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First Stream Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums and videos recommended by the Billboard Latin editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
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Yandel, R3SISTENCIA (Y Entertainment/Sony Music Latin)
On the eve of his 46th birthday (Jan. 14), Yandel unleashes his seventh solo studio album R3SISTENCIA (resistance), best showcasing how he’s still standing strong in the ever-evolving reggaetón world. Home to 17 tracks, including this latest single “Yandel 150” with Colombian star Feid, the album not only boasts Yandel’s high-pitched, husky vocals and innovative beats, but also spotlights the new generation: Young Miko (“Cuando Te Toca”), Tiago PZK (“Delincuente”) and his Y Entertainment artist Catalyna (“Palabras”). “This project defines what I am living at this very moment, because no matter the hustle, the pressure, the time, years, or transitions; I’m still here,” the Puerto Rican artist says in a statement, “stronger than ever, flowing with the movement without altering my essence, and revealing all the elements that are in every single part of me.” Other collaborators on the set include Wisin, Baby Rasta y Gringo, Maluma, Arcángel and Eladio Carrión. — JESSICA ROIZ
Lasso, “Plástico” (Universal Music Group México)
The year 2022 was a remarkable one for Venezuelan singer-songwriter Lasso, due to his massive hit “Ojos Marrones.” Now, he’s released his new single, “Plástico,” a track that finds him navigating electronic sounds and ’80s pop rock, which he fuses with synth sounds. It all makes the perfect canvas for his raspy vocals and melancholic lyrics. “Plástico” is about how strong a heart can become, no matter how many heartbreaks it’s gone through. “I keep going, I don’t need you to live/ You are not air or medicine for me,” he sings. — INGRID FAJARDO
ROBI, “Tu Mundo” (Interscope Records)
With its carefree and flirtatious spirit, “Tu Mundo” by Puerto Rican upstart ROBI dazzles. In fact, the song is an indicator that he might likely be on his way to attaining stardom, like that of a pop chameleon who will show you the world with uncanny genre versatility. He first became known as a reggaetón-pop force, making waves with his viral reggaetón song “Pantysito” alongside Alejo and Feid; his follow-ups gained him Billboard’s seal of approval as an Artist on the Radar. Equipped with poppy synth riffs and brilliant electric guitar, which harken back to the kitschy electro-pop productions of indie vets like Circo and Dënver, ROBI sings about an otherworldly love with playfulness. It’s rhythmically insatiable and conjures the exhilaration of a new crush. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Carlos Rivera & Melissa Robles, “Un Viaje a Todas Partes”
Carlos Rivera is a hopeless romantic in his new single “Un Viaje a Todas Partes,” which previews his upcoming album due later this year. Penned by Rivera and produced by Julio Reyes Copello, the gorgeous ballad — which features Matisse’s Melissa Rivera — unites two powerful vocalists, who exchange heartfelt verses about hoping that life lasts many years, so they can keep dedicating love songs to each other. “This is the most honest and direct album I’ve written and this song is one of the most special ones — it represents a lot to me,” Rivera says about the track and his upcoming set. “I wanted it to have a feminine voice that could give it that depth that I was looking for. Of course, it couldn’t be with anyone else other than my beloved Mel.” — GRISELDA FLORES
Los Dos Carnales, “Se Me Soltó el Hocico” (AfinArte Music)
Los Dos Carnales present their first single of 2023, the heartfelt “Se Me Soltó el Hocico,” which loosely translates to “my tongue loosened” or “I talked too much.” Penned by Aarón Martinez, the heartbreak ballad — backed by a romantic norteño melody and a weeping accordion — narrates the story of a man who’s had one too many drinks and drunk-dialed his ex. “I see how you treat him, hugs and kisses/ You’re using the same tricks as when we first met/ Sorry for the call, it’s already past:00 5 a.m. but I got drunk and talked too much,” goes part of the lyric. — J.R.
María Becerra, “Desafiando El Destino” (300 Entertainment)
María Becerra displays a softer and frankly more powerful side in her poignant “Desafiando el destino,” a bonus track to her previously released La Nena de Argentina. A love letter written to her parents, it begins with a slow, bluesy piano intro that gives way to Becerra’s vocals, tinged with melancholy as she sings to a video of old home movies that’s hard not get teary-eyed about. Backup gospel-choir touches, tastefully placed over the sparse arrangement, lend even more pathos to this very beautiful track. Parents will be proud, and Becerra would do well to explore more material of this ilk. — LEILA COBO
Tiago PZK, “Bemaste” (Warner Music Latina/Grand Move Records)
On Tiago PZK’s confessional ballad “Bemaste,” the Argentinian trap star delivers his heart in a song that can simply be described as chilling. The single reveals another side of the Argentinian trap star that feels extraordinarily intimate. Its beautiful, stripped-down keys and lo-fi production set the stage for Tiago’s lyricism, as he candidly articulates what finding love and devotion can feel like, while navigating the all-consuming vortex of fame. “I consider this song the first work of art of my career, conceptually and audio-visually, from the bottom of my heart,” Tiago PZK tells Billboard Español in an email exchange. “I don’t have any expectations, because before I have one, I’m simply fulfilled to have created this song and what it means to me. Do not put barriers to love.” The song will be included on his upcoming album Portales Deluxe. — I.R.
TINI, La Joaqui & Steve Aoki, “Muñecas” (Hollywood Records)
TINI strikes again with an irresistible cumbia, this time in collaboration with emerging rapper La Joaqui from Argentina, and EDM icon Steve Aoki. After releasing back-to-back cumbias with “Miénteme” alongside María Becerra and the L-Gante-assisted “Bar” last year, the Argentine singer-songwriter kicks off the new year with an equally danceable track fused with electronic beats. “Muñecas” effortlessly combines TINI’s sweet vocals, La Joaqui’s razor-sharp lyricism and Aoki’s signature sound. — G.F.
Justin Quiles & Myke Towers, “Whiskey y Coco” (Warner Music Latina)
“Whiskey y Coco” finds Justin Quiles and Myke Towers chanting what could possibly become a 2023 anthem for the ladies. “She has a cool combo, a nice butt, and everything she wears looks great/ She doesn’t cry for an a–hole/ She has a mission, a colorful vision/ It doesn’t matter if she wins or loses, she’s always righ,” Quiles kicks off the track. As always, Towers surprises with his slick rap verses when the song (produced by BK, Dimelo Flow, and Slow Mike) transforms from edgy reggaetón to old-school perreo. — J.R.
The element of surprise is one of the many things that make Bizarrap‘s music and freestyle sessions some of the most watched videos on YouTube. Who will his next guest be? No one really knows, but when the Argentine producer drops a new session, it gets millions of views in a matter of hours.
His music session with the Spaniard Quevedo is among his most watched, and it’s the one that has catapulted him to global success. Their “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52” scored both their first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. Currently, it has more than 400 million views on YouTube. Additionally, the track is only the second fully Spanish-language song to top the Global 200 in the chart’s two-year history, following Bad Bunny and Jhay Cortez’s “Dákiti” in 2020.
“The first ‘session’ back in 2018 wasn’t even planned,” Biza previously told Billboard. “All I wanted to do was record a local rapper who goes by Kodigo and upload that to YouTube because I was a big fan of his and I wanted others to listen to him too. My plan was to record with my phone, but for some reason it didn’t work. So we scheduled the session for the following day and I thought, ‘Why not give these freestylers the production they deserve with microphones and everything?’ So that’s what I did.”
Since then, he’s recorded freestyle and/or music sessions with Nicki Nicole, Nicky Jam, Nathy Peluso, Cazzu and Residente, among many others. Most recently, he tapped Shakira for his “BZRP: Music Sessions #53.” In the surprise track, the Colombian star doesn’t hold back and is as blunt as ever about her ex, Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué. “A she-wolf like me doesn’t have time for novices like you/ I was too much for you, that’s why you’re now with someone more like yourself,” she sings over a futuristic pop-electronica beat.
Below, Billboard ranks his 12 most watched sessions.
Shakira and Bizarrap‘s new song has been trending on social media since its release Wednesday night, with fans, artists and celebrities (mostly) applauding the Colombian star for speaking out against her ex in “BZRP Music Sessions Vol. 53.” But two names mentioned in the tune also had something to say.
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No, we’re not talking about Shakira’s ex, soccer star Gerard Piqué, and his girlfriend, Clara Chía Martí. The brands Casio and Renault, manufacturer of the Twingo car, jokingly responded to their respective mentions in the song, when Shakira implies that the soccer player left her for someone of lesser status.
“You traded a Ferrari for a Twingo/ You traded a Rolex for a Casio,” she sings.
“Today we got quite a few notifications for a mention of CASIO in a song. CASIO watches and keyboards and calculators are for life,” the company’s Education Division tweeted from its verified account, with the hashtags #Harder, #Better, #Faster, #Stronger.
Meanwhile, Renault Spain responded using part of the song’s chorus, “A she-wolf like me is not for guys like you,” as well as a reference to the name of Piqué’s lover in which Shakira says: “She has a name of a good person/ Clearly… it is not what it sounds like”. (Clara, in Spanish, means clear.)
“For guys and girls like you. Turn up the volume!” the company tweeted, using hashtags including #clearly #young #agile and #mischievous. The company accompanied the post with an image of a red Twingo with a circle with the number 22 on the driver’s door.
The number refers to the verse “I am worth two 22-year-olds,” the age that Clara Chía would have been when she and Piqué began their relationship. (Check the full translated lyrics of the song here.)
Shakira’s new “BZRP Music Sessions Vol. 53” alongside Argentine DJ and producer Bizarrap, is the equivalent of a sonic bomb. The 45-year-old Colombian star went to town, pulling no punches in a track that aims squarely at her ex, soccer player Gerard Piqué, who split with her for a far younger woman.
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This isn’t the first time an artist lets it all out next to Bizarrap. Last year, Puerto Rican rapper Residente made major waves with his “BZRP Music Sessions Vol. 49,” on which he lambasted the industry as a whole and J Balvin in particular.
And this isn’t the first time Shakira has taken aim at her ex either. Prior to the Bizarrap session, she released the more poignant “Monotonía” alongside Ozuna, lamenting the loss of love to “monotony.” But in the past few weeks, Shakira’s equanimity seems to have evaporated, as evidenced by a series of Instagram posts, including one that said: “There are more good than indecent people.”
Clearly, some disses at Piqué were to be expected, but there’s a lot to digest in this track, written by Shakira along with Bizarrap, Colombian songwriter Keityn and Santiago Alvarado. In line after line, Shakira spits bullets against Piqué that make one almost feel sorry for the guy. And though it’s hard to imagine Shakira being any more direct (as Spanish singer Aitana wrote on Twitter: “I’ve seen all these TikTok videos ‘analyzing’ the hints…what hints?”), there are some lines here that merit a closer view.
1. “Tanto que te las das de campeón, y cuando te necesitaba diste tu peor versión” (You go around saying you’re a champion, and when I needed you, You gave your worst version): Piqué, a former Manchester United and Barcelona soccer player, is widely considered one of the best defenders in the game’s history. He announced his retirement from soccer on Nov. 5, in the midst of his separation from Shakira.
2. “Una loba como yo no está pa’ tipos como tú, A ti te quedé grande y por eso estás con una igualita que tú“ (A she-wolf like me is not for guys like you; I’m too much for you and that’s why you’re with one just like you): The “Loba” reference harks back to Shakira’s 2009 mega-hit “She-Wolf” (loba in Spanish). The song is an ode to Shakira’s inner-she-wolf, who goes out hunting at night for real men because the one she has at home isn’t living up to expectations.
3. “Entendí que no es culpa mía quе te critiquen, Yo solo hago música, perdón que te sal-pique. Me dejaste de vecina a la suegra, Con la prensa en la puerta y la deuda en Hacienda” (I understood that it’s not my fault that they criticize you; I only make music, sorry that it splashed you. You left me my mother-in-law as my neighbor, media outlets at my door and in debt with the government): Let’s just say no translation can do justice to these lines. The word salpique, which translates to “splash” (as in, I’m sorry it splashed you) is used here as a play on Piqués name: “Sal Pique,” written as two different words, means “Get out, Piqué.” And then, of course, Shakira gets even more pointed: “You left me my mother-in-law as my neighbor, media outlets at my door and in debt with the government,” she laments, referencing her ongoing legal issues with Spain’s treasury department, for which she’s scheduled to go to trial this year.
4. “Las mujeres ya no lloran, las mujeres facturan” (You thought you hurt me but you made me stronger; women don’t cry anymore, they cash in): Ooh. You can expect this one to become a rallying cry for spurned women everywhere for years to come.
5. “Tiene nombre de persona buena, Claramente no es como suena” (She has the name of a good person; it’s clearly not what it sounds like): Another tough translation. Piqué’s girlfriend’s name is Clara, which literally translates to “clear” — as in “clearly it’s not what it sounds like.”
6. “Yo valgo por dos de 22, Cambiaste un Ferrari por un Twingo; Cambiaste un Rolex por un Casio” (I’m worth two 22-year-olds, you traded a Ferrari for a Twingo; you traded a Rolex for a Casio): And no, Shakira definitely didn’t spare Piqué’s girlfriend Clara Chía Marti from her tirade. Shakira, 45, says she’s “worth two 22 year-olds,” but she doesn’t stop there. “You traded a Ferrari for a Twingo,” she adds, referring to the tiny, low-budget Renault model. The Rolex vs. Casio, though, we take a bit of exception to; not just because there are expensive Casios out there, but because we’re fond of the sturdy watches, which still have an element of hip.
7. “Ah, mucho gimnasio, Pero trabaja el cerebro un poquito también” (Lots of time at the gym, but your brain needs a little work too): Wait… is Shakira calling Piqué a dumb jock?
Chileans Cris MJ and Standly cross off a career milestone with their first No. 1 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart (dated Jan. 7). “Marisola,” with Duki and Nicki Nicole, jumps 2-1 in its 19th week. It’s the longest trek to No. 1 since Rauw Alejandro and Camilo’s “Tattoo” took 21 weeks to land at the penthouse in July 2020.
Released via Stars Music Chile, “Marisola” sends Manuel Turizo’s “La Bachata” to the runner-up slot after its 15-week run at the summit. While Duki collects his fourth champ, Nicki Nicole claims her third No. 1.
Meanwhile, Luck Ra’s “Ya No Vuelvas,” featuring La K’Onga and Ke Personajes, ascends 5-3, as Rosalía’s “Despechá” falls 3-4.
Further, Argentine duo La T y La M, conformed by Tobías Medrano and Matías Rapen, notches its first top 10 with “Pa’ La Selección,” a cumbia in honor of Argentina’s national soccer team. The track surges 17-5 in its third week.
Elsewhere, Bizarrap and Duki’s “3 Estrellas En El Conjunto” takes the Hot Shot Debut of the week, at No. 39. While the former adds his 41st career entry, the latter secures his 39th.
Here’s a recap of the artists with the most entries on the chart since it begun in 2018:
55, Bad Bunny
49, J Balvin
41, Bizarrap
37, DuKi
35, Anuel AA
35, Maria Becerra
35, Ozuna
35, Rauw Alejandro
Further, Emilia notches the Greatest Gainer title as “La Chain” ascends 21 positions from No. 87 to No. 66.
Finally, Ke Personajes earns its third career entry as “Cómo Estás” bows at No. 92.
If you went to sleep with Shakira on your mind and woke up with Shakira on your mind, you’re not alone. The Colombian star’s Music Session with Argentine hitmaker Bizarrap is all the buzz. The striking new song, in which she slams ex Gerard Piqué for leaving her for another woman, is stirring up strong emotions among other artists, who are celebrating Shak for her new girl-power anthem.
“My God, what a queen Shakira,” Argentine artist Emilia posted on Twitter.
“BZRP: Music Sessions #53” dropped on Wednesday (Jan. 11) after much speculation about what she could possibly have to say in a session with Bizarrap, which typically features emotional rappers who don’t hold back taking aim at something or someone. Such was the case with Residente, who teamed up with Biza for his tiraera against J Balvin.
Shakira didn’t disappoint. Throughout the nearly four-minute track which feels like it serves as a therapy session, an empowered Shakira doesn’t hold back, letting her emotions take over, and slams the Spanish soccer star, who is the father of her two children. “You traded a Ferrari for a Twingo/ You traded a Rolex for a Casio/ You’re going fast, slow down/ Lots of time at the gym, but your brain needs a little work too.”
She also takes aim at Piqué’s new girlfriend. “She has the name of a good person/ It’s clearly not what it sounds like/ She has the name of a good person/ She’s clearly the same as you/ For guys like you/ I’m too good for you and that’s why you’re with someone just like you.”
But perhaps the most celebrated and tweeted about line is when she sings, “Las mujeres ya no lloran, las mujeres facturan,” which translates to, “Women don’t cry anymore, they cash in.”
“Burned,” tweeted Mexican singer Paty Cantú. “I love it.”
Below, check out some of the artist reactions to “BZRP: Music Sessions #53.”
Cambiaste un Ferrari por un Twingo 🤭— Goyo 👑🖤✊🏾 (@GOYOCQT) January 12, 2023
La gente siempre tiene mucho que opinar… al final la música es la mejor herramienta para sanar y expresar lo que te de la gana…— Danna Paola (@dannapaola) January 12, 2023
Fuerza Regida kicks off the year with a double win, scoring two top 10s on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart: Pa Que Hablen and Sigan Hablando debut at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, on the Jan. 14-dated ranking. The Mexican corridos group becomes the first act to have two projects bow in the top 10 in the same chart week since 2016.
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“We worked on every track like if it was a single,” Jesús Ortiz Paz, the act’s lead singer, who goes by JOP, tells Billboard. “We spent more than 24 hours on each track, we worked on it with our heart and that is something that I remember a lot.”
Both Pa Que Hablen and Sigan Hablando were released Dec. 30 through Street Mob/Rancho Humilde/Sony Music Latin. While the former was announced on social networks, the latter was dropped unexpectedly right after. Both albums comprise 13 tracks and a collection of collaborators.
“We thought 26 songs in one album was a bit much,” JOP adds. “We picked up the phone and called Jimmy, our manager, who suggested we should split them. We were kind of iffy about it, but thought there was too much fire in one album, so decided to do two. Then, we came up with the name of the second album, and now they’re both charting on Top Latin Albums. Let’s go!”
Most of both sets’ opening sums derive from streaming equivalent album units, starting with Pa Que Hablen, which debuts at No. 5 with 10,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Jan. 5, according to Luminate. That equates to 13.61 million on-demand official streams of the album’s songs.
Meanwhile, Sigan Hablando at No. 6 logged 9,000 equivalent album units, equating to 13.2 million on-demand official streams in its first week.
The San Bernardino, Calif. — by way of Michoacán, Mexico — band formed in 2015. Band members include lead singer JOP, Khrystian Ramos on six-string guitar, José García on tuba, Samuel Jaimez on requinto and Moisés López on tololoche.
The quintet becomes the first act to notch two top 10 debuts on Top Latin Albums in the same chart week since Vicente Fernández achieved the feat with the live sets Un Azteca En El Azteca, Volumen 2 and Un Azteca En El Azteca, Volumen 1, which debuted at Nos. 5 and 9, respectively, in 2016. Fuerza Regida is the first act to have two concurrent top 10 debuts with new studio albums since Larry Hernández in 2012.
Two Top 10 Debuts
Notably, only seven acts have debuted two or more projects in the top 10 concurrently since Top Latin Albums launched in 1993: Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Intocable, Alejandro Fernández, Wisin & Yandel, Larry Hernández, Vicente Fernández and Fuerza Regida. Here’s a look at their double achievements:
Date, Debut Position, Title, Artist, Debut
May 10, 1997, No. 5, Tucanes De Plata, Los Tucanes de Tijuana
May 10, 1997, No. 8, Tucanes De Oro, Los Tucanes de Tijuana
Dec. 2, 2000, No. 6, Corridos De Primera Plana, Los Tucanes de Tijuana
Dec. 2, 2000, No. 8, Me Gusta Vivir De Noche, Los Tucanes de Tijuana
March 1, 2003, No. 1, La Historia (CD), Intocable
March 1, 2003, No. 5, La Historia (CD/DVD), Intocable
Dec. 26, 2009, No. 2, Dos Mundos: Evolución, Alejandro Fernández
Dec. 26, 2009, No. 10, Dos Mundos, Alejandro Fernández
Dec. 26, 20093, No. 3, Dos Mundos: Tradición, Alejandro Fernández
Oct. 9, 2010, No. 5, La Revolución: Live: Volume One, Wisin & Yandel
Oct. 9, 2010, No. 6, La Revolución: Live: Volume Two, Wisin & Yandel
Nov. 17, 2012, No. 3, Capaz de Todo, Larry Hernández
Nov. 17, 2012, No. 6, Larryvolucion, Larry Hernández
Oct. 1, 2016, No. 5, Un Azteca En El Azteca, Volumen 2, Vicente Fernández
Oct. 1, 2016, No. 9, Un Azteca En El Azteca, Volumen 1, Vicente Fernández
Seven Titles on Hot Latin Songs
In the songs’ realm, as Fuerza Regida’s Pa Que Hablen arrives, two of the set’s cuts debut on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart: “Igualito a Mi Papá,” with Peso Pluma, at Nos. 45 and “Mi Vecindario” at No. 49. In total, the group places seven simultaneous songs on the airplay-, digital sales-, and streams-blended tally. Plus, “Bebe Dame,” with Grupo Frontera, from Sigan Hablando takes home the Greatest Gainer/Sales & Streaming honors of the week (jumps 5-3). Here’s the list:
No. 3, “Bebe Dame,” with Grupo Frontera (from Sigan Hablando)
No. 19, “Billete Grande,” with Edgardo Nuñez (from Pa Que Hablen)
No. 21, “Ch y La Pizza,” with Natanael Cano (from Pa Que Hablen)
No. 27, “911 (En Vivo),” with Grupo Frontera
No. 34, ‘Se Acabó,” with Lenin Ramirez & Banda Renovación
No. 45, “Igualito a Mi Apa,” with Peso Pluma (debut from Pa Que Hablen)
No. 49, “Mi Vecindario” (debut from Pa Que Hablen)
“The songs we connect with the most are ‘Mi Vecindario’ and ‘Francotirador’ because they talk about real stuff, about me, about the whole clique, stuff about the hood,” JOP adds.
As both albums launch in the top tier on Top Latin Albums, Fuerza Regida adds a career fourth top 10 there.
The Latin music industry is unstoppable, and for insight into how that dominance might continue, Billboard reached out to some of today’s biggest hitmakers and industry leads to predict the musical trends we can expect in 2023.
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MAG, who’s topped the Billboard Latin Producers chart for 36 weeks, says he’s thrilled to see more artists dip their toes outside of reggaetón music. “It’s exciting to see bachata and regional Mexican music growing outside of their rooted territories,” he tells Billboard via email.
Meanwhile, Billboard’s current No. 1 Latin Songwriter, Edgar Barrera, encourages artists to release lots of new music this year. “Don’t keep songs captive in a hard drive, put it out there and see what happens,” he notes.
MAG and Barrera, along with other Latin music experts like Ovy on the Drums and Eden Muñoz, share their predictions for the year to come below:
Are there any trends in Latin music that you’re looking out for or that excite you the most?
Ovy on the Drums (producer and artist): Right now the trend that excites me the most is that I have been experimenting with the RKT in Argentina — this new movement that is happening there. And the truth is that it is something very innovative that I hope will go viral, and that more colleagues will join this new movement. That really excites me a lot. It is something very different from [the traditional] sounds in the Latin industry and what we are used to hearing. I have had the opportunity to experiment with many genres, but never with RKT and cumbia villera from the Argentine movement.
Eden Muñoz (singer-songwriter and producer): Definitely cumbia and everything in the tropical realm. That’s something that I’m excited to experiment with.
Elena Rose (singer-songwriter): I love the Afro influence in the Latino world. I identify with dancehall and R&B melodies, and when I travel to other countries and learn about other cultures, this hybrid helps me communicate better musically. I am excited to express myself in Spanish with global sounds.
Emiliano Vasquez (A&R at Sony Music Latin): Bachata is becoming more popular as it merges with different musical genres, such as R&B, pop, electronica, hip-hop and trap. It is very common to see pop and urban artists recording bachata in their promotional singles and achieving great acceptance, even without originally being bachateros. Latin festivals will also become a worldwide trend due to the growing popularity of Latin music and its fusion after the pandemic, with North American trap and urban music dominating the world pop scene.
MAG (producer): I love that we’re seeing the global expansion of several Latin music subgenres other than just reggaetón. It’s exciting to see bachata and regional Mexican music growing outside of their rooted territories. It’s also exciting to hear electronic/house-infused Latin music again. A lot of Latin music in the ’90s and early 2000s had dance music elements.
Ali Stone (producer, songwriter, and artist): I’m very excited to see electronic music, especially house, making its way into Latin music and crossing over with pop and urban. I’ve also noticed punk rock having its comeback. It’s refreshing to hear Latin artists that aren’t afraid to mix these contrasting sounds.
Julio Reyes Copello (songwriter, producer, and pianist): I’m looking for passionate singer-songwriters and R&B artists [recording] in Spanish.
Maffio (producer): I’m super excited about a trend that’s happening in the Dominican Republic called “El Sonido de la 42,” which is gaining viral traction thanks to local artists such as Flow 28 and Angel Dior.
Edgar Barrera (songwriter and producer): I think the common trend among successful acts is that they’re being raw and authentic, being true to their sound and not trying to chase whatever is working for someone else. I’m very excited about the growth and evolution of Mexican music and how it’s expanding to new markets outside of Latin America.
Camilo, Eduin Caz y Edgar Barrera durante el panel “Superstar Q+A with Camilo” en la Semana Billboard de la Música 2022, el 27 de septiembre de 2022 en el Faena Forum en Miami.
Gus Caballero for Billboard
What should artists be avoiding, and what should they be doing more of this year?
Stone: I feel the main focus should be to make art with substance, with identity, to make songs that feel intentional. “Quality over quantity” should be this year’s mantra.
Vasquez: Artists should avoid controversy. Their focus should be on the music and art, not the controversy. Latin artists should try to maintain a positive and professional reputation by staying away from any type of negative behavior that could affect their careers.
MAG: Avoid chasing trends and bring more authenticity to your artistry.
Maffio: Artists should avoid controversies and get to the basics of making music. Create dope music and fuse it with the trend.
Rose: They should avoid overthinking when creating. No one has the formula to make a “hit” anymore — being you is enough. But be you in your 100%. [They should] worry about their daily routines, what they eat and how they stay physically and mentally healthy. Who do they have around them? Cheerleaders or real friends? All of this influences our creative process and how we evolve in our careers. I think it’s a year of organizing inside and cleaning outside.
Elena Rose and Emilia Mernes at Billboard Latin Music Week 2022 held at Faena Forum on September 27, 2022 in Miami, Florida.
Christopher Polk for Billboard
Barrera: In my opinion, artists should avoid sticking to the rules all of the time. Music is consumed today very differently than it was a couple of years ago, so the old way of releasing music every three months is outdated. Don’t keep songs captive in a hard drive, put it out there and see what happens.
OVY: I feel that artists should avoid continuing in the same thing, continuing in the same sound, in the same trend. Many producers and artists stay in that same sound for a long time and it’s like: ok, a sound already worked, let’s change and look for other different things. I think that all producers and artists should start doing [music where] we don’t know if it’s going to work or not, that’s the difference.
Muñoz: Continue working [hard] even when we have one or two hits, good royalties, etc. To think that what we’ve achieved is enough has to be avoided at all costs.
Copello: Artists should avoid copying Bad Bunny, please. They shouldn’t be afraid of trying new ways of exploring the folklore of their own cultural heritage.
Any new Latin artist who has caught your eye, and who you think will make it big in 2023?
Rose: Bilianca. She’s very talented and super humble.
Maffio: I think Beéle from Colombia has a bright future. He has something unique and soothing to the ear. He has all the tools to become a legacy artist.
Barrera: Grupo Frontera is a band from my hometown that I’m working with very closely. I contacted them because I saw a lot of potential, and the idea of starting a project from the Valley really excited me — this was weeks before they went viral, and now I’m helping them take their career to the next level. I’m very proud to see them become the first regional Mexican act to have three songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the same week.
Muñoz: Grupo Frontera I feel is very strong with a good foundation. I congratulate them on it.
Vasquez: I really like Pol Granch. Beware of this super-talented singer/composer with great on-stage energy making him different from the others. Another super talent is GALE. I really like her music and her songs are on another level.
Copello: Yes! Agris Lopez and Joaquina Blavia.
OVY: The truth is, there is no specific one. One of the things that I love the most in my career is that I am a producer who likes to work with new artists, not knowing if they are going to become a hit or not. Simply because I like to support the new generations and I have had the opportunity to share with many, without saying names, from Argentina, Colombia, and Spain, I know they are going to have a great 2023 and that they are going to break globally.
MAG: I love Young Miko and what she stands for. She has built an organic following, and is at the forefront of diversifying what música urbana looks and sounds like.
Stone: Yes, there are two amazing Latinas that come to my head! One of them is Young Miko: I had the pleasure of working with her in mid-2022 and I was so impressed by her talent as a writer, rapper, singer and performer. She’s insane. The other one is Bruises, who I also got to work with in late 2022, and for whom I’m producing her upcoming Monstruos Tour. I love that she’s so authentic and unapologetic. I feel these two girls have a genuine identity and sound like no other. They’re also so kind and beautiful as human beings. As we would say in Colombia, “tienen angel.” They’re both killing it already, but I’m sure 2023 is gonna be their year.
Shakira did not hold back on her first single of the year, “BZRP Music Session #53,” helmed by Argentine hitmaker Bizarrap.
In the nearly four-minute dance-pop track, the Colombian artist is more unapologetic and empowered than ever, spitting diss verses to her ex-boyfriend and soccer star Gerard Piqué and even throwing a jab at his new girlfriend, Clara Chia Marti.
“I’m not getting back with you, don’t cry for me, nor beg me/ I understood that it’s not my fault that they criticize you/I only make music, sorry that it bothers you,” she chants, also saying in the lyrics, “You left me the in-laws as my neighbors, media outlets at my door and in debt/ You thought you hurt me, but you made me stronger/ Women don’t cry anymore, they cash in.”
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A much-needed therapy session, “#53” marks the first collaborative effort between Shak and Biza. Read the full lyrics translated into English below:
Sorry, I got another planeI’m not coming back hereI don’t want another disappointment So much that you say you’re the championAnd when I needed youYou gave your worst versionSorry baby I should have thrown you out a while agoA wolf like me is not for beginnersA wolf like me is not for guys like youFor guys like youI’m too good for you and that’s why you’re with someone just like you
This is for you to mortify yourselfChew and swallow, swallow and chewI’m not getting back with you, don’t cry for me, nor beg meI understood that it’s not my fault that they criticize youI only make music, sorry that it bothers you
You left me the in-laws as my neighborsMedia outlets at my door and in debtYou thought you hurt me, but you made me strongerWomen don’t cry anymore, they cash in.
She has the name of a good person.It’s clearly not what it sounds likeShe has the name of a good personShe’s clearly the same as youFor guys like youI’m too good for you and that’s why you’re with someone just like you
From love to hate there’s a stepDon’t come back here, pay attention to meZero grudge baby,I wish you good luck with my supposed replacementI don’t even know what happened to youYou are so strange that I can’t even distinguish youI’m worth two of 22 [year old]You traded a Ferrari for a TwingoYou traded a Rolex for a CasioYou’re going fast, slow downA lot of exercises but work the brain a little too
Photos where they see meI feel like a hostageFor me everything is fineI’ll vacate you tomorrow and if you want, she can come too
She has the name of a good personIt’s clearly not what it sounds likeShe has the name of a good personShe’s clearly the same as youFor guys like youI’m too good for you and that’s why you’re with someone just like you
Mr. Worldwide has made it to the Billion Views Club once again.
This time, it’s the video for his inescapable 2011 club anthem “Give Me Everything,” featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer. The hit song was No. 1 on the year-end Rhythmic Songs chart in 2011 and also marked Pitbull’s first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1, seven years after his 2004 debut “Culo” alongside Lil Jon.
Pit has reached 1 billion views on YouTube three times before: with “Timber” (featuring Ke$ha), “Rain Over Me” (featuring Marc Anthony) and Jennifer Lopez’s “On the Floor.” “Give Me Everything” marks Ne-Yo and Afrojack’s second entry into the Billion Views Club and Nayer’s first.
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The track, produced by Afrojack, boasts a number of sonic elements defining the 2011 era, including bright piano chords, dominant synths and danceable builds. Since the release of “Give Me Everything,” the Cuban-American pop star has kept busy, scoring his second Hot 100 chart-topper with “Timber” and a Hot Latin Songs No. 1 with “Dame Tu Cosita” alongside El Chombo, Karol G and Cutty Ranks, among other Billboard chart achievements.
The track’s party-centric music video features appearances from Adrienne Bailon, Miss Haiti 2010 Sarodj Bertin and Russian model Eva Skaya. While “Give Me Everything” was all good vibes, there was one person who wasn’t too happy about the song: Lindsay Lohan. The now-36-year-old actress — who was mentioned in the line “I got it locked up like Lindsay Lohan” — was so offended by the name-drop that she sued Pitbull, to no avail.
“Give Me Everything” was released via Polo Grounds Music, Mr. 305 Entertainment and J Records, serving as a single from Pitbull’s Planet Pit. The track reverberated through clubs and high school dances alike throughout the 2010s and continues to ring out into the new decade.
