Ocasional Talento

Hiroshi Claudio Ishida Ruiz (6 May 1996 – 26 June 2025), known professionally as Ocasional Talento, was a Bolivian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and poet. He was also part of the jazz and hip hop band Vinilo 54, where he played the role of songwriter and lead vocalist.

Early life Ishida was born in La Paz on 6 May 1996; he was of Japanese descent. From an early age, he was drawn to music and the arts, an interest that began to consolidate during his school years, where music teachers encouraged his vocation from the age of seven.

The character of Ocasional Talento emerged from a collection of poems Ishida worked on in 2018, the year he discovered hip hop and rap.

In his early years, Ishida recognized influences from both international artists and some Bolivian groups, despite the fact that a decade ago the local scene was still limited. Among the national influences that sparked his interest were FM11, a band from La Paz, and El Parche, an old-school hip-hop group from Santa Cruz.

2021–2025: Breakthrough In November 2021, Talento released his debut album titled "SÓLIDO," which includes eight songs that fuse samples and rhythms with influences of jazz, soul, and funk. Along with the recording of this album, Talento formed the band Vinilo 54, made up of himself, Emilia Lanza, Eduardo Navarre, Bladimir Morales, and Diego Ballón, releasing their first single titled "You and I."

In 2023, Talento received nominations for Best Urban Artist and Best Songwriter at the Bolivia Music Awards. Additionally, that same year, he participated again in the Respira Bolivia event, this being the third edition, where he collaborated with 30 other local artists.

In December 2024, Talento announced through his social media the publication of his first book of poems, entitled "¿Cómo muchos perros te buscan?" (How many dogs are chasing you?). The presentation took place on 21 December in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, at the Street Project facilities.

In early 2025, after several nominations in previous editions, Talento won the award for Best Urban Artist at the Bolivia Music Awards 2024. His last performance took place on 21 June 2025 at the Nuna Espacio Arte theater, where he shared the stage with his band Vinilo 54 and composer Rez-p. That same day, the wake was held in La Paz, and the following day a Christian ceremony took place, after which he was buried in the Jardín Cemetery.

Following the confirmation of Ishida's death, several national artists expressed their solidarity and highlighted his influence on the country's music scene. Bonny Lovy praised his talent and mentioned their plans for joint productions, while Luis Vega expressed his admiration and recalled their shared performances.

On 27 June, the Bolivian Special Force to Fight Crime (FELCC), a unit of the Bolivian National Police, reported that Ishida died after falling from the fifth floor of his home in the Villa Fátima area of La Paz. The director of the institution, Gabriel Neme, confirmed that it was a case of violent death and that a suicide note addressed to his daughter was found at the scene. According to initial investigations, authorities indicated that Ishida was experiencing emotional and family difficulties. According to the preliminary report, Ishida arrived home around 1:00 a.m. after consuming alcoholic beverages and had made final contact with his close circle before the incident.

Ten weeks after Ishida's death, it was announced that his brother Naoki, a cumbia singer, had died from aspiration pneumonia.

Discography Credits taken from iTunes.

EPs 2020: SÓLIDO

Singles 2020: El Escritor del Cuento 2021: En el medio 2021: Un último intento 2022: LIMBO (ft. Jotty Roots) 2022: Stereo Break 2023: Ya (ft. Lu de la Tower) 2023: Buen Tipo 2023: Todo lo contrario 2024: Sold Out 2024: La Prima (ft. Los Prana) 2024: La Danza del Fuego 2025: Cara o Cruz 2025: Cara o Cruz (Soul Version)

Awards and nominations

Bolivia Music Awards