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Billboard‘s first-ever Latin Women in Music gala has arrived. The two-hour music special, hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes, honors Latin women in music. Honorees include Thalía, who’s receiving the Global Powerhouse Award, Ana Gabriel is being honored with the Living Legend Award and Shakira is Woman of the Year.
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Before heading to the ceremony, some of the Latin Women in Music presenters and honorees spoke to Billboard on the red carpet and shared who’s the person that’s inspired them. Here are some of the most memorable quotes:
Emilia: “My mom inspires me a lot. She’s my companion, she traveled from far away to be here with me. It makes me excited and I don’t want to cry because I don’t want to ruin my makeup.”
Evaluna: “That’s a hard question because it’s many many people. I think I have to say my entire family. They’re all so involved in everything that I do and I feel like they are the ones that have empowered me the most to do what I’ve been doing and be who I am. And also my mom, she’s just my role model.”
Ha*Ash: “My grandma. Her, along with her sisters, started singing but they didn’t have the resources or the opportunities to have a career in music. So, she showed us how to play the piano, the harmonies and now for us to be able to work in this field and invite her to our shows she sees herself reflected in us and we ourselves reflected in her.”
Maria Becerra: “I think my biggest inspirations were Whitney Houston, Ariana Grande, Rihanna. I love their voices, I’m fascinated by their melodies, their lyrics, how passionately they song and how they sing with so much emotion. That characterizes them so much and that’s what I admire.”
Elena Rose: “One of them was Celia Cruz. I actually just got a tattoo because of her. It says ‘azucar.’ She impacted me so much since I was a little girl. I couldn’t understand why when I was younger but now I understand that she was always so powerful and opened so many doors and just such a strong soul and she was so passionate about what she was doing. It was more than music to her. That’s what a real woman is.”
Goyo: “At this point my biggest inspiration is my daughter Saba who is here. She gives me so much strength every single day. To do the things that people think artists don’t do, like take her to school every day, that makes me feel super human and really live that experience every single day.”
Watch Mujeres Latinas En la Música on Sunday (May 7) at 9 p.m. ET only on Telemundo and Peacock.
A first of its kind for Latin music, Mujeres Latinas en la Música celebrates Latin female artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry. Shakira will receive the first-ever Woman of the Year award. Other honorees include Ana Gabriel, who will receive the Living Legend Award; Emilia, who will receive the Rising Star Award; Maria Becerra will receive the Visionary Award; Evaluna, who will receive the Tradition and Future Award; Goyo, who will receive the Agent of Change Award, and Thalia, who will receive the Global Powerhouse Award.
The inaugural Latin Women in Music event was announced earlier this year as an expansion of Billboard‘s Women in Music franchise. Billboard and Telemundo aim to further elevate Latin music globally and celebrate the women who have made a concrete impact on Latin music through their artistic achievements, or through tangible, noteworthy actions that have brought measurable recognition and opportunity to women, affecting positive change to the industry as a whole.
Bad Bunny defeated his former friend-turned-foe Damian Priest in a hellacious San Juan Street Fight at WWE’s premium live event Backlash on Saturday night (May 6).
The build-up to the match was enthralling: last month, Bunny involved himself in a skirmish between Priest’s villainous group, The Judgement Day, and WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio. Priest — the stable’s muscle — showcased his unrelenting power, chokeslamming his former friend through a table.
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Weeks later, Bunny returned the favor, mercilessly attacking Priest with a kendo stick and challenging him to a San Juan Street Fight at the same show he would be hosting in Puerto Rico. On Friday (May 5), Bunny and Priest engaged in a face-off at the Backlash press conference, where the two exchanged verbal and physical blows. Priest shoved Bunny, and the musical titan sealed things with a slap, setting the table for Saturday night’s hotly anticipated showdown.
Saturday night at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, Bunny reveled in the hometown fervor, soaking in the electricity from the sold-out crowd. Sauntering down the ramp to his 2017 song “Chambea,” Bunny had a supermarket cart with several weapons on display, including kendo sticks, trash cans, and a bicycle chain. The 20-minute brawl was a battle of attrition. Priest’s brute strength and Bunny’s daredevil abilities highlighted the clash of styles and had wrestling aficionados buzzing.
Bunny dazzled as he landed an array of moves, most notably a tornado DDT from the top turnbuckle. To continue his high-flying antics, Bunny delivered a cross-body drop to Priest on the outside, leaving the big man stunned. While Benito flexed his surge of offense, Priest was equally dominant and merciless. He attacked Bunny with kendo sticks and later slammed him through a table with a resounding Broken Arrow, causing WWE officials to check on the banged-up singer. Distraught by Priest’s onslaught, fans wondered if Bunny could continue the match, but indeed he did.
Things intensified when members of Priest’s crew, The Judgement Day, came to his rescue and began viciously assaulting Bunny inside the ring. Initially, the numbers game seemed overwhelming for the hometown hero until help arrived in the form of WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio and former WWE Puerto Rican legends Savio Vega and Carlito. A vicious battle ensued between Priest’s faction and Bunny’s allies, which later increased after Mysterio’s LWO crew came out and assisted in the efforts. Embroiled in combat outside the ring left Priest and Bunny back where they started — inside the square circle.
After Priest escaped a figure-four leglock submission, a hobbled Bunny attempted to end the match with a Sliced Bread No. 2 off, but to no avail, as Priest kicked out before the three count. Bunny’s signature move, the Bunny Destroyer, would leave Priest in the dust as he secured the three count and was triumphantly lifted in the air by his LWO peers in the middle of the ring.
The match was one of the night’s best, as Bunny proved why he’s a hit in and out of the ring.
Before kicking off the first edition of the Billboard Latin Women in Music gala in Miami on May 6, stars such as Thalia, Evaluna, Emilia and Maria Becerra, among many others, strutted the red carpet. See the photos here.
Hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes, the event is the first of its kind for Latin music. Mujeres Latinas en la Música, held at the Watsco Center, celebrates Latin female artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry.
Shakira will receive the first-ever Woman of the Year award. Other honorees include Ana Gabriel, who will receive the Living Legend Award; Emilia, who will receive the Rising Star Award; Maria Becerra, who will receive the Visionary Award; Evaluna, who will receive the Tradition and Future Award; Goyo, who will receive the Agent of Change Award, and Thalia, who will receive the Global Powerhouse Award.
Presenters throughout the show include Ludmilla, JP Saxe, Guaynaa, Lele Pons, Ha*Ash, Greeicy, Elena Rose and Nicole Zignago, to name a few.
The inaugural Latin Women in Music event was announced earlier this year as an expansion of Billboard’s Women in Music franchise. Billboard and Telemundo aim to further elevate Latin music globally and celebrate the women who have made a concrete impact on Latin music through their artistic achievements, or through tangible, noteworthy actions that have brought measurable recognition and opportunity to women, affecting positive change to the industry as a whole.
Watch Mujeres Latinas en la Música on Sunday, May 7 at 9 p.m. ET exclusively on Telemundo and Peacock.
Thalía
Image Credit: Rich Polk
Thalía at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Greeicy Rendón
Image Credit: Rich Polk
Greeicy Rendón at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Lele Pons & Guaynaa
Image Credit: Rich Polk
Lele Pons and Guaynaa at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Ludmilla
Image Credit: Rich Polk
Ludmilla at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Jacqueline Bracamontes
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Jacqueline Bracamontes at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Elena Rose
Image Credit: Rich Polk
Elena Rose at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Gale
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Gale at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Amara Le Negra
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Amara Le Negra at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Sofía del Prado
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Sofía del Prado at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Maria Becerra
Image Credit: Rich Polk
Maria Becerra at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Emilia
Image Credit: Rich Polk
Emilia at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Andrea Meza
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Andrea Meza at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Giselle Blondet
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Giselle Blondet at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Estefany Oliveira De Sousa
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Estefany Oliveira De Sousa at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Michelle Posada
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Michelle Posada at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Alexia Del Valle
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Alexia Del Valle at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Paulina B
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Paulina B at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Adriana De Moura
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Adriana De Moura at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Nicole Zignano
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Nicole Zignano at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Paula Arenas
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Paula Arenas at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Guerdy Abraira
Image Credit: Rich Polk
Guerdy Abraira at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Denise Rosenthal
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Denise Rosenthal at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Simoné Marval
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Simoné Marval at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Adriana Cataño
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Adriana Cataño at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Jessica Carrillo
Image Credit: Rich Polk
Jessica Carrillo at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Carlos Adyan
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Carlos Adyan at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Sonia Clavell
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Sonia Clavell at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Shantall Lacayo
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Shantall Lacayo at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Leila Cobo
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Leila Cobo at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Laura Flores
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Laura Flores at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Goyo
Image Credit: Rich Polk
Goyo at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Chiky BomBom
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Chiky BomBom at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Gabriella Cataño-Salinas
Image Credit: Rich Polk
Gabriella Cataño-Salinas at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Ashley Grace
Image Credit: Rich Polk
Ashley Grace at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Chesca
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Chesca at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Evaluna & JP Saxe
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Evaluna and JP Saxe at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Sofía Jirau & Lele Pons
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Sofía Jirau and Lele Pons at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
MŌRIAH
Image Credit: Rich Polk
MŌRIAH at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
Evaluna
Image Credit: Rich Polk
c at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.
The inaugural Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música (Billboard Latin Women in Music) is gearing up for a promising night full of surprises, motivational speeches and well-deserving awards, on Sunday, May 7. Ahead of the 2023 gala, which is an expansion of Billboard’s Women in Music franchise that will celebrate Latin women artists, executives and creatives in the music industry, we are gathering all the key information for our readers.
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Below, check out how to watch the ceremony and what to expect.
HONOREES: Seven Latin artists will be honored at the gala. Shakira will receive the first-ever Woman of the Year award; Ana Gabriel will accept the Living Legend Award; Emilia will be presented with the Rising Star Award; Maria Becerra will receive the Visionary Award; Evaluna will claim the Tradition and Future Award; Goyo will get the Agent of Change Award; and Thalia is set for the Global Powerhouse Award.
PRESENTERS: Confirmed presenters are Giselle Blondet, Chiky Bombom, Jessica Carrillo, Greeicy, Guaynaa, Ha*Ash, Lele Pons, Andrea Meza, Elena Rose, and Nicole Zignago.
PERFORMANCES: Fans can expect exciting performances, including song premieres. At the time of publishing, Billboard can confirm that Canadian artist JP Saxe will hit the stage with Evaluna, and Brazilian star Ludmilla is set to perform with Emilia.
HOW TO WATCH: The two-hour music special, hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes, honors Latin women in music. Watch Mujeres Latinas En la Música on Sunday, May 7, at 9 p.m. ET exclusively on Telemundo and Peacock.
RED CARPET LIVESTREAM: You can watch Telemundo’s one-hour red carpet livestream exclusively on BBMujeresLatinas.com. Find more info about the livestream here.
A first of its kind for Latin music, Mujeres Latinas en la Música celebrates Latin female artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry. Billboard and Telemundo aim to further elevate Latin music globally and celebrate the women who have made a concrete impact on Latin music through their artistic achievements, or through tangible, noteworthy actions that have brought measurable recognition and opportunity to women, affecting positive change to the industry as a whole.
Evaluna feels “very honored” to be one of the honorees at the inaugural Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música (Billboard Latin Women in Music), set to air Sunday, May 7, on Telemundo. She will receive the Tradition and Future Award, and will perform alongside Canadian artist JP Saxe.
“That award is really extra special to me,” she says in a new interview with Billboard News. The Venezuelan singer-songwriter, daughter of ‘90s pop crooner Ricardo Montaner and sibling of urban-pop duo Mau y Ricky, recalls falling in love with music during a family trip in Italy.
“The moment I said ‘This is what I want to do for the rest of my life’ was when we were in Italy, visiting together as a family, and suddenly, we heard a song by an Italian singer. We had no idea where the song was coming from, but we were obsessed with her voice and the song,” she recalls. “What the song made me feel and that search of having to know who she was, I’d love to make someone feel the same about the music we do together in the family.”
The artist is also married to the award-winning pop star Camilo, whom she has multiple collaborations with, including “Por Primera Vez” and “Índigo.” The latter is named after their first baby, who was born in spring 2022.
“Camilo writes songs with me. I feel like he empowers me a lot so I can communicate what I’m feeling,” she says. “I feel the music I do on my own has always had a more spiritual sound. I think my focus has always been trying to communicate a bit more about my relationship with God. And Cami talks a lot about love in his songs, which in essence is the same.”
Evaluna also thinks motherhood is “a wonderful adventure.” “Being a mom is something totally new. I think it’s my favorite version of myself right now,” she gushes. “I am lucky because I can work right next to her. Disregarding the hour, whenever you can cuddle with your baby, I think that generates the energy to do everything else.”
Hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes, the 2023 Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música will be taped at the Watsco Center in Miami on Saturday, and will air exclusively on Telemundo on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. The gala, which is an expansion of Billboard’s Women in Music franchise, will celebrate Latin women artists, executives, and creatives in the music industry.
Tickets to attend Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música live in Miami are on sale now. For more information and to purchase, visit BillboardMujeresEnLaMusica.com. Join the conversation using #BBMujeresLatinas and visit BBMujeresLatinas.com for more information.
It’s official. The Latin Grammys are moving this year to Seville, Spain for its 24th edition, which will take place on Thursday, Nov. 16 at the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones.
It will be the first time the ceremony is held outside the United States, but not the last: The Latin Recording Academy also announced on Thursday (May 4) a three-year partnership with the Junta de Andalucía, which will sponsor the 2023 awards gala, the Latin Grammy Week and other events of the Latin Academy in the community.
“It is an honor to celebrate our Latin GRAMMY Week in Sevilla and commit to our mission of elevating Latin music and its creators around the world. We are confident that it will be a memorable celebration,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy, in a press release.
“We are thrilled to produce the Latin GRAMMYs for the first time this year in Spain, and in a new partnership with the prestigious RTVE,” added Ignacio Meyer, President of U.S. Networks at TelevisaUnivision. “This is an extraordinary moment for Latin music globally and we are confident that this partnership with RTVE, and the passion and energy that Univision brings to the show, will make history and deliver an unforgettable experience for audiences who love and enjoy music all around the world.”
Given the time difference, the ceremony will not be aired live. It will be broadcasted later that day (Nov. 16) on Univision in the U.S., at its usual prime-time, Meyer told Billboard Español from Seville, where he and Abud made the announcement shortly before at a press conference. “At 7 in the afternoon (ET) Noche de Estrellas will begin and at 8 the gala starts. What we are not totally clear about is at what time it starts live,” he added. In Spain, the event will be broadcast on RTVE.
As in past years, the Latin Grammy Week will include the Person of the Year gala, the Special Awards ceremony, the Leading Ladies of Entertainment luncheon, the Best New Artist Showcase and a reception for the nominees, among other events.
The nominations for the 2023 Latin Grammys will be announced on Tuesday, September 19. Other important dates leading up to the awards ceremony include the first round of voting will be July 27 to August 7, and the final round September 29 to October 23
For more information, click here.
Anitta stopped by The Howard Stern Show on Wednesday (May 3) for a no-holds-barred chat about her bisexuality and, well, getting diarrhea before meeting Madonna.
Pressed by the host about whether dating women was “still on the table” for her, the “Envolver” singer responded with a hesitant yes, saying, “I haven’t been with a woman in a while. No, I don’t think I would fall in love with a woman. But I wouldn’t say never, I wouldn’t say never.”
One female artist Anitta certainly got nervous to meet was Her Madgesty — to the point that the encounter sent her running for the bathroom.
“I got there a little earlier than her,” the Brazilian star said of their session to record “Faz Gosoto” for 2019’s Madame X. “Thank god, ’cause then I had time to take a s–t. Crazy. I was feeling bad, like, you know when you’re too nervous and you just get [mimics grumbling sounds]? My stomach was just going crazy … She would know this probably now, but at the time she didn’t, which was great.”
Elsewhere during the chat, Anitta plugged her intimate perfume Puzzy. “This is a spray that you spray in your most intimate areas?” asked a curious Stern, to which she replied, “In your p—y, in your butt, in your d–k, in your balls — everything … [It’s for] men, women, everybody.”
Just days before the interview, the Latin superstar — who recently inked a new record deal with Republic Records after publicly parting ways with longtime label Warner Music Group — attended both the star-studded party to celebrate the grand re-opening of the Tiffany & Co. flagship store in New York City and the even grander 2023 Met Gala.
Watch Anitta hold nothing back on Howard Stern below.
Ice Cube, one of the most influential figures of West Coast hip-hop, and Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga (better known as Banda MS), one of the most revered regional Mexican acts of Northern Mexico, team up to deliver a powerful message in “¿Cuáles Fronteras?”
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A pinnacle moment in regional Mexican music’s continued rapid ascent, the powerful rap-encrusted banda jam sees two legendary acts representing Black and Brown communities join forces in their latest joint venture. The two mighty acts slay over an energetic banda rhythm powered by blaring horns and commanding vocals. Above all, it’s a response to the ongoing immigration injustices and militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border.
“This song is a tribute to [immigrants],” Banda MS singer Oswaldo Silvas tells Billboard Español. “It is a voice of solidarity for all our people from all over the world who are looking for a better future.” Adds Ice Cube: “It’s very important, especially coming from Los Angeles, being able to preach that message that we’re better together than apart. We have more in common than not,”
Billboard Español spoke with Ice Cube, as well as Banda MS’ composer/clarinet player Pavel Ocampo, frontmen Silvas and Alan Ramírez and the multi-hyphenate Angeleno via Zoom, to discuss racial, linguistic, and institutional borders, and why we must team up rather than divide.
Watch the exclusive teaser for “¿Cuáles Fronteras?”, full song and music video out Friday, May 5.
How did this collaboration first come about?
Ice Cube: We have a mutual friend, Bobby Dee, who’s been doing great [promotion work with me] and doing a lot of great shows around the country. He knows my audience, which is important. Once we got to know each other real good, he started saying, “Hey, you got to do something with my guys.” I was like, “Well, who are you guys?” “Banda MS.”
I had heard about the group because I have a box [suite] at Staples Center. Whenever [Banda MS] came to town, all my friends would want the box. They were like, “Can we get the box? We want to see them perform.” I knew they were huge. [Bobby Dee] sent me a few links to check out how they get down, and I was sold. The music is incredible. I was like, “Okay, I like the music. But how is the track that we’re going to do?” When I got it, it was amazing on all levels, from start to finish. It really inspired me, [especially with] the lyrics. It’s been a blessing ever since we were able to connect.
Oswaldo Silvas: The importance is the impact that this collaboration has, not only on a musical level, but on a cultural and social level. It breaks down so many barriers and so many paradigms. I think that is the strongest impact it will have. We approached him through a third party, Bobby Dee, and we loved the idea, because I think the admiration we have for Ice as a singer, artist and actor is very great. Sergio [Lizárraga] was the one who arranged everything, and when we got the news, it was incredible.
Ice Cube, you’re from LA — one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world — where there’s a very strong hip-hop presence, but also regional Mexican music. I imagine this unity was more seamless than what some might expect. Agree?
Ice Cube: Without a doubt. To me, L.A. is a city where black and brown people really interact and connect on a lot of different levels, from culture to our love of sports, music and hip-hop. I think there’s a lot of different things that really connect our cultures, and I like to highlight those things. I think it’s important that we work together, that we show unity, that we speak up for each other. Some people are going to see us getting together like peanut butter and jelly, like it’s meant to be. The song is powerful. It’s the perfect song at the perfect time with the perfect artist.
Tell me more about the song.
Alan Ramírez: What the song says is something very cool for everyone in the United States. There was that chemistry at the time of the composition with Ice Cube and his people. Ice’s people did the rap part of it, and Omar Robles, the lead songwriter for Banda MS, worked [with his team]. We know they’re going to like the [music] video. They were Ice’s and Banda MS’s ideas. It’s a very nice thing that came out very original.
Ice Cube, was writing rap verses different to a norteño song than to a traditional hip-hop song?
Ice Cube: Yeah. In hip-hop, you’re looking for a kick, and it tells you what you can do. Here, I wanted to make sure I was in a set rhythm, so that it would have the right momentum. There was a test track of “It Was a Good Day” [where] they took the lyrics to the beat to make me know where to rap. The rhythm was a little slow for me. I wanted to make sure I stayed with the rhythm, so the flow could be easy for other people to sing along, even if they don’t speak good English.
I just had all those things in mind, as well as delivering a message of unity, of hope, and of defiance. We got to fight back against people who don’t want to see us succeed. Those who don’t want to see people get ahead and have a better life. I wanted to rap all that into the lyrics.
What was different about the process of writing the musical arrangements knowing that Ice Cube was involved?
Pavel Ocampo: We have the experience of having worked on “Qué Maldición” with Snoop Dogg, where we did this collaboration between hip-hop and regional Mexican. This time it’s a completely different thing. When we were talking to Cube the first time, I said, “Hey, how did you rap here?” Because this song is more Mexican, where he had to adapt a lot to a more Mexican beat. In the arrangements, we did a banda track with hip hop elements. I think it suited Cube very well, it was very natural.
The song is about breaking barriers. Language has been considered a barrier too. What was it like for you to be making a bilingual song?
Ice Cube: It’s amazing. Throughout my career, I’ve gotten so much love from the Spanish community — Mexican, Cuban, and all over South America. For this to be the first time that I have a song in Spanish and English is pretty remarkable. The timing is right, with the perfect message to put out there in the world. I’m glad that we’ve really been able to bring it together. I do it in my movies a little bit, but this is another great way to do it. I appreciate all the fans I have and so I want to make sure they know that I got nothing but love, and I want to reciprocate the love that they’ve given me. This is a small way to do that.
Silvas: I think we are playing the universal language that is music, we all understand each other there. It is a problem when we feel admiration for an artist like Ice Cube, and suddenly you want to communicate with him. Alan and I don’t speak English, and sometimes we feel like, heck, don’t think that we’re being nasty because we don’t talk to each other — because the language has that barrier.
Can you talk about your personal relationship with the U.S.-Mexico border.
Silvas: As a band, we have not had an experience where there have been complications when crossing the border. But there are many cases of people we know who have encountered problems in their search for a better life. Above all, to those people who could not make it, who stayed on the road, who unfortunately lost their lives, and their family suffers the consequences of this process. This song is a tribute to them, a voice and a song of solidarity for all our people – not only Mexican, but Latin, South American, Central American, from all over the world who are looking for a better future. So, it’s a way of how with what we do, we put that grain of sand of solidarity for our people.
The plight of Black and Brown folks in the U.S., have been parallel in a way. This song sets a precedent in unifying cultures. How important is it for you to convey that message now?
Ice Cube: It’s very important, especially coming from Los Angeles, being able to preach that message that we’re better together than apart. We have more in common than not. At the end of the day, we have fun together. I always like to push that message, not just stand on a soapbox and say it, but do things that are unexpected that’s cool and makes an impact. That’s what it’s all about, to catch [audiences] by surprise with something cool that they can be a part of and show the unity. It’s important to show that we need to work together and make each other’s lives easier and not harder. We all know there are forces against both communities that make life hard, so we shouldn’t contribute to that.
Ocampo: We know that African-American, Mexican and Latino communities in general have a lot of similarities, culturally — in positive things but also in negative things. Economic inequality, access to education, medicine. Although this theme speaks to a specific issue, migration, it enhances the unity of the two communities or more that bring this message of unity, and that we are compas.
Silvas: I think we are living in times where the content of disunity between races is very much spread. I have seen many videos where they try, in some way, to set against each other, the African-American against the Latino, for example — and a kind of media battle is made. With this collaboration, what we are trying to say is that, we can be united, we can be part of the same team, there are no borders, there are no barriers, we are one. When people, life, God has given you the opportunity to be able to be on this platform, you can do something of positive impact to say to people, “We can come together through this.” That is priceless.
On Thursday (May 4), Billboard and Telemundo announced a new wave of presenters for the inaugural Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música (Billboard Latin Women in Music) — an expansion of Billboard’s Women in Music franchise that will celebrate Latin women artists, executives and creatives in the music industry.
The debut ceremony will honor seven Latina singer-songwriters including Shakira, who will receive the Latin Woman of the Year Award, and Thalia, who will receive the Global Powerhouse Award.
Joining the star-studded lineup as presenters are Giselle Blondet, Chiky Bombom, Jessica Carrillo, Greeicy, Guaynaa, Ha*Ash, Lele Pons, Andrea Meza, Elena Rose and Nicole Zignago. Meanwhile, Canadian artist JP Saxe and Brazilian star Ludmilla are set to perform with the honorees. The former will share the stage with Evaluna and the latter with Emilia.
Ha*Ash will present Ana Gabriel with the Living Legend Award; Elena Rose will present Emilia with the Rising Star Award; Nicole Zignago will present Evaluna with the Tradition and Future Award; Greeicy will present Goyo with the Agent of Change Award; and Lele Pons and Guaynaa will present Maria Becerra with the Visionary Award.
Hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes, the 2023 Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música will be taped at the Watsco Center in Miami on Saturday and will air exclusively on Telemundo on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
Tickets to attend Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música live in Miami on May 6 are on sale now. For more information and to purchase, visit BillboardMujeresEnLaMusica.com. Join the conversation using #BBMujeresLatinas and visit BBMujeresLatinas.com for more information.
Our ‘Global Powerhouse Award’ recipient Thalía talks about what the award means to her, how she got her start in music, paving the way for other women in the industry, her new album ‘Thalia’s Mixtape’, and more!
Get your tickets to Billboard’s #MujeresLatinas in Miami, for May 6th, and tune in to watch it on Telemundo on May 7th at 9PM/8C.