Papa Rap

Al “Papa Rap” López has spent 33 years building a sound that is unmistakably Arkansas and unmistakably his own.

The Puerto Rican‑born musician calls it ArkanSalsa: a vibrant fusion of Caribbean rhythms and the rural, gospel, country, and blues traditions he has absorbed since making Arkansas his home. His song “What’s Up, Qué Pasa” won the International John Lennon Songwriting Contest. He has received the Arkansas Governor’s Award and been inducted into the Arkansas Latino Hall of Fame. His mottoes, Smart Starts With Arts and Together Is Better, capture the spirit behind the music: this is folk music in the true sense of the word, made to bring a community together.

For festival audiences, the set is one of the weekend’s most joyful invitations to dance.