Lazaro “Lazaris The Top Don” Martinez is a Cuban-Puerto Rican emerging rapper from the streets of Hunts Point.  Lazaris’ early battling experiences begins at the tender age of 9, where he was already dueling in the streets in battles of “lyrical improvisation” and now has a career of over twenty years in the underground rap scene.

As a proud product of The Bronx, he credits his earliest inspirations to the pioneers of hip-hop: Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Caz of the Cold Crush Brothers, and Big Pun, who also hails from The Bronx. But perhaps the greatest influence on his music comes from his own deep family musical roots.

Lazaris’ grandfather, Arsenio “Kiki” Rodriguez, is considered the Godfather of Salsa and one of the original Afro-Cuban percussionists.

Kiki is one of the main reasons Lazaris displays his Latin backgrounds in his raps – often rapping in English and Spanish.

“Big Pun and Jadakiss fused into one person” is how he describes his style and flow, which is a melodic mix of rapid fire freestyle and witty punchlines smoothly delivered.

In fall 2020, Lazaris released SVCCESS In My Path: Vol 1, a 21 track EP which he considered one “of his biggest projects.” The album hopes to put Lazaris back on the map and introduce him to a new, younger fan base as a reminder that rap originated in The Bronx and is coming back to The Bronx, where it belongs.

Be sure to check out Lazaris The Top Don on all platforms and stay connected with his work.