The Story
Felipe Andres Coronel was born in a military hospital in Lima, Peru, in 1978; his family relocated to Harlem when he was two, fleeing Peru's internal conflict. He built a reputation as a battle rapper — winning competitions like Braggin' Rites and the Rock Steady Anniversary battle — before using that prize money to self-finance his 2001 debut, Revolutionary Vol. 1, entirely outside the major-label system.
Revolutionary Vol. 2 (2003) and The 3rd World (2008) continued that independent run, released through his own label infrastructure rather than any major. Every record in his catalog carries the same throughline: explicitly political lyrics addressing systemic injustice, delivered without label oversight softening the message.
In 2008, Immortal Technique partnered with the nonprofit Omeid International, using proceeds from The 3rd World and related benefit shows — roughly $50,000 — to help fund a school, orphanage and medical center in Kabul, Afghanistan, traveling there personally as part of the project.
He has remained independent throughout his career, releasing music via his own Viper Records and Rebel Army Records infrastructure rather than signing to a major label.
