Okay, Zoomers, gather 'round. Another one of the greats has gone to that big cantina in the sky. Totó la Momposina, the queen of Colombian cumbia, has cashed out at the ripe old age of 85. Before you go back to your TikTok dances, lemme tell you why this matters (a little).

Born in some backwater town in Colombia in 1940, she was practically raised on drums and folk tunes. She wasn't crafting woke anthems, she was just doing her thing, making music that made you wanna move. And that's what made her a legend, not some manufactured outrage or performative virtue signaling.

Then comes the '70s and suddenly she's 'blacklisted' for being too lefty. Sound familiar? Probably wasn't as simple as that, but hey, gotta have a narrative, right? So she jets off to France, becomes a refugee chic, and starts busking in the Metro. Talk about a glow-up.

She linked up with Peter Gabriel (remember him?) and his Real World Records. Suddenly, she's world music royalty. Next thing you know Timbaland is ripping off her flute lines (and not even giving her proper credit). But hey, that's the music biz, baby.

She was always preaching about how important music is for 'identity' and 'dignity'. Okay, boomer. But maybe she had a point. At least she wasn't lecturing us about pronouns or climate change. She just wanted people to connect to their roots. Can't argue with that, even if it sounds kinda corny.

The Left is probably gonna turn her into some kind of saint now, talking about her 'struggle' and 'resistance'. The Right will probably try to claim her as some kind of traditional values icon. But let's be real, she was just a damn good musician who made music that crossed borders and generations. No need to overthink it.

So pour one out for Totó. She played the game, she got the accolades, and she left a whole lotta good music behind. And the best part? The woke brigade can't cancel her now. Her music will live on, whether they like it or not.

Her music, while rooted in tradition, also found its way into modern music through sampling, which proves that even the oldest sounds can find new life in the digital age. And that’s something even the most cynical CHUD can appreciate.

Let's be honest, most of today’s 'artists' couldn't carry her drumsticks. She actually had talent, skill, and a deep connection to her culture. That's a triple threat you don't see much anymore. And that, my friends, is worth remembering.