer-songwriter from Fayetteville playing harp, guitar, and tenor banjo with a style critics have called haunting, whimsical, and deeply captivating.
Pam Setser
A veteran Mountain View multi-instrumentalist and tradition bearer carrying forward the songs and stories of the Ozarks.
Joshua Youngblood
Associate Dean of Special Collections at the University of Arkansas Libraries, leading the Arkansas Folksong Digital Archive.