Tha Mexakinz, a Latin rap duo from Long Beach, California, comprising MCs Rudy "Capitol I-Man" Archuleta and Rodrigo "Sinful" Navarro, were signed to Motown Records sublabel Mad Sounds in 1993. Their debut single, "Phonkie Melodia", reached number 32 on the Billboard Maxi-Singles sales chart in 1994, marking a significant breakthrough for the duo as the first Latin artists signed to Motown. They released their debut album, Zig Zag, under Wild West Records in 1994, entering the Billboard Heatseeker Charts at number 40. Their subsequent albums include Tha Mexakinz (1996) and Crossing All Borders (1998), which incorporated ska punk and alternative elements into their sound. Notable singles from their discography include "Burnin' Hot" and "Problems".
