Eric "Bobo" Correa
The dynamic percussionist who brought explosive Latin rhythms from the streets of New York to the heart of hip-hop and rock.
Born 1968 (age 58)·American percussionist·Birthday: August 27·Generation X
Biography
Eric 'Bobo' Correa is a percussive force who shattered genre boundaries, injecting the raw energy of street-corner congas into landmark hip-hop records. Growing up in a musical family in Queens, New York, he was immersed in Latin jazz and salsa from childhood, playing alongside his father, a noted musician. His big break came when the pioneering hip-hop group Cypress Hill needed a live drummer for their explosive shows; Bobo’s powerful, polyrhythmic style became a signature part of their sound. His versatility made him a sought-after collaborator, leading to memorable tours and recordings with the Beastie Boys, where his live percussion added a new dimension to their punk-rap fusion. Beyond hip-hop, he co-founded the metal project Sol Invicto and has continuously worked across musical worlds, remaining a vital link between traditional Afro-Caribbean rhythms and contemporary urban music.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Eric was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Eric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the touring and recording percussionist for Cypress Hill, shaping the sound of albums like 'Black Sunday' and their live performances.
- Toured extensively and recorded with the Beastie Boys in the 1990s, including on the 'Ill Communication' tour and album sessions.
- Co-founded the industrial metal supergroup Sol Invicto with members of Deftones and others.
Did You Know?
He is the son of noted Latin jazz and salsa musician Willie Correa.
Bobo began playing congas at the age of five.
He appeared in the 1998 film 'He Got Game,' directed by Spike Lee, performing with Cypress Hill.
“I brought the conga to the Cypress Hill sound, that street corner energy.”
