Like it Like Harlem

The story of East Harlem is the story of how American music is made.

It’s where mambo, salsa, and boogaloo converged to give rise to iconic hits like “I Like It Like That,” “Oye Cómo Va,” and “Boogaloo Blues.” It’s where cultures came together and artists who challenged the musical status quo found pride, passion, and possibility on every block.

When Puerto Rican and Cuban immigrants arrived in New York City in the mid-20th century, they ushered in a new era of cultural renaissance in the neighborhood that became popularly known as “Spanish Harlem,” but is also known to many simply as “El Barrio”—the neighborhood.