Calle 13 pushing the bounds of hip-hop

It sounds like a call to arms, a warning shot fired at the powers that be.

“Respira El Momento” is the first song on Puerto Rican hip-hoppers Calle 13’s latest album, “Multi_Viral,” and it sets a suitably stirring tone: This is an album of grand ambitions, of large-scale aspirations and sounds alike.

Politically and musically restless, “Multi_Viral” is nominally a hip-hop record, that’s its core, but Calle 13 is always expanding upon that base, enlisting Cuban folk singer Silvio Rodriguez, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, among others, to this end.

One of the most celebrated acts of their ilk, Calle 13 have won 19 Latin Grammy awards, the most of any artist, and are nominated for another nine at this year’s ceremonies, which take place at the MGM Grand Garden arena in November.

Whether they collect any more trophies or not, though, “Multi_Viral” is victory enough.

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476. Follow on Twitter @JasonBracelin.