Latin
Page: 204
Almost two weeks ago, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español revealed our picks for “The 50 Most Essential Spanish-Language Rappers of Yesterday and Today,” honoring the most influential and outstanding rap stars from the Hispanophone world in celebration of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary.
The selection process of the ranked list — which was led by Residente at No. 1, followed by Vico C at No. 2, Ana Tijoux at No.3, Tego Calderón at No. 4, and Orishas at No. 5 — took into account body of work/achievements (charted releases, gold/platinum certifications), cultural impact/influence (how the artist’s work fostered the genre’s evolution), longevity (years at the mic), lyrics (storytelling skills) and flow (vocal prowess).
On social media, the ranking became a viral topic of conversation amongst fans, podcasters and artists alike, who shared different opinions and points of view on who should be at No. 1. As a result, Billboard opened a fan-based poll to the public, asking readers to vote for their favorite artist from the 50 acts.
The winner? MC Ceja, nabbing over 30 percent of the votes. He was followed by the late Venezuelan artist Canserbero, with more than 17 percent of the votes.
“At first I was confused, because a lot of people were hitting me up on social media and they seemed pretty upset by it, saying that I needed to be in the top 10 or top 5,” Ceja tells Billboard. “But it felt good to still be acknowledged and for people to still listen to my music after all these years. I feel great and grateful because it signifies my legacy, my talent, my effort, and my career.”
Named after his heavy set of eyebrows, Ceja is a Puerto Rican-born, Brooklyn-raised artist, who is credited as one of the first rappers of the ‘90s to spit bars in both Spanish and English. Known for staple tracks such as “Se Lamentarán,” “Bacalao,” “Loba” and “Brillando Más,” Ceja is an enduring reference point in the Latin rap community, influencing several artists who ranked high on the list, including Residente.
“The key is the passion I always had for music and the culture,” he explains. “I always tried to be different from everyone and build my own style and craft, not knowing I was going to influence all of these artists and the generations after me. I’ve always been faithful to rap music because it makes me feel good. I don’t do music to please other people. Music saved my life.”
Below, check out our readers’ top 10 Latin rappers picks, and see the full poll results here.
Los Aldeanos
On Monday (Aug. 21), Miguel Bosé shared that he was the victim of an assault by armed men at his home in Mexico City, where he was held hostage along with his two children by 10 hooded men on Friday. Local authorities say they have opened an investigation.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Dear friends, on Friday night a commando of 10 armed subjects broke into my home, assaulted us, tied my children, the house staff, and myself for more than two hours,” the Spanish star wrote on his official Instagram account.
The “Si Tú No Vuelves” singer assured that everyone is fine, although he said the thieves took “everything” in an act that, in his opinion, seemed “very studied and militaristic.”
“It was all very tense, tricky and unpleasant,” he said, but “we are all fine. My children behaved like two brave men. Admirable.”
He did not specify, however, whether he had reported or will report the crime to the authorities. The Mexico City Attorney General’s Office reported in a statement that it had already opened an investigation folder after the dissemination in the media of a “possible robbery at the home of a foreign singer, located in the Álvaro Obregón Mayor’s Office.”
The agency specified that, so far, “neither the victim and/or his legal representative, nor the administration of the residential complex where the events occurred have appeared before this Prosecutor’s Office to denounce the crime.” He invited Bosé and/or his legal representative to file a formal complaint.
In his Instagram post, Bosé also asked his followers to listen to his version and not to pay attention to rumors. In this sense, he clarified that he does not plan to leave Mexico, the country where he has lived since he left Panama in the fall of 2018. The artist lives in one of the most exclusive areas of the Mexican capital.
“I am very sorry to disappoint you, here I am and here I will stay to face whatever it takes, in the most hospitable country on the planet. We go on…”, he concluded in his post.
A wave of supportive messages have circulated social media following the 67-year-old singer and actor’s revelation, including from Mexican singers Carlos Rivera and Ximena Sariñana, as well as Italian singer Laura Pausini and Colombian star Carlos Vives, who left comments on the post.
“Migue all my solidarity to you and your family. I send you a big hug and we are glad you are well,” Vives wrote.
“Stay strong Miguel, I love you! I’m glad everyone is well,” wrote Mexican film and TV director Manolo Caro.
Miguel Bosé’s full message in Spanish below:
Mexican music band Grupo Firme has signed an exclusive global publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), the company announced Monday (Aug. 21). The band’s independent label, Music VIP Entertainment, is also part of the deal. “UMPG has earned a place in regional Mexican as the leading publisher, and this gives us all the […]
Colombian superstar Karol G has officially kicked off her Mañana Será Bonito Tour, her first-ever stadium outing, named after her history-making fourth album. Karol began her trek on Aug. 10 in Las Vegas at the Allegiant Stadium. Then, on Aug. 14, she performed at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. In Los Angeles, stars […]
Anitta‘s Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story tops this week’s new music poll. Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (Aug. 18) on Billboard, choosing the carioca funk trilogy as their favorite new music release of the past week. Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story brought in more than half of the vote, coming in at […]
Legendary Mexican band Bronco made a stop in New York’s UBS Arena on Saturday (Aug. 19) to deliver their signature grupera swagger with a heady repertoire that spanned decades. With a storied career that has garnered them an ardent international following, their concert was an electrifying spectacle that blended nostalgia with contemporary energy, a todo […]
From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and those little, important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Maffio Covers a Rock n’ Roll Classic
Maffio has teamed up with rising salsa newcomer (and a former Billboard On the Radar Latin artist) Christian Alicea for a new rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Blue Suede Shoes,” in collaboration with Maffio’s own musical band, El Revulú. Called “Bailame Con Actitud (Blue Suede Shoes),” the track fuses rock n’ roll with salsa, resulting in a refreshing Latin banger. The collaboration forms part of the new Paramount Plus documentary “Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback,” where Maffio is the only Latin artist onboard the project. In an Instagram Live with Billboard Latin, the Dominican producer talked about the documentary, Presley’s influence in his own career, and the Alicea collab. Watch it here.
[embedded content]
A “Bandoleros” Reunion
Earlier this week, three reggaeton icons—Don Omar, Tego Calderón, and Arcángel—became a trending topic after performing “Bandoleros” at the 2023 Baja Beach Fest in Rosarito, Mexico. “Last night I sang next to my favorite bandoleros (bandits). It was an unforgettable night for me,” expressed Don Omar in an Instagram post. “Bandoleros” was originally recorded by Don and Tego in 2005 for The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift movie soundtrack. Watch the emotional performance below:
Café Tacvba To Receive Special Award
This week, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) announced that Mexican rock band Café Tacvba will be honored with the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Arts Award at the 36th annual gala set for Sept. 7 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. “A great honor [and] emotion to be part of this,” expressed the group on Instagram. “We are very grateful for the recognition of our trajectory!” Celebrating a 34-year career, Café Tacvba is known for timeless Latin rock hits including “La Ingrata,” “Eres,” “Chilanga Banda,” and many more.
“Café Tacvba has been inspiring audiences with their brilliant, eclectic sound for decades since they started in Mexico,” said Antonio Tijerino, HHF President and CEO, in a press statement. “We are thrilled to honor this remarkable group of musical visionaries with our Arts Award and we look forward to celebrating Café Tacvba and share our collective cultural pride and achievement at the Kennedy Center and on PBS.” The Hispanic Heritage Arts Awards will broadcast on PBS and stream on PBS.org on Sept. 29th.
Sebastian Yatra Enters His Tennis Star Era
Yatra is taking a break from music and channeling his inner athlete. This week, the Colombian pop star posted a video where he’s seen training with tennis star Rafael Nadal for his upcoming U.S. Open charity match against another tennis great, Carlos Alcaraz. In the clip, he’s seen educating himself on the sport and very determined to take the trophy home. “Getting trained by the one and only Rafael Nadal to play with the world No. 1,” he wrote on Instagram. The match, called “Stars of the Open,” will take place on August 23rd at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York. Tickets can be purchased here.
Latin Music Week’s New Wave of Artists
Billboard Latin Music Week unleashed its phase two, announcing Feid, Manuel Turizo, Myke Towers, Chencho Corleones, and RBD’s Christopher von Uckermann, Christian Chávez, and Maite Perroni as confirmed acts. Other artists set for the coveted music conference are Shakira, Arcangel, Peso Pluma, Young Miko, and many more. Billboard Latin Music returns to Miami’s Faena Forum the week of Oct. 2-6, and coincides with the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards on Thursday, Oct. 5, at the Watsco Center in Miami, and will broadcast live on Telemundo.
Purchase tickets to the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week here.
Webster “Yenddi” Batista Fernandez, one of the leaders of the largest-known YouTube music royalty scam in history, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison on Tuesday (Aug. 15). The court documents were made publicly available on Friday.
According to court documents, Batista is ordered to serve 46 months in prison for one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy. Upon his release from prison, he will be placed on supervised release for 36 months.
From about 2016-2021, Batista and his partner, Jose “Chenel” Teran, ran MediaMuv, a music company that claimed ownership of and collected YouTube royalties from over 50,000 songs, despite not having legal rights to nearly any of those works. The victims were primarily from Latin genres and ranged from hobbyist musicians to global superstars like Julio Iglesias, Don Omar, Anuel AA, Prince Royce and more.
Batista and Teran were ultimately indicted on 30 counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft in November 2021. Six months later, Batista accepted a plea deal, admitting to one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy. His partner, however, did not plead guilty and accept a plea deal until just before the start of his Jan. 17 trial date. Ultimately, Teran admitted guilt to single counts of conspiracy, wire fraud and transactional money laundering.
Teran was given a heftier sentence than his counterpart — in late June, he was sentenced to nearly six years in prison for his involvement in the scheme. According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, Teran’s sentence was “undoubtedly substantial” but reflects a desire to “deter future conduct” similar to the MediaMuv scam. The document adds that Teran is at high risk to re-offend, given his interest in returning to the music business after prison and the sheer scale and savviness of his scam.
“In particular, the government is alarmed that even news of his indictment did not stop Teran,” says the court document. After his indictment, the document revealed that Teran siphoned another $190,000 of stolen royalties and moved those funds to a bank account “out of the government’s reach.”
A court document filed on Aug. 7 claimed that Batista is working toward rehabilitation and should receive more leniency in his sentence as a result. “He wanted to rehabilitate his life” since his arrest in November 2021, says the sentencing memorandum. “[He] participated in Hustle 2.0, which is a self-directed learning program designed for incarcerated individuals to give them the tools for rehabilitation.” On May 3, 2023, Batista received a certificate for completing its “pre-season program.”
Many of the artists whose works were claimed and stolen from by MediaMuv are still unaware. To check and see if you are a victim, please click here and contact victim witness specialist Todd McKenney, todd.mckenney@usdoj.gov.
This week, our New Music Latin roundup — a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums, and videos recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — is powered by new music from Mon Laferte, Maluma, RBD, Ha*Ash and Anitta, to name a few. Chilean singer-songwriter Mon Laferte delivered a slow, deep, sad song about a young woman who leaves her hometown […]
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Maluma & Carin Leon, “Según Quién” (Sony Music Latin)
[embedded content]
For his new regional Mexican song, Maluma is joined by Carin Leon, a leading force in the música mexicana realm. “Según Quién” highlights the fusion of two genres, creating pop-norteño with acoustic guitars and a trumpet that accentuates the song’s lyrics. Produced by Edgar Barrera, this new collab was co-written by Maluma, Barrera, Keityn, Lenin Yorney Palacios “Lexus” and Luis Miguel Gómez Castaño “Casta.” The song is a dedication to someone who mistakenly believes you still love them. “Tell the one who is informing you that you are being misinformed, and for them to inform you well,” Maluma croons. The track will be part of the Colombian star’s next album Don Juan, which is set to be released Aug. 25. — INGRID FAJARDO
Ha*Ash feat. Reik, “Te Acuerdas” (Sony Music México)
[embedded content]
Both Ha*Ash and Reik are known for their power ballads and heart-wrenching lyrics. A collab between the two powerhouse pop acts had been a long time coming, and today, they join forces to deliver “Te Acuerdas,” a soulful romantic song that stays true to their essence. The stripped-down track, powered by a piano and guitars, puts Hanna, Ashley and Jesús Navarro’s striking and evocative vocals at the forefront, as they sing about not being able to let go of a past lover. “Remember you loved me, do you remember, because I do,” they declare.
“It was a collaboration that we knew our fans were waiting for,” sisters Hanna and Ashley (Ha*Ash) said in a statement. “We had been wanting to do something with our little brothers from Reik for a long time. We’ve shared a record label for a long time and we’ve practically grown up together. We wanted a song that represented both of us and ‘Te Acuerdas’ is one of those heartbreaking songs that both their fans and ours love.” — GRISELDA FLORES
Mon Laferte, “Te Juro Que Volveré” (Universal Music Group México)
[embedded content]
It wasn’t supposed to be the first release of Mon Laferte’s next album, but “Te juro que volveré” became an unanticipated new single in recent days when it was leaked. Narrated by an unknown voice, which could be her own (just distorted), the “simple” cumbia — as the Chilean-born artist describes it — is a slow, deep, sad song about a young woman who leaves her hometown to pursue her dreams, and her promise to her mother to go back for her as soon as she could.
“This story is my story,” says Mon Laferte in a press release, noting that, in her case, her mother was actually her grandmother. “I juggled through a lot to be here in Mexico for years. Just a year after my grandmother died, things started to go well for me, so I was never able to fulfill that promise.” The song is accompanied by a captivatingly dark visualizer in which Laferte, wrapped in what a appears to be the flags of her native and adoptive countries, sings from her own grave while being honored with a cholo dance and flowers. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Carlos Vives & Juanes, “Las Mujeres” (Sony Music Latin)
[embedded content]
Colombian superstars Carlos Vives and Juanes come together in a folkloric tribute to women on the song “Las Mujeres”. In this new vallenato-pop version of the classic vallenato authored by “El Cantor de Fonseca” Carlos Huertas, the compatriots celebrate the beauty and plurality of all the races and subcultures that make up the Colombian idiosyncrasy. The theme — which was created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Vives Clásicos de la Provincia album released in 1993 and included in the sequel to volume II in 2009 — incorporates the rock touch of Juanes, who opens the song with his electric guitar and in the video, the two of them sitting enjoying a cup of coffee. “What can we do with women, because they finished me off,” highlights the very Colombian expression in the chorus.
The video shows women of different races, ages, and professions, from indigenous people from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta like the talented accordionist Ati, to the Vallenato singer Lupe with her accordion, “the queen of BMX” Mariana Pajón, models, doctors, pilots, dressmakers, and philanthropists. It also highlights the coffee line of the renowned Juan Valdez brand “Mujeres Cafeteras” in a true tribute to the diversity and power of Colombian women. Recorded on a stage that represents typical Colombian towns, it ends with a colorful mural in honor of “Las Mujeres,” created throughout the song by the talented graffiti artist Ledania. — LUISA CALLE — LUISA CALLE
Anitta, Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story (A Republic Record / UMLE)
[embedded content]
Picking up steam from her viral “Funk Rave” reverie, Anitta arrives with a sweltering carioca funk trilogy: Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story. On the three-track release, the Brazilian superstar brings all back to her favela foundations, unleashing a no-holds-barred fête with two new bangers, “Casi Casi” and “Used to Be.” Bolstered by an arresting baile funk beat, the former trilingual cut sees the Brazilian singer in her most playful phase as she teases with flirty verses while the street party stays lit, as shown in the kitschy new music video. Meanwhile, “Used to Be” sees Anitta reminiscing on her adventurous, pleasure-seeking journey. The visual for the latter track will drop August 24. Bem-vindos à Funk Generation. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Los Ángeles Azules & Maria Becerra, “El Amor De Mi Vida” (Seitrack/UMG Recordings)
[embedded content]
In a first-ever collaboration, Los Ángeles Azules and Maria Becerra deliver “El Amor de mi Vida” (the love of my life). Produced by the group’s Jorge Mejía and Rodolfo Lugo, Becerra starts off showcasing her powerhouse vocals, backed by soft accordion and guitar melodies, before transitioning into an infectious cumbia sonidera and cumbia villera fusion. Composed by Becerra alongside Horacio Palencia, Andy Clay Cruz and Nina Mínguez, the track narrates the story of a person who’s all-in with love. “Let’s go far away/baby, tell me yes/I’m ready to love you, if not, forget about me/give you my kisses all night/and tell you, if you didn’t know, I want to make love but make you the love of my life,” the Argentine singer chants.
The music video was filmed in Argentina and stars Becerra’s actual family members. “They [Los Ángeles Azules] have been the soundtrack of my house and family parties, and that is what we wanted to reflect in the video with my family being part of it because we feel that it is the essence of the song,” Becerra says in a press statement. — JESSICA ROIZ
Stream the New Music Latin playlists below:
Purchase tickets to the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week here.