todaysviralmedia Senior Editor Brandon Schreur spoke to Black Eyed Peas’ Taboo and his daughter Jett about their roles in “Dora’s Tune For Papi,” a brand new episode in Dora Season 3. The 2 of them mentioned attending to voice the characters Quickatoo and Quickatina, making music for the present, and extra.
An outline of the episode reads, “Dora travels throughout the rainforest, making a tune for her dad to allow them to rejoice Papi-Dora day!”
The third season of Dora will start streaming on Paramount+ on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
Brandon Schreur: Taboo, you’ve been a part of this Dora collection for a few episodes now, the place you’re character has proven up. Are you able to inform me what made you need to be concerned with this new collection, and what was it about this character that you just voice, Quickatoo, that’s been essentially the most enjoyable to play to date?
Taboo: So, being a part of this wonderful model that has been happening for thus a few years, and having the longevity it’s had, it’s one thing particular. Particularly due to my background, being native and Mexican, and having such an iconic determine, just a little matriarch like Dora, inspiring our communities and the those who look identical to us on the massive display and TV collection. That’s a giant blessing for us. We are able to advocate for heroes that look identical to us and encourage our children, not to mention my daughter. It was a pure factor for me once they stated, ‘Hey, would you wish to be a part of this stunning journey with us?’ I stated, ‘After all, man.’
I’ve been appearing for, I need to say that 2003 or 2004 was the primary film that I did. After which I began progressing, getting my chops in and my chops up. Engaged on my appearing and placing in these hours. The voice-over work is one thing that’s been innate to our DNA. Each evening, we’re doing voices after we’re studying. We’re having dialogue, we’re being humorous, and simply exchanging inventive humor and I assume experiences. That’s what we do at residence, we chortle on a regular basis. We’re humorous, we entertain. Being part of that was a calling.
I’m going to proceed doing it, man. And, now, to convey my daughter alongside on the journey, it’s one other instance of the blessings upon blessings.
Completely, I really like that. Jett, you get to voice a personality on this new season of Dora, too! How a lot enjoyable was that for you to have the ability to do it alongside your dad? I think about it was most likely a blast.
Jett: Mmhm. Effectively, that was like my favourite a part of doing it. At residence, we make voices and characters. So, yeah, I simply felt used to it and went at it.
Taboo: It was a pure factor. I’m telling you, dude, if we’re within the studio, I used to be identical to, ‘Jett, let go.’ Simply being fearless. Loads of occasions, when you will have a director telling you, ‘Okay, now give it to me huge. Now, be small on this half. Now, I would like you to chortle.’ She’s by no means laughed on cue earlier than, so it’s like getting the proper laughter, getting the proper tone, getting the proper ‘ritmo!’ Ensuring she understands the inflection and the tonality of every line and the dialogue. She took route very nicely as a result of I used to be identical to, ‘Jett, simply faux that we’re at residence studying.’
I really like that. It bounces into what I needed to ask you subsequent, Taboo, as a father, what’s it like seeing your daughter grow to be a part of this? It looks as if such a particular factor to have the ability to do it collectively. Does it make you tremendous proud to be within the recording sales space and see her grow to be her personal character like this?
Taboo: It does, as a result of I’ve a lot pleasure, and I’ve a lot respect for Jett’s inventive expression. She’s proficient, man. And I do know I need to carry on pushing her. I’m not saying this to be boastful or cocky; that is extra confidence, constructing my daughter’s confidence. I do know she has the capabilities if she practices, places in these hours, and continues to work on her craft. She will do one thing actually particular. With my steering, my assist, my love, and my advocacy — I’m going to advocate for my daughter to proceed on this journey. She has enjoyable with it. If we’re having enjoyable doing one thing collectively, man, I need to lean into that. We’re not solely bonding as father-daughter, we’re bonding as creatives.
Completely. That’s so cool to see and, once more, looks as if such a particular factor to be a part of. I need to ask you concerning the tune that you just got here up with for this new episode of Dora, too. I used to be listening to it simply this morning, I assumed it was a complete bop. I used to be completely into it. Are you able to inform me just a little bit concerning the course of of making that tune and bringing it to life? Are there challenges that include making a tune for Dora the Explorer versus the opposite music that you just’re engaged on?
Taboo: Yeah, so, “Melodía” was a scratch concept that I had in my onerous drive for a few years. It was perhaps only a melody — mel-o-día — that’s all I had. However there have been no phrases. As we began to progress it — and perhaps there was a scratch vocal, nevertheless it wasn’t that kind as a result of it didn’t go anyplace. As soon as we obtained the chance to be a part of Dora, I felt like I needed to contribute one thing extra than simply dialogue, extra than simply the character. Why don’t I truly create a tune that lends itself to an episode?
After I introduced it to Richie, Richie was like, ‘Yo, why don’t we take this ‘Melodía’ bop, as you say, and carve out an episode that speaks to the tune you wrote, but in addition speaks to Dora’s love and appreciation for Papi since you’re daughter can be going to be a part of this episode and he or she’s a part of the tune with you.’ I used to be like, ‘Excellent.’ It’s an ideal collaboration.
Hats off to Nickelodeon and Paramount for truly giving me the chance to current an authentic. I do know, when you’re within the Dora universe, a variety of it’s in-house. For me to be outdoors as a producer, a author, and a inventive contributing a brand new tune that’s written by me and produced by me, it was stunning.
Yeah, undoubtedly. And it turned out nice. Associated to the songs, a enjoyable query for you, Dora has a bunch of iconic songs that everyone knows, love, and grew up with. ‘I’m the Map,’ ‘Swiper No Swiping,’ and many others. Do you guys have a favourite that stands proud in your thoughts that you just’re at all times singing at residence?
Jett: Backpack.
Taboo: Yeah, backpack, backpack. That cadence, dude. You possibly can flip it any fashion. While you’re capable of have some simplicity in it…You possibly can flip it right into a hip-hop tune. So, I simply really feel like that tune — I really like the opposite songs, too, however, for some purpose, that backpack tune. I nonetheless put on a backpack all over the place I am going, so I really like the truth that it represents my each day routine. Jett wears a backpack to highschool, so it speaks to us in so many various methods.
Positive. Taboo, only one final query for you. I, myself, am an enormous comics nerd, and I completely beloved your Lethal Neighborhood Spider-Man collection from a few years in the past. It’s sitting on that shelf someplace behind me. I’m simply curious in the event you’re serious about doing one thing like that once more or if there’s one other Marvel character you need to deal with.
Taboo: It’s humorous that you just say that. I’m truly within the strategy of writing a brand new ebook with that firm. I don’t need to say it as a result of we’re doing Nickelodeon proper now — you may say it — however, sure. In 2025, I’ll have a brand new ebook dropping with that firm. And I even have a podcast that I created that’s referred to as Taboo’s Comics and Kicks. We focus on comedian books, those that I’ve written and a few that I’m a fan of, and a variety of storytelling. Toys and motion figures as a result of that goes alongside hand-in-hand with comedian books. And, additionally, kicks as a result of I’m a sneaker head.
We’re going to embody all of those conversations and produce individuals like Rufio from Hook, Dante Basco, or individuals like Eric Bauza, who does Bugs Bunny. Individuals like that to be a part of it. Marvel writers, illustrators, animators — oh, I simply stated it. It’s simply to convey this stunning synergy of geek mode and nerdom to the lots. And also you greatest imagine I’m going to be speaking about Dora!
Because of Taboo and Jett for taking the time to debate Dora.