Cuban rapper Raudel Collazo, also known as "El Patriota," delivered a scathing critique of the Cuban dictatorship during his appearance at the "Atlantic Forum of Think Tanks 2025." This international event, organized by the Union of Latin American Political Parties (UPLA), took place in Miami from June 12 to 14. "Cuba is a criminal regime that is literally killing its people," the artist declared passionately, leaving no room for ambiguity in his speech.
Addressing an audience of political leaders, scholars, and activists from Latin America, Europe, and the United States, Collazo painted a grim picture of the dire poverty and state terrorism inflicted daily by the Havana regime on its citizens. His remarks, shared in part on his TikTok account, coincided with recent student protests in Cuba, sparked by the state-run Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba (ETECSA) increasing internet prices.
The UPLA, representing 31 political parties across 21 countries, used the forum to publicly support these demonstrations and affirm its commitment to freedom on the island.
The "Mother of All Dictatorships"
Collazo criticized what he perceives as the lukewarm international response to Cuba's plight. "We've had enough of the Cuba phenomenon, 66 years exporting the same state terrorism to Venezuela, Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico... and even crossing the ocean to Spain," he exclaimed. "There is often a lack of deep condemnation regarding Cuba. What are we going to do?" he challenged the audience.
For Collazo, who has turned rap into a tool of resistance, his message is neither empty rhetoric nor a political ambition. "I am not a politician who makes rap songs. I am a rapper who speaks about politics... and I use hip hop to denounce the brutal dictatorship in my country," he has stated on other occasions.
As the founder of the Escuadrón Patriota project, he highlighted the suppression of free speech and the political imprisonment rampant in Cuba. "There are over a thousand political prisoners in Cuba, probably more. If you speak out, you get jailed. Literally jailed," he emphasized.
For Collazo, discussing Cuba's future is impossible without confronting its present reality. "The situation in Cuba is terrible. Anything we discuss here pales in comparison to the reality there," he asserted. "We cannot address the phenomenon of regional dictatorships without talking about Cuba, which is the mother of them all."
A Forum for Freedom in Cuba and Latin America
During the event, UPLA expressed its support for young Cubans protesting the regime, describing these actions as "a testament to the indomitable spirit of a generation committed to change."
In a panel titled "Cuba: On the Brink of a Democratic Transition," Raudel shared the stage with Cuban journalist Claudia Padrón Cueto, América Tevé director Miguel Cossío, and former diplomat and political prisoner Luis Zúñiga, as reported by the independent media outlet CubaNet.
The forum also featured discussions on the cost of activism in authoritarian regimes, with participation from human rights defenders from Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
The Atlantic Forum was sponsored by the International Republican Institute (IRI) and concluded with a declaration of principles defending democracy in the hemisphere.
From Censored Rapper to International Political Voice
Raudel Collazo is no stranger to the Cuban resistance. Since the early 2000s, he has been a prominent figure in the island's conscious hip-hop scene, using his art to openly challenge the system.
His history of repression includes incidents like his arbitrary detention in August 2017, when he and DJ Reymel were intercepted by State Security upon arriving in Camagüey for an independent underground concert. Before even getting off the bus, they were arrested and briefly disappeared as part of an operation by the authorities to sabotage the event. By then, Collazo had already been censored and expelled from official cultural circuits for his critical music.
In 2011, his song "Decadencia" was included in an international album supporting democracy in Cuba and prisoners of conscience, alongside artists like Gloria Estefan, Alejandro Sanz, and Willy Chirino.
His journey has been marked by official exclusion, but also by a steadfastness that has made him one of the most respected voices in the Cuban artistic exile community.
Understanding Raudel Collazo's Critique of the Cuban Regime
What did Raudel Collazo say about the Cuban regime?
Raudel Collazo described the Cuban regime as a "criminal regime" that is "literally killing its people." He criticized the state terrorism and severe poverty inflicted by the government.
Why did Raudel Collazo participate in the Atlantic Forum of Think Tanks 2025?
Raudel Collazo participated in the forum to voice his criticism of the Cuban dictatorship and to express solidarity with the recent student protests against internet price hikes in Cuba.
How has Raudel Collazo used his music in his activism?
Collazo has used rap and hip hop as instruments of resistance, employing his music to openly condemn the Cuban dictatorship and to promote political awareness and change.