Following his reggaeton bangers such as “Baila Baila Baila,” “El Farsante,” “Caramelo,” “Una Vaina Loca,” and “Hey Mor,” to name a few, Ozuna is now experimenting with Afrobeats.
On his new seven-track EP, Afro, the half-Puerto Rican and half-Dominican artist born Juan Carlos Ozuna Rosado fuses the infectious Afrobeat rhythm with his signature urban-Caribbean sound. Executive produced by Ozuna and Vicente Saavedra alongside his music engineer Hi Music Hi Flow, the tracks are all sensual, mainly backed with lyrics about love — as heard in “Curarme El Alma,” “Acuarela,” and “Isla Desierta.” In other lyrics, he references actresses and singers including Sofia Vergara, Karol G, Eva Longoria, and Zendaya, to describe a woman’s beauty.
The EP’s focus track is “Tucu” with newcomer Amarion, and it’s accompanied by a video filmed in Puerto Rico by Fernando Lugo. Other collaborators on the set include popular Afrobeat artists Davido (“Evalongoria”) and Omah Lay (“Soso Remix”).
Afro is Ozuna’s eighth musical production following his studio albums Odisea (2017); Aura (2018); Niburi (2019); ENOC (2020); and his joint album with Anuel AA, Los Dioses (2021) — all of which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. Ozutochi, the artist’s 2022 studio album, hit No. 5 on the list.
Additionally, Ozuna will embark on his Afro Tour across Europe this summer, which has 16 confirmed dates, including gigs in France, Spain, Italy, Israel and Holland. The monthlong trek kicks off July 7 in Paris and wraps Aug. 6 in Spain.
Below, check out every song on Afro ranked by the Billboard Latin editors:
Ozuna adds a Spanglish twist to Omah Lay’s “Soso (Remix)”—a slow-tempo Afrobeat song fused with captivating flute melodies and describing a man who asks a Goddess called Soso to take his pain away. The Nigerian singer-songwriter keeps the 2020 song’s essence intact, while Ozu chants in Spanish: “tell me, baby, I want to know more about you.”
For “Tucu,” Ozuna recruits up-and-coming trap artist Amarion. The pair trade verses about a woman who makes their heart go “tucu, tucu.” While it isn’t one of our top three songs, this hypnotizing track has a sure-fire way of growing on you.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a song titled after Eva Longoria but was intrigued by Davido’s feature. “The King of Afrobeats,” as he is known, Davido’s signature raspy vocals and slick verses. One of my favorite team-ups on this album, Davido takes this song to the next level. Meanwhile, Ozuna comes in with his rapid-fire lyrics about a woman who was supposed to be for “one day” only but ended up staying.
A catchy beat serves as a canvas for one of Ozuna’s most romantic tracks on the EP. “I’m an astronaut that discovered your gaze and now I need it,” the Puerto Rican hitmaker sings in “Acuarela.” He continues, “Your lips to breathe, a coffee in the morning, music that heals the soul, with you I have it all.”
With its infectious dancehall-meets-Afrobeat rhythm, “Isla Desierta” is an ode to that special lady—who is natural and unique. In the lyrics, Ozuna first describes being happily stranded on a deserted island with the person he loves and then goes on to lay out some of her best qualities: “She did a spell on me, her body is a paradise,” he chants.
Ozuna is a romantic soul in his new EP and “Curarme El Alma” (Cure My Soul) is proof of that. In the ultra-sultry track, the reggaeton artist assures that while everyone wants a high-maintenance girl, he wants the contrary. “She doesn’t need expensive brands, to look exotic,” he kicks off the song, where he also asks the girl to dance for him to cure his soul. On Instagram, the artist said “Curarme El Alma” is his favorite song on the EP.
Ozuna opens his set with an earworm track that instantly hooks you thanks to its infectious afrobeat. “Una Perla en San Juan,” which can translate to a pearl in San Juan, sets the chill, sexy tone for the rest of the EP that is on its way to becoming a summer favorite. The opening track features Ozuna’s cool and soothing voice, which transports you to a stress-free and vibey island.
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