Tha Mexakinz comprised MCs Rudy "I-Man" Archuleta and Rodrigo "Sinful" Navarro and the newest addition to group Manuel"Cashmiro"Navarro[1][2] They were initially signed to Motown Records sublabel Mad Sounds in 1993, becoming the first Latin artists to be signed to Motown.[3] The group's debut single "Phonkie Melodia" reached #32 on the Billboard Maxi-Singles sales chart in 1994.[4] They gained a strong underground following among both hip hop and alternative rock fans for their bilingual rhymes.[1] With their third album, the duo incorporated elements of alternative rock and ska-punk into their sound.[5]

The duo were still working together in 2006, appearing at the Los Angeles Hip Hop & Reggaeton Fest,[6] and in 2009 began working on new album, with new member Cashmiro.[citation needed]

In 2009, Archuleta was charged with felony sexual assault including two counts of forced digital penetration, two counts of false imprisonment and one count of making threats.[7] The trial began on 1 July 2009, and on 8 July he was cleared of the sexual assault charges but found guilty of making criminal threats to kill his former girlfriend and her entire family.[8] On 23 July he was sentenced to five years probation after pleading guilty to the criminal threats charge.[9]

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