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When Ludmilla stepped onstage to headline Palco Sunset at Rock in Rio in September 2022 — an all-star lineup boasting the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, Guns N’ Roses, and Dua Lipa — the Rainha da Favela boldly announced her arrival. Donning a black lace one-piece and a fur cropped coat, her long black shiny hair looking splendidly, the Rio de Janeiro native oozed confidence, and proceeded to belt out the words to baile funk banger “Favela Chegou” (or Favela has arrived), a single from her 2019 full-length Hello Mundo.
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Rock in Rio is one of the world’s largest music festivals, drawing in roughly 700K attendees annually, and the performer had hordes of fans losing their minds over her captivating vocal range and powerful stage presence — and, to keep it real, her twerking dexterity. In March, she will appear in Lollapalooza Brasil, the same month that her next album drops. Her prior studio release, Numance #2 (2022), garnered the singer her first Latin Grammy for best samba/pagode album.
Ludmila Oliveira da Silva was born to sing. It’s something that comes “from inside my soul,” she tells Billboard Español over Zoom. The artist had just returned home to Rio from a business trip to Argentina. She mentions proudly that she writes most of her songs, and began to do so at an early age. Her inspiration? Seeing The Beyoncé Experience Live (2007) on DVD, a game-changer for the pre adolescent. “I saw her so free on stage, so happy, so confident, and I wanted to do that too,” she recalls. “That’s how I found myself in music.”
For a short stint in her early career, Ludmilla dubbed herself MC Beyoncé, and released her breakout hit “Fala Mal de Mim” (2013) under that stage name — a viral YouTube release that clocked in at 15 million views at the time. While Queen Bey has been her number one idol, she also takes cues from SZA, Kehlani, and Rihanna. “They caused all this, you know?” she muses. “I really wanted to externalize these things that I feel inside me.”
Although Ludmilla’s admiration for American neo-soul, pop and R&B have helped fuel her creative wanderlust, her love for homegrown sounds is unparalleled. She built her artistic persona embracing Brazilian art forms, from samba to pagode and funk carioca, with an enigmatic flow that’s all in Portuguese where she reps life in the favelas, self empowerment anthems, and rendezvous encounters. She’s a household name in her native country, who’s widely recognized as the Rainha da Favela (or Queen of the Favela).
“I come from the favela here in Rio de Janeiro, where funk is a very strong genre. It’s a musical genre that saves lives,” she asserts. “In these communities, you have a lot of connections with funk and Black music.” Favelas have become synonymous with the slums, and although poverty and crime abound, music and culture are potent agents of change (think the roots of hip-hop in the Bronx).
“I started singing and began appearing in the media through funk. I saw that my musical range was wide, that I could do everything I dreamed of, everything I wanted to do. So I started to invest more in this, and now I am at this moment,” she says.
Ludmilla signed with Warner Music Brasil, released her debut 2014 album Hoje and followed up with 2016’s A Danada Sou Eu. By the time of 2019’s Hello Mundo, her star ascended higher: She made Brazil’s Top 50 on Spotify, toured Europe, and appeared in a 2019 single (MC Lan, Skrillex and TroyBoi’s “Malokera”) that starred in Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty fashion show. In 2020, she became the first Afro-Latina artist to reach one billion streams on Spotify.
Last month, the rising Brazilian signed a high-profile management deal with WK Entertainment/Central Sonora. “Ludmilla reflects the true sonority that exists in Brazil today. She is ready to conquer the world by exploring our Brazilian culture,” Cesar Figueiredo previously said in a statement shared with Billboard Español. “Our alliance began a few years ago as a friendship and has since blossomed, giving us the opportunity to finally work together professionally. It is truly an honor for me as a manager to represent a highly regarded and iconic artist such as Ludmilla.” This month, she dropped the energetic singles “Sou Má,” featuring Tasha & Tracie and Ajaxx, as well as “Naci Pra Vencer” with Dallass.
With a highly versatile ability to create riveting pop that spans Latin trap, funk, soul and more, coupled with her alluring stage presence, Ludmilla is a force to be reckoned with.
Name: Ludmila Oliveira da Silva
Age: 27
Recommended Song: “I would recommend ‘Rainha da Favela’ because it describes who I am as a person, where I come from, and what I’m about. It’s about me, and it encapsulates the image I want to deliver.”
Biggest achievement: “First my fans, and second is that now I have the power to control my own career because people want to hear what I have to say. I now have full artistic control in my own market and a management team that’s helping me on this path. “
What’s Next: The public can expect lots of different things, like private shows, called Lud Sessions, which have become pretty notorious. Lots of collabs with people from Brazil and beyond, and a new album due in March.
Empowered. That’s how Colombian superstar Shakira appeared to be in her first TV interview after the global success of “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” with Argentine DJ Bizarrap and “TQG” with fellow Colombian Karol G.
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During her one-hour conversation with Mexican journalist Enrique Acevedo, the host of Televisa network’s primetime newscast En Punto, the artist spoke about her breakup with Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué, the controversy caused by her Bizarrap collab — in which she slams her ex for leaving her for another woman — and what’s in store now for her artistic career.
“I constantly have a debt with myself: I want to check if I really have talent or if I still have it, if it has not disappeared,” she said. “That’s what makes me want to go back to the recording studio and, now, I’m more excited than ever.”
The interview was recorded a week ago in Barcelona and aired Monday (Feb. 27) on the Mexican network.
Here are five of the biggest takeaways from Shakira’s interview with Televisa:
1. Her dream was shattered, but she got the best reward.
“I had that dream of having a family in which the children had a father and a mother under the same roof. Not all dreams come true, but life finds a way to compensate you in some way, and with me it has done that in spades, with these wonderful, wonderful children,” she said, referring to the sons Milan, 10, and Sasha, 7, whom she shares with Piqué.
2. She has changed her views about men.
In a moment of total frankness, Shakira shared that she always believed the narrative that a woman needs a man. “I have always been quite emotionally dependent on men, I must admit,” she said. “I have been in love with love and I think that, somehow, I have managed to understand this narrative from another perspective and feel that I am enough for myself.”
3. She totally believes in women supporting each other.
Shakira quoted Madeleine Albright, the first woman to become Secretary of State in the United States, saying, “There’s a place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” She added, “I completely agree.”
4. Shakira feels whole.
After assimilating her breakup from Piqué and her newfound success in music during such tough personal times, Shakira said, “Ironically, yes, I now feel whole because I feel that I rely on myself and that I also have two children that depend on me, so I have to be stronger than a lioness.”
5. She celebrates that her latest hits are in Spanish and looks forward to going back to the studio.
Considering the feat of being the third most listened to artist on Spotify globally, Shakira said, “I am glad this is happening to a Colombian, to a Latin American woman, and that it’s happening for me in Spanish. That’s when I say that it is worth it, and that I have a purpose in society, a place, a role.”
As for what’s in store for her now, she didn’t give any specifics. “I constantly have a debt with myself: I want to check if I really have talent or if I still have it, if it has not disappeared,” she shared. “That’s what makes me want to go back to the recording studio and, now, I’m more excited than ever.”
J Balvin’s most recent Instagram post is from September, when he’s all smiles at home with his baby boy Río, whom he had with his longtime partner, Argentine model Valentina Ferrer. The last single he released was the Ryan Castro-assisted “Nivel de Perreo” in June.
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Though he’s been spotted at events such as Paris Fashion Week and the Super Bowl, there’s a reason why the Colombian artist has decided to take a break from social media and from making music.
“Really right now, I’ve been focused on my family,” he tells Billboard. “I left social media to be connected to my reality and to my family. That has taught me a lot. To live more in the present. Obviously, I miss my fans, but when the time is right, I’ll be back.”
In spring 2022, Balvin postponed his 25-date José U.S. tour, which was scheduled to kick off April 19 in San Antonio, Texas, citing “unforeseen production challenges” due to COVID-19. That summer, he unveiled a seven-day “Niño Soñador” stint across South America, which made stops in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Peru and Paraguay. In August, he performed the reggaeton-heavy “Noche de Perreo” at the MTV Video Music Awards, and in September, he dropped his latest sneakers, the Air Balvin Jordan 2. Not that long ago, he reclaimed his crown as the artist with the most videos in YouTube’s Billion Views Club (he now ties with Ozuna with 12 entries each).
The year prior, the artist born José Álvaro Osorio Balvín captured his fourth No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart with his ultra-personal set José (Sueños Globales/Universal Music Latino/UMLE). But despite his recent achievements, Balvin is not quite ready for a comeback.
“I have made music to have a good time as always, but I don’t have a concept or an album to make yet,” he says. “But it’s because I want to have a clear, different and fresh concept. Possibly these days, the muse arrives and the concept comes to me, and from there, an album is born. It may be this year, it may be the next.”
For the time being, Balvin, who helped propel the careers of artists such as Bad Bunny, Karol G, Rosalía and Feid, is excited about the new generation of Latin urban artists — most notably La Gabi, a young Dominican rapper he signed.
“I am totally in love with what she does,” he says. “In the future, I would like to work with her, but I want her to work hard to earn her space [in the industry]. I really love what Blessd and Ryan Castro are doing with Colombian reggaeton too, but at this moment, La Gabi interests me a lot. I will continue to see what other new artists come out, because I love collaborating and elevating that.”
Bizarrap and Shakira’s collaboration “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated Jan. 28.
The track, recorded almost entirely in Spanish, earns Bizarrap his first top 10 hit on the Hot 100 and Shakira her fifth, and first since her Beyoncé team-up “Beautiful Liar” in 2007. It also earns the distinction as just the 30th non-English-language song to reach the Hot 100’s top 10 – out of over 5,000 top 10s in the chart’s 64-year history.
Shakira also makes history as the first solo woman to score a Hot 100 top 10 recorded in Spanish. (The group Mocedades’ “Eres Tu [Touch the Wind]” became the first such top 10 with lead female vocals in 1974; see below.)
“Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” drew 20.2 million U.S. streams, 7.9 million radio airplay audience impressions and 9,000 downloads sold its first full tracking week (Jan. 13-19), according to Luminate. Shakira’s previous four top 10s are sung primarily in English: “Whenever, Wherever” (No. 6 peak in 2001), “Underneath Your Clothes” (No. 9, 2002), “Hips Don’t Lie,” featuring Wyclef Jean (No. 1 for two weeks, 2006), and “Beautiful Liar,” with Beyoncé (No. 3, 2007).
Looking at the other 29 non-English-language top 10s, Bad Bunny tallies the most, with seven (four of which are from his 2022 smash album Un Verano Sin Ti), followed by BTS (five) and PSY (two).
Nine of the 30 songs have reached No. 1 on the Hot 100, including Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito” (featuring Justin Bieber), which spent a then-record-tying 16 weeks at No. 1 in 2017, and Los Del Rio’s “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix),” which ruled for 14 weeks in 1996. The most recent No. 1 is Coldplay and BTS’ “My Universe,” which contains both Korean and English lyrics, from 2021.
Spanish is the most common non-English language listed below (15 of 30 top 10s), followed by Korean (seven), German (three), French and Italian (two each) and Japanese (one).
Meanwhile, 18 of the 30 top 10s have reached the tier since 2012, following a 16-year break between “Macarena” and PSY’s “Gangnam Style.” The influx coincides with music’s increased globalization, as highlighted by hits from Bad Bunny and BTS, among others.
In chronological order of their peak dates, here are all 30 primarily or all non-English-language songs to reach the Hot 100’s top 10 (with thanks to Paul Haney at Joel Whitburn’s Record Research for research assistance). (The list does not include songs with relatively minimal portions in other languages, such as Enrique Iglesias’ “Bailamos” or Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin’s “I Like It.”)
Domenico Modugno, “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)”
Peak date: Aug. 18, 1958Peak position: No. 1 (five weeks)Language: Italian
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Lolita, “Sailor (Your Home Is the Sea)”
Peak date: Dec. 19, 1960Peak position: No. 5Language: German
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Emilio Pericoli, “Al Di La'”
Peak date: July 7, 1962Peak position: No. 6Language: Italian
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Kyu Sakamoto, “Sukiyaki”
Peak date: June 15, 1963Peak position: No. 1 (three weeks)Language: Japanese
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The Singing Nun (Soeur Sourire), “Dominique”
Peak date: Dec. 7, 1963Peak position: No. 1 (four weeks)Language: French
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The Sandpipers, “Guantanamera”
Peak date: Sept. 17, 1966Peak position: No. 9Language: Spanish
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Mocedades, “Eres Tu (Touch the Wind)”
Peak date: March 23, 1974Peak position: No. 9Language: Spanish
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Nena, “99 Luftballons”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Peak date: March 3, 1984Peak position: No. 2Language: German
Falco, “Rock Me Amadeus”
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Peak date: March 29, 1986Peak position: No. 1 (three weeks)Language: German
Los Lobos, “La Bamba”
Peak date: Aug. 29, 1987Peak position: No. 1 (three weeks)Language: Spanish
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Enigma, “Sadeness (Part 1)”
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Peak date: April 6, 1991Peak position: No. 5Language: Latin/French
Los Del Rio, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)”
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Peak date: Aug. 3, 1996Peak position: No. 1 (14 weeks)Language: Spanish
PSY, “Gangnam Style”
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Peak date: Oct. 6, 2012Peak position: No. 2Language: Korean
PSY, “Gentleman”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Peak date: May 4, 2013Peak position: No. 5Language: Korean
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Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, “Despacito”
Peak date: May 27, 2017Peak position: No. 1 (16 weeks)Language: Spanish
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J Balvin & Willy William feat. Beyoncé, “Mi Gente”
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Peak date: Oct. 21, 2017Peak position: No. 3Language: Spanish
BTS, “Fake Love”
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Peak date: June 2, 2018Peak position: No. 10Language: Korean
Bad Bunny feat. Drake, “MIA”
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Peak date: Oct. 27, 2018Peak position: No. 5Language: Spanish
BTS feat. Halsey, “Boy With Luv”
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Peak date: April 27, 2019Peak position: No. 8Language: Korean
BTS, “On”
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Peak date: March 7, 2020Peak position: No. 4Language: Korean
BTS, “Life Goes On”
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Peak date: Dec. 5, 2020Peak position: No. 1 (one week)Language: Korean
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dakiti”
Peak date: Dec. 12, 2020Peak position: No. 5Language: Spanish
Jose Feliciano, “Feliz Navidad”
Peak date: Jan. 2, 2021Peak position: No. 6Language: Spanish
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Bad Bunny, “Yonaguni”
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Peak date: June 19, 2021Peak position: No. 10Language: Spanish
Coldplay x BTS, “My Universe”
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Peak date: Oct. 9, 2021Peak position: No. 1 (one week)Language: Korean
Bad Bunny, “Moscow Mule”
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Peak date: May 21, 2022Peak position: No. 4Language: Spanish
Bad Bunny, “Tití Me Preguntó”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Peak date: May 21, 2022Peak position: No. 5Language: Spanish
Bad Bunny, “Despues de La Playa”
Peak date: May 21, 2022Peak position: No. 6Language: Spanish
Listen here.
Bad Bunny & Chencho Corleone, “Me Porto Bonito”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Peak date: July 23, 2022Peak position: No. 6Language: Spanish
Bizarrap & Shakira, “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Peak date: Jan. 28, 2023Peak position: No. 9Language: Spanish
Flowers, mustaches, banners, hearts… On his first visit to Chile to close the Viña del Mar International Song Festival on Friday (Feb. 24), Camilo was greeted by the so-called “monster” (audience) at the Quinta Vergara with gifts, cheers and ovations. And they all sang hits including “Kesi,” “Pegao” and “Índigo” at the top of their lungs.
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With his characteristic simplicity and good vibes, the Colombian singer-songwriter — dressed in white pants and tank top and barefoot — made the 15,000 spectators dance and jump in the central coastal region of Valparaíso, demonstrating once more why he has conquered a growing “tribe” of international followers. And the audience rewarded him with two Gaviotas (the festival prize), a gold and a silver one.
“Good evening Viña. Good evening Chile. Good evening, tribe,” Camilo said shortly after opening his show. “I have been dreaming of this moment for many years. Since I was little, I saw my favorite concerts by my favorite artists from my house [in Colombia] here, in Viña del Mar”.
Accompanied by his band, Camilo sang more than 15 songs, “Favorito,” “Tutu” and “Vida de Rico” among them. His wife, singer and actress Evaluna Montaner, joined him for “Por Primera Vez” and “Macchu Pichu,” and later appeared again to close the show together with their song “Índigo.”
Before arriving in Viña, Camilo began the second leg of his De Adentro Pa Afuera Tour in Argentina. The tour continues on March 1-2 at the Movistar Arena in Santiago de Chile and will take him to Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico until the end of May.
Here are some highlights of Camilo’s performance in Viña del Mar, which was livestreamed in the U.S. exclusively on Billboard.com, Billboard‘s YouTube channel and Twitter account.
“La tribu” seizes Quinta Vergara
It may be traditionally known as “el monstruo” (the monster,) but on Friday, during Camilo’s show at the Viña del Mar Festival, the audience at Quinta Vergara was undoubtedly part of “the tribe” — as the Colombian artist refers to his ardent fans. From children to teens, young adults and not so young, the devotion to the singer was felt in the form of mustaches alluding to Camilo’s famous trait (some natural, others fake,) banners with messages of love, stuffed animals, flowers and more. And throughout the concert the audience could be heard singing, from beginning to end, at the top of their lungs.
A poignant message about self worth
In one of his interactions with the Chilean audience, Camilo urged his fans not to waste time trying to be what they are not. “Many want us to look like others,” he said, “that we have the abs of others, certain amounts of followers and likes, as if that would make us more valuable.” You have to be yourself, he stressed. Value who you are and live in the present.
Camilo and Evaluna irradiate pure love
Camilo shines on his own merit every time he goes on stage, but there’s something definitely special when he shares it with wife Evaluna, and Viña del Mar was no exception. The couple delighted the “monster” at Quinta Vergara with their duets “Por Primera Vez” and “Machu Picchu.” Evaluna looked radiant in black top and pants and Camilo gushed: “How beautiful my wife is,” kissing her sweetly. “A round of applause for my guagüita‘s mother,” he added, using the Chilean term for baby in reference to Índigo, their 10-month-old daughter. Later, he invited Evaluna back on stage to receive the golden Gaviota together and close the show, precisely, with the song that bears the name of their “guagua.”
Camilo and Evaluna Montaner performing on the 6th night of the Viña del Mar International Song Festival on Feb. 24, 2023 in Viña del Mar, Chile.
Diego Martin /Agencia Uno
From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and more, Billboard editors highlight the latest news buzz in Latin music every week. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
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$25K donation to Maestro Cares Foundation
Following Marc Anthony’s sold-out show at the Prudential Center in New Jersey earlier this month, the venue announced it has donated $25,000 towards Anthony’s Maestro Cares Foundation. The special show marked the salsa singer’s ninth performance at Prudential, dating back to his first show on February 14, 2014. Since 2014, Prudential Center has donated over $375,000 to the Maestro Cares Foundation, according to a press statement. Adding that the donation “continues Prudential Center’s community-focused dedication to the social programs that are important to the acts and artists that play the world-class venue.”
Top Premio Lo Nuestro winners
The 35th annual Premio Lo Nuestro awards are a wrap. Grupo Firme was crowned the top winner at the ceremony, which took place Thursday (Feb. 23) in Miami. The banda/norteño ensemble took home six awards (of their nine nominations) including regional Mexican album of the year (Enfiestados Y Amanecidos), regional Mexican song of the year (“Ya Supérame”) and the perfect mix of the year (“Cada Quien” with Maluma).
Yatra and Karol G weren’t far behind. Each took home four awards. Yatra took male artist of the year, pop, and album of the year, pop. Meanwhile, Karol beat artists such as Bad Bunny, Camilo and Christian Nodal in the artist of the year category. Bad Bunny won three awards, including album of the year for Un Verano Sin Ti. Bizarrap, Shakira and Daddy Yankee also won three each. Check out the complete list of winners.
A dream come true for Carolina Ross
Mexican singer Carolina Ross couldn’t help but get emotional after she shared the stage with one of her biggest idols, Andrea Bocelli. “I’m a Mexican girl that dreams so much,” she told him. “A girl that when she sings she thinks she can fly, and love and heal with music. Also, I’m very happy that my mom is here, who is your biggest fan. She’s going to witness this dream come true.” Ross performed alongside Bocelli in Nuevo León, Mexico on Feb. 21.
Hear her heartfelt words for Bocelli below:
J Balvin’s new initiative
The Colombian star wants to give back and pave the way for Latino-owned businesses via the “J Balvin’s Tab” program. Teaming up with Accion Opportunity Fund — “a financial support system for small businesses that advance racial, gender, and economic justice for all,” according to its website — a limited-edition pint inspired by Balvin’s vibrant brand has been designed for nine and 15-packs. A portion of the proceeds from every purchase, up to $150,000, will be donated to AOF by Miller Lite and will fund nearly 50 Latino business owners and entrepreneurs across the country.
Read more about it here.
Karol G drops new album
Karol’s Mañana Será Bonito is finally here. After announcing the album in January, the Colombian superstar has released her fourth studio album featuring collaborations with Shakira, Quevedo, Sech, Carla Morrison, among others. “All of us as Latinos have to recognize she’s the one who represents us as Latinas around the world,” Karol told Billboard about working with Shakira. “When I was on set shooting the video and I was watching her, I was realizing all the amazing and legendary moments in her career, and a lot of things I need to work on to get to that point. But it was such a blessing to have her.”
Mexican power couple Kimberly Loaiza and JD Pantoja, who’ve been together since 2012 and have two children together, had a lot to celebrate at the 2023 Premio Lo Nuestro on Thursday night (Feb. 23).
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“I feel very proud,” Loaiza said of her new female artist nomination. “My fans, Las Linduras, were the ones to give me the news. They’re always paying attention to everything. When I got the news, I thought, ‘Wow, I can’t believe it.’” (Later in the night, Loaiza won the award, where she was up against strong contenders including Tokischa, Lola Indigo, Corina Smith, Young Miko, Lola Indigo and many more.)
On the carpet, the couple shared exclusive news about their upcoming music projects.
“We’ve got news — it’s kind of bad for the fans, but we’re going to release our last collaboration together soon,” Pantoja tells Billboard.
Loaiza and Pantoja, two influencers-turned-artists, have released many collaborations in the past, but each has their individual career.
“My album is coming,” assures Loaiza, “and more collaborations with Argentinean and Puerto Rican artists. In April, I’ll release one of those songs.”
“I also have a song with a reggaeton legend from Puerto Rico that will soon, soon come out. I filmed the video not that long ago and it came out great,” Pantoja states of his upcoming feature.
Next month, the married couple will tour together, for the last time, on their Bye Bye Tour, visiting the U.S. for the first time. Produced by Loud and Live, the trek will visit four U.S. cities, kicking off March 31 in Chicago and winding through New York, Houston and Los Angeles.
The sunny and lighthearted “Mientras Me Curo Del Cora (While My Heart Heals)” opens Karol G‘s highly anticipated new album Mañana Será Bonito, out today (Feb. 24).
Powered by a disarming, joyous whistle, her stripped-down vocals take center stage in this opening track. “Give me time/ I’m not at my best moment, but I’ll get better little by little/ Today, I’m down but tomorrow will be prettier,” she sings. Time was what Karol G needed to heal from heartbreak. Now, she’s entered a new era that’s marked by a renewed sense of freedom and empowerment.
“Mientras Me Curo” serves as Karol’s introduction to the set, but don’t be tricked by its simplicity in terms of production. In fact, the rest of the tracks on the album are quite the opposite — packed with fast-paced verses, raw and sensual lyrics with dembow, regional Mexican and reggaetón powering the beats. Along the way, she tapped a few fellow hitmakers for star-studded collaborations, including Shakira on “TQG,” “Dañamos La Amistad” with Sech and “Pero Tú” with Quevedo. The set also includes previously released collaborations with Romeo Santos (“X Si Volvemos), Ovy on the Drums (“Cairo”) and Maldy (“Gatubela”).
The highly awaited collab with Shak finds the two Colombianas in a sultry music video, confirming once more that there’s no messing with them (and their hearts). Meanwhile, on the simmering reggaetón track “Pero Tú,” the Medellín singer continues to cultivate the allusions of passion, set against pensive piano chords and an irresistible rhythm. This time, Karol is armed with a hypnotic coo like that of a siren, which captures Quevedo as a love interest.
Mañana Será Bonito is Karol’s fourth studio album, and it follows her 2021 Grammy-nominated KG0516, which scored Karol her first No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums. The set earned the biggest week for a Latin album by a woman since Shakira‘s 2017 El Dorado.
Below, check out all the collaborations on the set ranked:
“Cairo” feat. Ovy on the Drums
Image Credit: Mario Alzate
On her new album’s penultimate track, Karol G continues to explore her provocative wanderlust, and “Cairo” sets the stage for a too-hot-to-handle escapade in the desert capital. Propelled by the undulating reggaetón beats of Ovy on the Drums, her long-time producer, Karol G confesses her newfound emotions on a fling. Near the end of the track, “Cairo” transitions into an Ibiza-leaning number to get lost to. The song debuted at No. 89 on the Billboard Global 200 chart on December 3, 2022, becoming Ovy on the Drums’ first entry on the chart.
“Ojos Ferrari” feat. Justin Quiles & Angel Dior
Karol G teams up with veteran singer-songwriter Justin Quiles and emerging artist Angel Dior to deliver the ultimate party anthem. The bouncy and dizzying dembow track “Ojos Ferrari” is a certified club banger, where the three sing about living it up. “Hoy se bebe/ Hoy se fuma/ Hoy se jode,” they chant on the Ovy on the Drums-produced song.
“Kármika” feat. Bad Gyal & Sean Paul
“Kármika” finds the Colombian artist joined by two generations of artists and of two different cultures: Sean Paul of Jamaica and Bad Gyal of Spain. Instead of having them sing a perrero tune, Karol delivers a sensual dancehall track — best fitting with Paul’s and Gyal’s signature sound. Telling the story from the perspective of a woman who doesn’t want any commitment, but still wants to spend time with that special person, Karol sings about “becoming another person when she’s drinking” and “only wanting casual sex” because she’s alone. “I know I’m a bad boy for you,” sings Sean Paul, who assures he’s different than the rest of the boys.
“Dañamos La Amistad” feat. Sech
“Chingué con mi amigo y no me explico/ dañamos la amistad pero rico/ y ahora estoy pensándote,” seductively croons the Colombian femme fatale (“I f–ked my friend and I can’t explain it/ we damaged the friendship but deliciously / and now I’m thinking about you”). On her Sech collaboration, the pair detail a steamy night when two friends become lovers, after a night of rocking and partying until the wee hours, with the Panamanian singer delivering his utmost passionate flow that spills over. It’s a risky and adventurous trope that’s also relatable, set against the hard-hitting beats of Sech himself and his producer Dímelo Flow.
“Mañana Será Bonito” feat. Carla Morrison
Image Credit: Esteban Calderon
The closing and title track on the set finds Mexican singer-songwriter Carla Morrison exploring the infectious reggaetón beats of Karol G. On the track, the two artists deliver a feel-good track filled with positive lyrics and manifestations, again, to heal a heartbreak. The track tells the story of a girl who gave it all for love but her trust was broken. Then, there’s Karol and Carla reminding every heart-broken person that “tomorrow will be beautiful” and no one can “take way their light.” “In life, we can’t go back and recuperate the time wasted/ But yes, we can start brand new,” says Karol toward the end of the track.
“Gatúbela” feat. Maldy
Like this album, “Gatúbela” — released in August — marked a new chapter for Karol G. Unveiling her fiery red hair for the first time with this song, for which she reeled in Latin urban pioneer Maldy, “Gatúbela” is an infectious old-school reggaetón jam laced with intense perreo beats. Produced by DJ MAFF, Karol G knows exactly what she want. “I’m not with anyone but I’m hooked/ I’m elevated, I feel like a Catwoman/ It feels good when he moves my panties to the side/ It feels good when you kiss me down there,” she confesses bluntly. Maldy’s spit-fire verses match the track’s fast-paced beat, which hooks you instantly.
“Pero Tú” feat. Quevedo
Karol G is a riveting storyteller — she simply knows how to spellbind her listeners. On the simmering reggaetón cut “Pero Tú,” the singer continues to cultivate allusions to passion, set against pensive piano chords and an irresistible rhythm. This time, Karol is armed with a breathy hypnotic coo like that of a siren, which captures Quevedo as a love interest. Buoyed by his deep growl, the Spanish rapper responds with a wicked flow to meet his match. His poetic prowess details her as a beaming — no, sizzling — conquest, making this collaboration one of the lustiest songs in the game.
“TQG” feat. Shakira
On the heels of “MAMIII” (Becky G, Karol G) and “BZRP Music Session, Vol. 53” (Bizarrap, Shakira) — two very empowering breakup tracks — Karol G and Shakira join forces on “TQG,” short for “Te Quedó Grande.” Loosely meaning “I was too good for you,” this collab is powered by a somber, hard-hitting reggaetón beat, but packed with fierce and unapologetic lyrics about getting over an ex and successfully moving on. “It hurt me to see you with the new one, but I’m already doing my own thing,” chants Shakira. The long-awaited collab finds the two Colombianas in a sultry music video, confirming once more that there’s no messing with them (and their hearts).
“X Si Volvemos” feat. Romeo Santos
Image Credit: Grace Rivera
Coming in at No. 1 on our list is “X Si Volvemos” with Romeo Santos. It’s almost hard to imagine that this track could’ve been released without Santos on it, because they sound so good together. The last-minute pairing is a total departure from the opening song, “Mientras Me Curo Del Cora,” a sweet and joyous song about healing. In “X Si Volvemos,” which follows “Mientras,” Karol G’s La Bichota alter ego takes over and she’s as blunt as ever in the sultry track. “It didn’t work out, we gave it our all/ So we’re leaving, but before we leave, let’s do it one last time/ Our relationship didn’t work, but we understand each other in bed,” she declares. The pair find the perfect chemistry in this song, where Santos may not be singing his signature bachata — but his voice is, as ever, soft and sultry, perfect for this sensual song that thrives on a hypnotizing reggaetón beat.
