Did any Atlanta artist put in more work in 2020 than Victor Mariachi? It’s a rhetorical question but one grounded in sincerity. The dude really did grind all year. First he put out the Bubble Boy EP back in March, which was followed by the Super Humans full length a few months later. Then came a pair of standalone singles (“Conclusions” and “Lo-Fye,” respectively), as well as a spate of DIY videos, promo teasers, and podcast interviews. Add in a slew of freestyle clips, Instagram Live sessions, TikToks, and other social media experiments and you come away with a portrait of an artist obssessed with his craft and pushing forward his vision.
It’s a fitting look for Mariachi, who has often made hard work—specifically the backbreaking labor endured by immigrants—a central theme in his music. “Homerun,” one of the standout tracks from Super Humans, is a powerful examination of the migrant experience. Over the course of three explosive minutes, Mariachi confronts the terror of women and children forced to flee their country only to discover a different sort of trauma waiting for them in a cold, unwelcoming America. “Dirty looks from a pilgrim / If only he knew what she had to witness / This is not the life of the weaklings / The preset life of surviving in the village,” he spits over a rumbling beat from producer llouis.
Directed by Jose Ibarra Rizo, the black and white video follows the harrowing journey of Argelia Ceron as she races across the border in search of a better life for herself and her children. While bearing the scars of sexual and psychological abuse, Ceron works grueling sixty-hour weeks cleaning offices and hotels to support her family. For Mariachi, “Homerun” is an indictment of this ruthless cycle of violence, poverty, and struggle. But it’s also a celebration of the countless women—his mother included—who have survived the journey so their children can break the chains and build a new legacy.
Judging by the response—nearly 40,000 views and hundreds of comments, many of them sharing their own migrant stories—it’s clear the rapper has crafted a work worth rallying around. Indeed, “Homerun” is powerful and affecting—a grim yet inspiring effort from an immigrant son making the most of his opportunity.
Watch/listen above.
More Info
Bandcamp: victormariachi.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @VictorMariachi1111
Instagram: @victormariachi
SoundCloud: @victor-mariachi
Twitter: @VictorMariachiX