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The Latin Recording Academy revealed the final batch of performers for the 25th Annual Latin Grammy Awards on Monday morning (Nov. 11), Billboard Español can exclusively announce. The concluding acts set to perform on Thursday (Nov. 14), include a stellar lineup of salsa icons and budding acts, including Christian Alicea, Grupo Niche, Luis Figueroa, Oscar […]
Nominees for the best children’s music album award at the 2025 Grammys were revealed with the full announcement of Grammy nominations on Friday (Nov. 8). Among the artists named are three family-centered acts with previous nominations in the category — Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band, Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats and Divinity Roxx and Divi Roxx Kids — plus newcomers to the category, John Legend and Rock for Children (in collaboration with Alice Cooper).
The 67th annual Grammy Awards are set for Feb. 2, 2025 at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena. The event will be broadcast on CBS and streamed live and on demand via Paramount+.
For parents and kids who are curious about the children’s albums up for a Grammy at the 2025 ceremony, here’s an introduction to all five nominees from Billboard Family.
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Divinity Roxx, pictured in the jubilant photo above, is Beyoncé’s former bassist and musical director, and the composer and performer of the Lyla in the Loop theme song on PBS. Divinity Roxx and Divi Roxx Kids are up for the best children’s music album Grammy for the album World Wide Playdate, an upbeat collection of songs celebrating friendship, family, self-empowerment and going after your dreams that’s inspired by ’90s hip-hop and fit for a family party. It’s Divinity’s second time receiving a nod in the category following a nomination at the 2023 Grammys for Ready Set Go!, her debut children’s album.
“I am proud to create music that inspires, empowers and encourages future generations and I am overjoyed and honored that my peers in the Recording Academy recognized the power of positivity in World Wide Playdate. Mom says always expect a Miracle and right about now we all need one,” Divinity tells Billboard Family, after receiving the news on Friday that she’s a Grammy nominee again.
Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats‘ Creciendo — Kalantari’s first full-length, Spanish-language children’s album — is nominated for best children’s music album at the 2025 Grammys following Kalantari’s previous two Grammy wins: All the Sounds was named best children’s album in 2019, and All the Ladies took home the best children’s album honor in 2021. Creciendo means “growing up” in Spanish, and that’s the sweet theme of this new collection by Kalantari, who was raised by immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Drawing from her family’s roots, she even brings her own child on as a guest (playing cello in the album) on this album, a musical fusion of Latin and jazz.
“I’m moved to bits to have my Spanish album Creciendo nominated for a GRAMMY!” Lucy Kalantari tells Billboard Family following Friday’s Grammy nominations announcement. “It’s so wonderful to be nominated along side such incredible artists! I truly hope this nomination can help bring my big messages of joy, community and resilience to families all over the world.”
Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band receive their third Grammy nomination for best children’s music album this year with Brillo, Brillo!, having previously been nominated in the category for Crayon Kids at the 2023 Grammys and Los Fabulosos at the 2022 event. Also four-time Latin Grammy nominees, the husband-and-wife musical team (Lucky Diaz and Alisha Gaddis) have won twice in the best Latin children’s album category: they’re award winners for ¡Fantastico! in 2013, and for Buenos Diaz in 2019 under the name The Lucky Band. With this year’s Brillo, Brillo!, they bring bilingual, whimsical pop-rock to the family-centered music space.
The band tells Billboard Family they are “deeply honored” by their latest Grammy nod: “This nomination is historical for our band — with seven nominations and two wins across the Latin Grammy and Grammy spaces, we’re the most nominated in the children’s category. That’s huge. This means that families continue to welcome us into their homes, year after year after year, and trust us to entertain their children. This is an honor we don’t take lightly, even though children’s music is full of silly joy and delight!”
They are also offering a warm welcome to a familiar name who’s brand-new to the children’s category: “Thrilled to welcome the legend, John Legend, into the category. Obviously, he is a talented star who we love — so it’s fabulous that he will bring more eyes to our category.”
John Legend has a longtime history with the Grammys, including 12 wins, but is a first-timer to the best children’s music album category with his debut children’s set, My Favorite Dream. The singer-songwriter, whose Sufjan Stevens-produced album is a mix of sweet originals and Legend’s version of children’s classics, was influenced by life at home with his young kids (two of which make musical cameos, as does wife Chrissy Teigen). He shared a statement about the Grammy nomination on Instagram, where he wrote, “My Favorite Dream holds a very special place in my heart. It’s my first children’s album, inspired by the heart of our family. Working alongside the incredibly gifted @sufjan brought this dream to life in ways I could have never imagined.”
Legend, whose album track “Always Come Back” is also up for the best arrangement, instrumentals and vocals Grammy with string arranger Matt Jones, gave a shout-out to his peers in children’s music.
“Thank you to the @recordingacademy for recognizing our labor of love, and thank you to the Children’s Music community for welcoming this rookie into your beautiful world. These nominations aren’t just for me and my family — they’re for everyone who believes in the magic of music, family, togetherness and L-O-V-E.”
Rock for Children receive their first Grammy nomination with Solid Rock Revival‘s nod in the best children’s music album category at the 2025 awards. Those unfamiliar with the collection, which was recorded with young musicians from an after-school teen center, might be intrigued to learn Alice Cooper is heavily involved with the album, and even guests on six tracks; other classic rockers playing on the project include Rob Halford and Slash, and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of Run-DMC also makes an appearance. Proceeds from the album benefit Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with bringing free music and arts programs to local aged 12-20, and the Norelli Family Foundation.
“It’s a takeoff on our own stuff,” Cooper, who’s been nominated for a Grammy three other times throughout his career, told The Arizona Republic of the Solid Rock Revival project earlier this year. “Instead of ‘I’m Eighteen,’ it’s ‘I’m Thirteen.’ ‘School’s In.’ And ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy’ is ‘Now, I’m Mr. Nice Guy.’ It’s kind of a positive take on the stuff we used to do.”
See the roundup of 2025 Grammy nominations for best children’s music album nominees below, and find the complete list of nominees in all categories here.
2025 Grammy Nominations: Best Children’s Music Album
Brillo, Brillo!, Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band
Creciendo, Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats
My Favorite Dream, John Legend
Solid Rock Revival, Rock for Children
World Wide Playdate, Divinity Roxx and Divi Roxx Kids
From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
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Peso Pluma to Headline Sueños Festival
After his headlining set at Sueños was canceled this year due to thunderstorms, Mexican music star Peso Pluma will return to Sueños in 2025 to headline the Chicago festival. Set to take place in Grant Park on Memorial Day Weekend (May 24-25), Peso is the first artist announced to perform at the two-day event — produced by La Familia Presented and C3 Presents. Furthermore, Sueños announced it will be expanding festival grounds, which will include a brand new second stage and dance zone equipped for additional performances and DJ sets. The full lineup for 2025 is yet to be announced but presale goes live on Thursday, Nov. 14th at 12 p.m. CT. For more info, visit www.suenosmusicfestival.com.
Rosalia Gives Back
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Rosalia has been spotted as a volunteer in Valencia following the catastrophic flash floods that killed over 200 people in Spain. Local media, as well as video and photos posted across social media, captured the Spanish singer-songwriter with no make-up, a messy bun, face mask, gloves, and black t-shirt providing meals to the community affected by the intense storm DANA. Rosalia accompanied three other women who volunteered with World Central Kitchen, a pro-bono organization that gives out food to victims of natural disasters and war devastation.
Celebrating Afro-Latino Excellence
On Tuesday (Nov. 5), Brasil hosted its fourth annual Potências Awards in São Paulo—celebrating the iconic figures and influential voices in the Black community. Ludmilla, a former Billboard Latin Artist on the Rise, was among the top honorees, celebrated for breaking boundaries in pop, funk, and pagode, while also championing visibility for the Black and LGBTQIAP+ communities.
“I never imagined receiving a tribute from people I admire and who influence me,” the Brazilian artist, who was introduced by Preta Gil at the awards, said ahead of her acceptance speech. “I work hard, I give it my all to live this life, but when it finally happens, I almost can’t believe it. It wasn’t easy to get here. I’ve been through so much—and still do. Only I know the weight of being Ludmilla, of being the biggest Black singer in Latin America.”
Ludmilla onstage at the 2024 Potências Awards.
Eduardo Martins/Brazil News
A Cross-Cultural Banger
In an effort to expand to new, global markets, Colombian urban artists Kevin Roldan and Valka have teamed up with Japanese hitmakers DJ Dr. Royo and OZworld. The cross-cultural collaboration, produced by Royo, is a hard-hitting reggaetón song fused with oriental melodies that’s sung in Spanish and Japanese. With his signature raspy vocals, Roldan chants about working hard and achieving his dreams in Japan: “KR has arrived in Tokyo and the pressure is felt,” he sings, while OZworld smoothly spits fierce rap bars in the Japonic language. Watch the music video below:
Mora’s Gonna Be a Dad!
Mora is the latest Latin urban artist to announce he will be a dad. The Puerto Rican artist-producer shared the exciting news in a joint post with his partner Paula Poletti, where they revealed three photos hugging and a photo of the sonogram. “+1” the description simply stated. In the comments, colleagues such as Justin Quiles and Sky Rompiendo wished the soon-to-be parents their best wishes. Other new music dads this year include Jay Wheeler who had a baby girl with his wife and artist Zhamira Zambrano, as well as hitmaker Tainy, who’s expecting his first child with his girlfriend. See Mora’s sweet post below:
Billboard’s Telenovela Songs List
This week, Billboard unveiled its “100 Best Telenovela Theme Songs” list, where editors rank the top songs from their favorite telenovelas produced in the U.S. and Latin America. For the next five weeks, every Monday we will publish a list of 20 telenovela theme songs, starting with this week’s list from No. 100 to No. 81. Theme songs such as Cristian Castro’s “Morelia”; Belinda’s “El Baile del Sapito”; Vicente Fernández, “Me Voy Quitar de En Medio”; and Daniela Romo, “De mi enamórate”; are among the first picks of the ranking.
We gathered all the editors and contributors of Billboard Latin and Billboard Español — 11 journalists in total, born and raised in Mexico, Nicaragua, Venezuela, the United States, Peru, Colombia, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic — and asked each one to select their favorite theme songs. See the first part of the ranking here.
Pablo Alboran, Veronica Castro, Thalía and Enrique Iglesias
Illustration by Selman Hoşgör
This week, Billboard’s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — features fresh new music from artists including Jasiel Nuñez, Marc Seguí, Danny Ocean and Elena Rose, to name a few. Emerging Mexican singer-songwriter Jasiel Nuñez released his new album, titled La Odisea, offering two parts to his set: corridos and sad corridos. For the LP, […]
Elena Rose always lived in her own world that, throughout the years, became a sacred home, her creative hub. Now, the home she built on the clouds is ready to receive visitors through the release of her debut EP En Las Nubes (Con Mis Panas) released via Kira Records/Warner Music Latina.
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The eight-track set, which translates to “On the Clouds (With My Friends),” is symbolic for Elena, who prior to kicking off her artist career penned hits for artists including Rauw Alejandro, Bad Bunny, and Selena Gomez.
“It was a year of working on this project that for me represents a letter of introduction to the industry as a solo artist,” she tells Billboard. “It’s a project that embraces my most vulnerable side but at the same time, it sets a mark on what kind of artist I want to be in the industry.”
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Each song in En Las Nubes—some indie rock, some funk, some ballad, some música llanera—is backed by the Venezuelan artist’s potent and enchanting vocals sending messages of love, resilience, and hope. In songs such as “Me Lo Merezco” and the Neutro Shorty-assisted “Catira,” for example, Elena focuses on the importance of self-worth, self-love, and self-esteem.
“I really want to be a part of your lives. To accompany you to create beautiful memories with each song that comes out, but at the same time I want to encourage you not to have to walk alone,” she explains. “This year was very important to solidify the message of Guerrero de la Luz – the fan army is getting bigger. People are getting the message. They are really conscious and mindful, and in the end I continue to learn from the people who follow me. We are making this beautiful and intentional journey.”
And while she’s accompanied on the journey by some of her closest musical friends including Alvaro Diaz, Greeicy, and Scarlett Linares, the most challenging song to pen for Elena was “Guatapé” (named after the vibrant town in Colombia).
“While in Colombia for Christmas, a friend had to disconnect his brother because he was very sick. At the same time, I was in a relationship with someone from there and we made the decision to end it,” she elaborates. “Putting these two stories together showed me that love has so many colors. Loving a lot means you have to say goodbye. There are situations that you can’t control and you have to let them go. I really cried a lot writing this song.”
En Las Nubes (Con Mis Panas) is released just days before the 2024 Latin Grammys, where Elena is a three-time nominee including the coveted song of the year for “Caracas En El 2000” alongside Danny Ocean and Jerry Di.
“I would love to win!” she gushes. “It would be a very nice gift and a reason to make Venezuela smile at a time like this. It would also make Venezuelans feel happy to embrace their identity. This song has made the world know about Venezuela and its details.”
Stream and listen to En Las Nubes (Con Mis Panas) below:
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
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Mika Bahía, Calidosa (Warner Music México)
Mike Bahía — known for his feel-good reggae and urban-pop fusions — has delivered tropical mastery on his fourth studio album, Calidosa (an expression to describe a friendly, generous person). In the 12-track production (his last to be released under Warner), the Colombian artist explores the musical roots deriving from his native, Cali. Nicknamed “the salsa capital of the world,” Bahía experiments primarily with salsa music (brava, romantica and modern) in “Amor A Mitad,” “Cali Buenaventura,” “Desaparecida,” “La Pena,” and “La Indocumentada,” performed by his partner and artist Greeicy. Not limiting himself, he also flirts with bachata (“Hola Mi Amor” & “Algún Día”), bolero (“Bolerito”), merengue (“La Depre”) and cha cha cha (“Cha Cha”). The sweet “Verdad Verdad,” backed by his signature chilled reggae vibes, closes off Calidosa.
“I felt that returning to my city with a desire to explore, get to know, and reconcile with it — to contribute to it, draw inspiration from it, and reconnect with both the place and my friends — was essential,” Bahía expressed in a statement. “Working with Cali producers and team members I hadn’t collaborated with before, along with those I’ve known for years, reignited that connection. This desire to reunite with the city and its people is what inspired me to create this album in Cali. I sensed that the public there didn’t fully recognize me as an artist from the city, and that realization drove me to reconnect with Cali. I felt that my roots needed to be solid to be able to build from there.”— JESSICA ROIZ
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Jasiel Nuñez, La Odisea (Double P Records)
If you’re just discovering Jasiel Nuñez’s music, you’re in luck. Today, the Mexican singer-songwriter releases La Odisea — which isn’t technically his debut album, since he released Vueltas de La Vida in 2020, but it is his first full-length since becoming a breakout star. It’s safe to say that Nuñez is one of Peso Pluma’s favorite artists; in fact, Peso signed him early on to his Double P Records, taking him under his wing even when he was just starting his own career. And it’s no surprise Peso is such a fan: This new set positions Nuñez as one of the most genre-defying música mexicana artists today.
The LP is comprised of two parts: corridos and sad corridos. The first part kicks off with a head-turning intro that starts with a gorgeous bar-blues piano tune, which after a few seconds turns into a guitar-led corrido. The set is a corridos album through-and-through, although Nuñez is clearly not afraid to rock the boat, fusing corridos tumbados with other styles. He also brings in some of the biggest names in the genre, including Peso Pluma and other acts like Luis R Conriquez, Eslabon Armado and Adriel Favela. The first part is packed with introspective lyrics about fame, the changing landscape for regional Mexican and achieving legendary status. The second part, sad corridos, is powered by lyrics of love and loss. I’d argue that sad corridos is Nuñez’s biggest strength. His velvety and light vocals were made to sing romantic songs. — GRISELDA FLORES
Danny Ocean x Kapo, “Imagínate” (Atlantic Recording Corp.)
With a vibrant collaboration that connects Colombia and Venezuela, Kapo and Danny Ocean present “Imagínate,” a single that fuses reggaetón pop and Afrobeats, loaded with romanticism and tropical rhythms. From dancing salsa in Cali with Kapo, to walking through Los Roques with Danny, the artists weave a romantic fantasy in idyllic settings, having good times far away from worries. “You are a mix of sand with sun, sand with sun and breeze/ You are what is needed/ For a happy life,” goes part of the lyrics. The delivery, the lyrics and the production truly transport one to a tropical paradise. — LUISA CALLE
Marc Seguí, “Un Domingo Triste Vol. 1” (The Floor Records/Warner Music Spain)
As if taking us on a journey into vocalizations and melodies, Marc Seguí presents his new single “UN DOMINGO TRISTE VOL. I,” an intimate and melancholic ballad that marks this first preview of his long-awaited album NO TENGO TRISA, scheduled for 2025. His narrative voice and deep interpretation, accompanied by the strings of electric guitars, captures the essence of pain after a love breakup. The lyrics transport us to those ultra-lonely Sundays where memories of a past relationship overwhelm us. The song, wrapped in a nostalgic atmosphere, talks about the sadness felt when reliving every moment shared with that special person — and the emptiness that remains when, sadly, they are no longer there. — INGRID FAJARDO
Listen to more editors’ Latin recommendations in the playlist below:
Edgar Barrera‘s prowess has been widely recognized not only by the Latin Recording Academy, with nine nominations for the 2024 Latin Grammys alone, but also by the Recording Academy. For the second year in a row, the Mexican-American hitmaker is competing for songwriter of the year, non-classical at the Grammys thanks to Spanish-language songs written with or for stars such as Ivan Cornejo, Carín León, Shakira, Karol G and Peso Pluma.
In the list of nominations for the 2025 Grammy Awards, announced Friday (Nov. 8), Barrera was once again included in a non-Latin genre category, along with English-language songwriters Jessi Alexander, Amy Allen, Jessie Jo Dillon and Raye. Songs cited this year under his name are “Atención” (Ivan Cornejo), “(Entre Paréntesis)” (Shakira and Grupo Frontera), “It Was Always You (Siempre Fuiste Tú)” (Carín León and Leon Bridges), “No Se Vale” (Camilo), “The One (Pero No Como Yo)” (Carín León and Kane Brown), “Por El Contrario” (Becky G with Ángela Aguilar and Leonardo Aguilar), “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”(Karol G), “Sincere” (Khalid) and “Tommy & Pamela” (Peso Pluma and Kenia Os).
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The nominations in general include other Latin artists, but not in such prominent categories as songwriter of the year. Among others, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel is nominated again in the classical music categories, along with Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz, and Puerto Rican saxophonist and composer Miguel Zenón appears in the jazz categories.
In the Latin music-specific categories — which include pop, urban, rock or alternative, Mexican music and tropical music — there are superstars who have been nominated or awarded in the past, such as Anitta, Bad Bunny, Shakira, Kali Uchis, Peso Pluma, J Balvin, Residente, Juan Luis Guerra and Marc Anthony, among others. Plus, first-time nominees include Feid, Young Miko and Rawayana.
Karol G, who won last year’s Grammy for best música urbana album for Mañana Será Bonito and now has eight nominations at the 2024 Latin Grammys — including album of the year for Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season) — was surprisingly not among this year’s Grammy nominees.
Below are the nominees for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in the Latin music and Latin jazz categories. Winners will be announced in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 2.
Best Latin Pop Album
Funk Generation, Anitta
El Viaje, Luis Fonsi
García, Kany García
Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, Shakira
Orquídeas, Kali Uchis
Best Música Urbana Album
Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, Bad Bunny
Rayo, J Balvin
Ferxxocalipsis, Feid
Las Letras Ya No Importan, Residente
Att., Young Miko
Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album
Compita del Destino, El David Aguilar
Pa’ Tu Cuerpa, Cimafunk
Autopoiética, Mon Laferte
Grasa, Nathy Peluso
¿Quién trae las cornetas?, Rawayana
Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano)
Diamantes, Chiquis
Boca Chueca, Vol. 1, Carín León
Éxodo, Peso Pluma
De Lejitos, Jessi Uribe
Best Tropical Latin Album
Muevense, Marc Anthony
Bailar, Sheila E.
Radio Güira, Juan Luis Guerra 4.40
Alma, Corazón y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional), Tony Succar, Mimy Succar
Vacilón Santiaguero, Kiki Valera
Best Latin Jazz Album
Spain Forever Again, Michel Camilo & Tomatito
Cubop Lives!, Zaccai Curtis
Collab, Hamilton de Holanda & Gonzalo Rubalcaba
Time and Again, Eliane Elias
El Trio: Live in Italy, Horacio “El Negro” Hernández, John Beasley & José Gola
Cuba and Beyond, Chucho Valdés & Royal Quartet
As I Travel, Donald Vega feat. Lewis Nash, John Patitucci & Luisito Quintero
Grupo Niche‘s “Cali Pachanguero” has transcended generations, cultures and language barriers. The fast-paced track, penned by the legendary Jairo Varela in 1984, took on a life of its own, becoming an unofficial anthem for Colombians around the world. Forty years later, the song continues to have a lasting impact not only on the new generation […]
It’s a tight race for album of the year at the Latin Grammys, where both commercially and critically acclaimed albums are vying for the award. This year, the 10 nominated LPs are Bolero by Angela Aguilar; Camilo’s Cuatro; Xande Canta Caetano by Xande De Pilares; Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season); García by Kany […]
Colombia has a new reggaeton anthem at the helm of genre giants Karol G, J Balvin, Maluma, Feid, Blessd, and Ryan Castro titled “+57” out Thursday (Nov. 7).
Named after the area code in Colombia, the sensual, mid-tempo futuristic perreo finds the Colombian powerhouses singing about a girl from Medellín who’s all-that, fierce, unstoppable, and the center of attention—even though she’s in a relationship. “They ask her if she has a boyfriend, it depends,” says part of the lyrics.
Helmed by Latin Grammy-winning hitmaker and Karol’s longtime producer, Ovy on the Drums, “+57” was co-written by all of the artists alongside Keityn and newcomer DFZM, who’s signed to Keityn’s management hub, La Creme. It was recorded in one session in Los Angeles after Ovy presented the song to Karol and she ultimately gathered her colleagues for the statement-making collab—none of them aware of the song until they met at the recording studio.
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“It’s a dream that I assure you that neither I, nor my team, nor my family could have imagined. We always saw ourselves as super big but we never imagined it would happen so quickly,” singer-songwriter DFZM, who originally penned the track with Keityn before presenting it to Ovy, tells Billboard exclusively. “For me it’s very important to be representing the Valle del Cauca, Buenaventura, those young people with dreams and talent. Representing black people, the culture, it’s very nice for me to be able to be part of history.”
Ovy was the first to tease the track, posting a short video on Instagram where fans can hear Balvin shouting out all the collaborators. Meanwhile, Ovy and Karol are dancing along to the reggaetón beat.
A couple of days later, a group photo in the recording studio was shared by each of the artists on social media, hinting that something major was dropping on November 7. The title was also revealed in the description.
Listen to “+57” below: