Bodega Bamz
Bodega Bamz
Nathaniel de la Rosa
Papi. Young Don. El Rey. Whatever you call him, Bodega Bamz is a major influence in New York’s underground rap scene. Born on March 17th, 1985 as Nathaniel de la Rosa, his ethnic background is half Dominican and half Puerto Rican. Bodega Bamz constantly reps Spanish Harlem in his own sub-genre of Latin Trap.
Bamz’s brother, Ohla, is a vital part of his life and career. He plays a role in the creative process of most of Bamz’s music, as well as the corporate side of things. “My brother, my manager, everything.”
For most of his childhood, Bamz wasn’t allowed to listen to hardcore rap. His exposure to the genre grew thanks to his cousin, Ace, who had a wide collection of rap CDs. In high school, Bamz began battle rapping. A popular hobby at the time, it was his defining moment as a rapper. However, he started to take music much more seriously when he became a father.