Additional personnel: Paul Livingstone (fretless guitar); Tylana Enomoto (violin); David Hidalgo (accordion, requinto doble); David Raicke (baritone saxophone, trombone); Tony Lujan (trumpet); Carlos Guacio (Fender Rhodes); Alfred Ortiz (timbales).

Recorded at NRG and Music Grinder Studios, Los Angeles, California.

Personnel: Ulises Bella (vocals, guitar, clarinet, tenor saxophone); Wil-Dog Abers (vocals); Chali 2na (rap vocals); Paul Livingstone (guitar); David Ralicke (baritone saxophone, trombone); Tony Lujan (trumpet); Carlos Guaico (Fender Rhodes piano); Cut Chemist (turntables).

Audio Mixers: Anton Pukshansky; T-Ray; Patrick Shevelin.

Recording information: Music Grinder Studios, Los Angeles, CA; NRG Studios, Los Angeles, CA.

Taking their moniker from the Aztec monkey god of dance, Ozomatli displays every bit of the exuberance and playfulness of their namesake, throwing in some of the creature's often-overlooked ferocity to get their point across. Formed in the slums of LA, the band boasts a multi-ethnic membership which often numbers well over the ten core members featured on the album. Legendary for the infectious energy and contagious groove achieved in the live arena, where their shows often spill into the street and become spontaneous street parties, Ozomatli made sure that their self titled debut would do everything possible to capture the live experience in a recorded setting.

OZOMATLI reacts to the chaos and danger of their home town with a wistful, often cynical message: the album's opener, "Come Ves" warns against believing everything you're told, atop a furious backdrop of Latin accompaniment, while the chilling "Coming War" follows today's violent trends to their logical end, fusing cool soul sounds with the staccato rap performance of Chali 2na, who delivers an angry diatribe about the genocide he sees around him, arguing that revolution may be the only solution.