ComingSoon Senior Editor Brandon Schreur spoke to Black Eyed Peas’ Taboo and his daughter Jett about their roles in “Dora’s Song For Papi,” a new episode in Dora Season 3. The two of them discussed getting to voice the characters Quickatoo and Quickatina, making music for the show, and more.
A description of the episode reads, “Dora travels across the rainforest, creating a song for her dad so they can celebrate Papi-Dora day!”
The third season of Dora will begin streaming on Paramount+ on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
Brandon Schreur: Taboo, you’ve been part of this Dora series for a couple of episodes now, where you’re character has shown up. Can you tell me what made you want to be involved with this new series, and what was it about this character that you voice, Quickatoo, that’s been the most fun to play so far?
Taboo: So, being part of this amazing brand that has been going on for so many years, and having the longevity it’s had, it’s something special. Especially because of my background, being native and Mexican, and having such an iconic figure, a little matriarch like Dora, inspiring our communities and the people that look just like us on the big screen and TV series. That’s a big blessing for us. We can advocate for heroes that look just like us and inspire our kids, let alone my daughter. It was a natural thing for me when they said, ‘Hey, would you like to be part of this beautiful journey with us?’ I said, ‘Of course, man.’
I’ve been acting for, I want to say that 2003 or 2004 was the first movie that I did. And then I started progressing, getting my chops in and my chops up. Working on my acting and putting in those hours. The voice-over work is something that’s been innate to our DNA. Every night, we’re doing voices when we’re reading. We’re having dialogue, we’re being funny, and just exchanging creative humor and I guess experiences. That’s what we do at home, we laugh all the time. We’re humorous, we entertain. Being a part of that was a calling.
I’m going to continue doing it, man. And, now, to bring my daughter along on the journey, it’s another example of the blessings upon blessings.
Totally, I love that. Jett, you get to voice a character in this new season of Dora, too! How much fun was that for you to be able to do it alongside your dad? I imagine it was probably a blast.
Jett: Mmhm. Well, that was like my favorite part of doing it. At home, we make voices and characters. So, yeah, I just felt used to it and went at it.
Taboo: It was a natural thing. I’m telling you, dude, if we’re in the studio, I was just like, ‘Jett, let go.’ Just being fearless. A lot of times, when you have a director telling you, ‘Okay, now give it to me big. Now, be small in this part. Now, I want you to laugh.’ She’s never laughed on cue before, so it’s like getting the right laughter, getting the right tone, getting the right ‘ritmo!’ Making sure she understands the inflection and the tonality of each line and the dialogue. She took direction very well because I was just like, ‘Jett, just pretend that we’re at home reading.’
I love that. It bounces into what I wanted to ask you next, Taboo, as a father, what’s it like seeing your daughter become part of this? It seems like such a special thing to be able to do it together. Does it make you super proud to be in the recording booth and see her become her own character like this?
Taboo: It does, because I have so much pride, and I have so much respect for Jett’s creative expression. She’s talented, man. And I know I want to keep on pushing her. I’m not saying this to be arrogant or cocky; this is more confidence, building my daughter’s confidence. I know she has the capabilities if she practices, puts in those hours, and continues to work on her craft. She can do something really special. With my guidance, my support, my love, and my advocacy — I’m going to advocate for my daughter to continue on this journey. She has fun with it. If we’re having fun doing something together, man, I want to lean into that. We’re not only bonding as father-daughter, we’re bonding as creatives.
Totally. That’s so cool to see and, again, seems like such a special thing to be part of. I want to ask you about the song that you came up with for this new episode of Dora, too. I was listening to it just this morning, I thought it was a total bop. I was totally into it. Can you tell me a little bit about the process of creating that song and bringing it to life? Are there challenges that come with creating a song for Dora the Explorer versus the other music that you’re working on?
Taboo: Yeah, so, “Melodía” was a scratch idea that I had in my hard drive for many years. It was maybe just a melody — mel-o-día — that’s all I had. But there were no words. As we started to progress it — and maybe there was a scratch vocal, but it wasn’t that type because it didn’t go anywhere. Once we got the opportunity to be part of Dora, I felt like I wanted to contribute something more than just dialogue, more than just the character. Why don’t I actually create a song that lends itself to an episode?
When I presented 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 song you wrote, but also speaks to Dora’s love and appreciation for Papi because you’re daughter is also going to be part of this episode and she’s part of the song with you.’ I was like, ‘Perfect.’ It’s a perfect collaboration.
Hats off to Nickelodeon and Paramount for actually giving me the opportunity to present an original. I know, once you’re in the Dora universe, a lot of it is in-house. For me to be outside as a producer, a writer, and a creative contributing a new song that is written by me and produced by me, it was beautiful.
Yeah, definitely. And it turned out great. Related to the songs, a fun question for you, Dora has a bunch of iconic songs that we all know, love, and grew up with. ‘I’m the Map,’ ‘Swiper No Swiping,’ etc. Do you guys have a favorite that sticks out in your mind that you’re always singing at home?
Jett: Backpack.
Taboo: Yeah, backpack, backpack. That cadence, dude. You can flip it any style. When you’re able to have some simplicity in it…You can flip it into a hip-hop song. So, I just feel like that song — I love the other songs, too, but, for some reason, that backpack song. I still wear a backpack everywhere I go, so I love the fact that it represents my daily routine. Jett wears a backpack to school, so it speaks to us in so many different ways.
Sure. Taboo, just one last question for you. I, myself, am a huge comics nerd, and I absolutely loved your Deadly Neighborhood Spider-Man series from a couple of years ago. It’s sitting on that shelf somewhere behind me. I’m just curious if you’re interested in doing something like that again or if there’s another Marvel character you want to tackle.
Taboo: It’s funny that you say that. I’m actually in the process of writing a new book with that company. I don’t want to say it because we’re doing Nickelodeon right now — you can say it — but, yes. In 2025, I’ll have a new book dropping with that company. And I also have a podcast that I created that’s called Taboo’s Comics and Kicks. We discuss comic books, the ones that I’ve written and some that I’m a fan of, and a lot of storytelling. Toys and action figures because that goes along hand-in-hand with comic books. And, also, kicks because I’m a sneaker head.
We’re going to embody all of these conversations and bring people like Rufio from Hook, Dante Basco, or people like Eric Bauza, who does Bugs Bunny. People like that to be part of it. Marvel writers, illustrators, animators — oh, I just said it. It’s just to bring this beautiful synergy of geek mode and nerdom to the masses. And you best believe I’m going to be talking about Dora!
Thanks to Taboo and Jett for taking the time to discuss Dora.
