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New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard‘s Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
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Christian Nodal, “Kbron y Medio” (Sony Music México)
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With his new single, Nodal perfectly captures a bad boy attitude, almost villain-like, which leads to a toxic lifestyle that only those who’ve gotten their hearts broken can understand. In “Kbron y Medio,” which loosely translates to “a jerk and a half,” he embraces a new identity to help heal his wounds. Powered by a country blues melody fused with his signature mariachi elements, the single-as-of-recently artist sings emotively, “My kisses are no longer for just one, my bed is open to receive bad girls, my agenda is open for everyone,” while quickly adding, “just don’t get stuck and talk to me about feelings.” His second single of the year, “Kbron y Medio” is a preview of his upcoming album, Pa’l Cora, slated for mid August. – GRISELDA FLORES
FARIANA, Oro Solido, “El Caballito” (La Commission, LLC)
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Farina (now, under her new alter ego Fariana) has teamed up with Oro Solido for what could possibly, most probably, become the song of the summer. After dipping her toes in the dembow genre, the Colombian rapper continues to tap Dominican culture, this time with “El Caballito,” a catchy merengue produced by Gangsta and Oro Solido’s frontman Raul Acosta. In her new career chapter, where she goes under the artistic name of Fariana, the rapper explores her versatility that goes beyond rap and freestyling. “El Caballito” — the second single off of her upcoming musical project — is a perfect example of her new era, best fusing her effortless and saucy rhymes with the merengue group’s signature mambo sound that has had generations after generations dancing “hasta las 15 de la mañana” (until 3 in the morning). — JESSICA ROIZ
J Balvin & Chencho Corleone, “Polvo de tu Vida” (Capitol Records)
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Kicking off with eerie, dissonant strings, J Balvin dives deep into his fascination for sci-fi-inspired melodies juxtaposed a vigorous old-school reggaetón thump in “Polvo de tu Vida.” The Colombian superstar enlists genre OG Chencho Corleone who provides the ideal high-pitched harmonic counterpart to J Balvin’s sensual flow. Together, they deliver the catchy and impassioned hook: “Soy el polvo de tu vida, esta noche no se olvida,” proclaiming it with fervor ensuring it resonates with the listener. The song and its accompanying video immediately seizes attention, with its eccentric tones and the futuristic visuals that allude to a dystopian theme. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Natti Natasha, “Quiéreme Menos” (Sony Music Latin)
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With the romantic bachata “Quiéreme Menos,” Natti Natasha celebrates her love story. Written by Romeo Santos and dedicated to his partner, producer Raphy Pina, the song talks about an unconditional love that overcomes all adversities. “Romeo managed to capture the essence of what I feel for Raphy and everything he has given me, while making the lyrics universal. It is a privilege to be able to perform this beautiful song, which emerges from his pen and musical talent,” Natasha said in a statement about the release. The emotional music video shows various clips of intimate moments from her life as a couple, including Pina’s recent release from prison. — LUISA CALLE
Joaquina, “Pesimista” (Universal Music Latino)
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Joaquina continues expanding her collection of profound, relatable works with this new song about missing someone you love from a distance. Written by the Venezuelan artist during a Spring she spent in Madrid, and co-produced by Julio Reyes Copello and Larry Coll, “Pesimista” shows an evolution in the singer-songwriter — who in November became the youngest artist to win the Latin Grammy for best new artist — with more mature lyrics and an evocative sound. “I’m not a pessimist, but if I were to lose you, it would break me to pieces,” she sings in part of the lyrics.
“This song is essentially a love song that speaks to having something so special to the point in which you’re scared to lose it,” Joaquina explained in a press release. “It’s about being far from the person you love and wishing that they were living all of these new experiences and things with you and seeing them everywhere you go.” — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Listen to more editors’ Latin recommendations in the playlist below:
Just ahead of Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024 — where Kany García will be honored with the Spirit of Change Award on Sunday (June 9) — the Puerto Rican star sat down with Billboard to talk about her new album, García, her friendship with Young Miko and what it means to receive this special honor for her activism.
Her new album, released May 2, includes collabs with Edén Muñoz, Christian Nodal, Carla Morrison and Young Miko, someone who she says is “on an incredible path.” Says Garcia: “I feel it is important in the albums to make room for the new generations who are doing important things like her.”
The two artists met last year at Billboard Latin Music Week, where Young Miko expressed admiration for García. “When we met, it was beautiful,” García adds.
Throughout her career, García has placed 30 songs on Billboard‘s Latin Pop Airplay chart and eight albums — including five in the top 10 and one No. 1, 2019’s Limonada — on Top Latin Albums. Her latest, García, follows her 2022 El Amor Que Merecemos.
“There are two or three key people in my life who have been like anchors and people whose opinions have been important to me who don’t call me Kany and [instead] call me García,” the singer-songwriter says, explaining the meaning behind the album’s name. “These are people who care for me. In the song ‘García,’ I speak to myself and I want to give importance to what I am saying to myself, so I named it that. I love it because it was a way of giving it a certain place to the people who care about me and call me that.”
On receiving the Spirit of Change Award, García says, “On the one hand, it’s like a hug within the effort and the struggle. It’s an opportunity I have to continue inspiring new women who are coming up, and with women who are speaking up.”
Watch Kany García’s interview above.
Billboard’s 2024 Latin Women In Music airs Sunday, June 9, on the Telemundo network (9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. Central), and will stream live on the Telemundo app and on Peacock.
Nicki Nicole crosses off a new milestone thanks to her latest single, “Ojos Verdes,” released April 24 via Sony Music Latin. The song rises from No. 2 to lead the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart (dated June 8). Her second ruler of the year arrives seven weeks after “Una Foto” — with Mesita, Tiago PZK and Emilia — culminated its 10-week domination (chart dated April 20), the longest leading song of 2024.
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As “Ojos Verdes” lands at the summit it ejects “Bésame (Remix)” by Bhavi, Seven Kayne, Milo J, Tiago PZK, Khea and Neo Pistea from the summit: falls 1-4.
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While Maria Becerra’s “Iman (Two Of Us)” dips 5-2, Los Ángeles Azules secure their first entry of the year as “Perdonarte Para Qué?,” with Emilia, debuts at No. 3. The Hot Shot Debut of The week earns the Mexican group its third top 10, while the Argentinian singer collects her 16th.
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Fifteen-year-old Argentinian Valentino Merlo and Chilean band The La Planta join in the upper region thanks to “Hoy,” their first team-up which climbs 32 places, from No. 37 to No. 5. While The La Planta picks up its second top 10, Merlo’s “Tu Foto,” with Q’ Lokura, advances 13-6, for his second top 10 hit.
Above the top 30, Chilean Lewis Somes makes his first chart visit thanks to “Apaga El Cel,” his first collab with compatriot FloyyMenor, which joins at No. 29. Meanwhile ECKO, Los Turros and Doble P’s “Loquita (Remix)” rallies up 58 places, from No. 99 to No. 41 with the week’s Greatest Gainer honors.
Further, four more songs debut this week, starting with Tiago PZK who adds a 34th career entry with “Corazón” at No. 60. Cris MJ’s “Si No Es Contigo” bows at No. 77. The song earns the Chilean his second top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart this week, following the eight-week domination of “Gata Only,” with FloyyMenor. Plus, NewJeans’ “How Sweet” opens at No. 79.
Lastly Trueno scores three simultaneous entries on the current chart: “The Roof Is on Fire” at No. 94, “Pull Up!” at No. 97, and “Real Gangsta Love” at No. 100, all stemming from his album El Último Baile released May 23 via Sony Music Latin.
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Karol G ended 2023 on the highest possible note: She became the first woman (and second artist ever) to top the Billboard 200 with an all-Spanish-language album (Mañana Será Bonito, the year’s fifth-most-streamed album on Spotify); the top female Latin artist on Billboard’s year-end charts (behind only Bad Bunny and Peso Pluma); and the winner of both urban album and album of the year at the Latin Grammy Awards in November — the first woman to win urban album of the year.
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As a touring artist, she sold a staggering 925,000 tickets and grossed $155.3 million, making her the 11th-highest-grossing touring act of 2023, among all genres, according to Billboard Boxscore.
Then came the encore.
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During the first six months of 2024, Karol G was named Billboard’s Woman of the Year, her Mañana Será Bonito tour has grossed over $100 million and sold nearly 1 million tickets throughout Latin America — and on June 8, she will be recognized as Billboard’s Latin Woman of the Year at the Billboard Latin Women In Music gala taking place on the same date as the kickoff to her European arena tour.
One could think that the numbers alone are the driver behind the award, and yes, they would be enough. But that’s not at the heart of Karol G’s selection.
When, 18 months ago, the Colombian singer hit the road that took her to over 35 sold-out stadiums, she did so by taking a big risk and a huge leap of faith. She launched her own label, Bichota Records; launched her Con Cora Foundation; and opened offices for her company, Girl Power, in Medellín. She also made a point of inviting up-and-coming artists, mostly women, to perform on her tour. In February, she released a new single, “Contigo,” with Tiësto, an exploration into dance music that reached No. 3 on the Hot Latin Songs chart.
Through it all, Karol is acutely aware that it doesn’t end here.
“I feel very thankful and honored to receive this recognition that I accept with great responsibility and commitment,” she tells Billboard. “I thank all the women who have been part of this journey and I celebrate –in the most genuine way—women: their discipline, their commitment, their making this movement something so big, special and inspiring. Remember, we can’t allow anyone to destroy our extraordinary outlook on life and the opportunities it gives us. Nor can anyone else decide our value as a woman, as a person, as a professional. That value is yours to determine; it’s something you work for, it’s something you earn.”
“No one else can decide our value as a woman, as a person, as a professional. That value is yours to determine; it’s something you work for, it’s something you earn.” Karol G
Billboard has spoken with Karol G many times over the past several years, closely documenting her career’s rise. This time, as we honor her as Latin Woman of the Year, we asked others in the industry to speak about her impact.
ROMEO SANTOS, on having Karol G as a guest on “Obsesión” during Aventura’s 2021 Dodger Stadium show. “Despite Karol’s fame status, she’s down to earth, and her energy is always positive. She has expressed that it was an honor to participate onstage that night, but sincerely she made that occasion an unexpected epic experience for the fans. I’m proud of her success, and her name will go down in history as one of the very few Latin artists that can sell out stadiums. There ain’t too many of us.”
BECKY G, on working with Karol G on their hit song “MAMII” and its aftermath. “What impacted me most about working with Karol was her willingness to give advice and lend a helping hand. There’s a preconceived notion that success comes overnight, but Karol and I have been hustling in this industry for over 10 years. It’s rare to find someone so open to sharing insights and discussing the obstacles she faced so others don’t have to, helping us continue breaking down barriers … Karol inviting me to perform in both our hometowns will forever be performances held in my heart so dearly. The rumble in the stadiums of Los Angeles and Medellín [Colombia] at our feet reminded me of the power we hold when we come together. Every soundcheck Karol held me by the hand and showed me the ropes, walking me through step by step of what to be prepared for and present for during our performances. Her and her amazing team are like family to me, and I love seeing them win.”
“What impacted me most about working with Karol was her willingness to give advice and lend a helping hand.”Becky G
OVY ON THE DRUMS, on producing Karol G and their longstanding friendship. “I’ve had the fortune of being her producer from the very beginning, and being able to connect musically and achieve everything we have, goes beyond music. We’re already family … Her discipline and consistency [continue to impact me]. She’s truly an unstoppable woman. For me, she has a superpower. When we create music together, she already knows what’s going to be her next single. She has an incredible vision when it comes to her project and knows exactly how she’s going to execute it. I think she’s a genius in that sense.”
“She has an incredible vision when it comes to her project and knows exactly how she’s going to execute it. I think she’s a genius in that sense.” Ovy On The Drums
RYAN CASTRO, on collaborating with Karol G on “Una Noche En Medellín (Remix).” “[The track] is a very special song for me because it is a hit that was global and talks about the city where Karol and I grew up. I am very grateful to Karol, because when she took the opportunity to do the remix, she wanted me to participate because of the representation I give to ‘Medallo.’ What strikes me most about working with Karol G is the control she has of the stage and the fans when doing her shows. She is also a very organized person and everything she does has some meaning. [I remember] the first time I sang at her concert at the Medellín stadium. Not only did she invite me to her show, but she also called me onstage to sing my hit ‘Jordan’ with me. It was one of the most memorable moments, because she knew the words to my song.”
MYRIAM HERNANDEZ, on sharing the stage with Karol G at the Viña del Mar Festival in 2023. “It’s one of the most beautiful experiences I had almost two years ago. It was very relevant and exciting. Two women, different musical genres and united in a single love song. [A] magical moment. Plus, we wanted to fulfill that dream. Karol impresses me because not only does she have this overflowing talent, but she is also very disciplined and doesn’t stop. She has endless energy and I love that she maintains her humility. Seven years ago, she herself sent me a video declaring that one day we would sing together, and it was achieved.”
BAD GYAL, on recording and performing “Kármika” with Karol G. “Sharing the stage with Karol always makes me feel very comfortable; her team and her always treat me the best. An experience like that could put a lot of pressure on me – like being onstage with one of the biggest artists today – but they make me feel very calm and everything goes very easy. What has surprised me the most is that she’s very humble, she treats everyone so well and she has a very beautiful energy.”
NATHY PELUSO, on performing and recording with Karol G. “She is very generous. She invited me to play in Buenos Aires, which means a lot to me. [It was] the first time we sang ‘Gato Malo,’ which is the song we’ve had together for years. She has a very gigantic show, very beautiful, very spectacular, and I also love her very much as a friend.”
KALI UCHIS, on filming the video for “Labios Mordidos.” “I was pregnant and showing, but I wasn’t ready to announce my pregnancy. So I had to hide my stomach in the whole video. I was really shy about so many strangers seeing my belly, because I was still keeping that private, and it was making me uncomfortable … Then we did the music video. It was so sweet. Everybody, [Karol] and all the girls on site were so supportive and protective of me [about] any little thing that [could] happen. They were looking out for me. I felt very safe with all of them. It was probably the funnest music video I’ve ever shot because of that.”
ELENA ROSE, on opening Karol G’s show in Venezuela. “There is a before and after, absolutely. More than for my career, it’s what it meant for my life. I was honored to be there and my heart was full to feel my beautiful country hug me and to feel supported and appreciated by such an amazing woman and artist as is Karol. Karol is a huge inspiration, personally more so for her humanity. She is a giver, a lover and a strong warrior. Our conversations are always meaningful, and the work we do together is very intentional. I admire her so much, and I feel unstoppable when I’m around her. I think that is what women should always do to each other — make each other stronger and more powerful.
“Karol is a huge inspiration, personally more so for her humanity. She is a giver, a lover and a strong warrior.”Elena Rose
“The second show in Venezuela was on my birthday. Karol and her team had my backstage room filled with balloons and flowers. She sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to me before going onstage with her family and mine. I felt so full and loved. I hugged her mom and told her, ‘Thank you for giving birth and raising this amazing human being.’”
“I was surprised by her simplicity, her humility, how hardworking she is, the love for her family and her fans. There are many things I identify with her, and I see her as a great role model to follow.” Dei V
DEI V, on working with Karol G on “Gatita Gangsta.” “Working with someone like ‘La Bichota’ is something that many artists dream of, and thank God, I had that privilege. Our collaboration changed my life. It marked a before and after in my career, and I will always be grateful to Karol for that. Singing with her onstage was epic. It was the first time that I performed in front of thousands and thousands of people. I was surprised by her simplicity, her humility, how hardworking she is, the love for her family and her fans. There are many things I identify with her, and I see her as a great role model to follow.
NOAH ASSAD, Karol G’s manager, on her current success. “She was ready to build her own label, her own structure, her own team. She was already betting on herself without getting the gain. I’m very proud of the independence we were able to accomplish, but I’m very proud of how hard she worked during the pandemic, and being an artist that went from the pandemic to theaters to arenas to stadiums, all from 2020 to 2023, that’s just amazing. [Her global success] was overdue. It’s overdue for a woman to lead a genre. A lot of people identify with her in different ways. Being a human in her position is hard to come by. There are very few people that can do a stadium tour. I think people love her because she’s a genuine human being and she inspires people to be better every day.”
SERVANDO Y FLORENTINO, on singing the hit “De Sol a Sol” with Karol G in Venezuela. “I would describe this moment as Epic and unprecedented. [We admire] her discipline, her disposition, her center, how well-focused she is. She understands the moment she is living in because she also built it herself with a wonderful team, and she does not leave the work that falls to her in the hands of others. She received us with a beautiful disposition; she sang with us, laughed, rehearsed everything, even though she had played a huge show the night before … We love that she returned to her roots and used that as a resource to revisit a song from her childhood and invite us [the creators] to sing it with her. We admire her; we know how hard she has worked with music and for it, and the love and emotion were reciprocal that night.”
JULIA PERICAS ANTON, Karol G’s choreographer. “At the beginning of the tour, we prepared about 12 new choreographies in which both the dancers and Karol had to participate. We had several weeks of rehearsals and Karol was very clear about the concept with which she wanted to show herself to the public. As the tour has progressed, we have been adding new choreographies, always trying to improve it and raising the level of the production of the show, which is spectacular.
“I really believe that Karol G is a unique artist, not only because of the natural talent that she has when getting onstage but because of the amount of preparation and work she does every day so that you can see her on that stage as confident as you see her. Working alongside her makes you realize that perfection does not exist, but she is going to be very close to that and she will do whatever it takes.”
JESSICA GIRALDO, Karol G’s sister and co-manager. “These past 12 months have been a window of transformation and growth for Karol’s musical and professional project. What we’ve achieved is the sum of the efforts of a great team headed by Karol and which I’ve had the opportunity to structure and lead. 2023 and 2024 have been full of successes that contributed to the expansion of the project and have taken it to another level.”
EDGAR BARRERA, on writing and producing for Karol G. “She is an artist that knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to experiment in the studio with different genres and styles. Working with Karol G is always a pleasure and a delight. She takes care of every detail and is just as passionate about music as I am, so I feel like that makes our time in the studio so much more enjoyable.”
MIA NYGREN, GM, Latin America, Spotify. “When Karol made history by being the first Latina woman to be chosen as Woman of the Year by Billboard, she invited several women in the industry who had been part of making this a reality to accompany her at the ceremony. I was fortunate and honored to be one of them, and this also coincided with my own nomination, which made the experience very special.”
Billboard’s Latin Women In Music 2024 gala airs Sunday, June 9, on the Telemundo network (8 p.m. ET and can also be streamed on Peacock and the Telemundo app.
Jessica Roiz, Griselda Flores, Ingrid Fajardo, Isabela Raygoza and Sigal Ratner-Arias contributed to this article.
The second annual Billboard Latin Women in Music is just around the corner. The two-hour music special — where superstars such as Karol G, Kali Uchis, Gloria Estefan and many more will be honored — is set to air exclusively on Telemundo on Sunday (June 9) at 9 p.m. ET. The Billboard Latin Women in Music franchise […]
Maluma and Blessd’s bromance is further stamped in their first-ever joint EP called 1 Of 1, out Thursday (June 6). The six-track production that includes the title track, “Call Me,” “Oe Bebé,” “Manrique,” “Sisas Nada” feat. Hades66, and “Goyard/GTA” was co-produced by MadMuscik and The RudeBoyz, and best represents Medallo’s reggaetón, swagger, and vibrant culture. […]
During Pride Month 2023, La Cruz went from an independent artist trying to make his mark to an empowering gay voice in reggaeton music. The rising Venezuelan star went viral among the online LGBTQ+ community thanks to his sexy music video “Quítate La Ropa,” which showed guys perreando, or twerking, for him in a locker room. La Cruz has since manifested that gay fantasy into a blossoming music career with co-signs from giants in the genre like Karol G, Young Miko and Danny Ocean.
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“I feel [Pride Month] is necessary to see how far we’ve come and where we can go next,” La Cruz tells Billboard over Zoom. “Honestly, I’m proud of who I am all year long. I talk openly about my sexuality all year long because for me that’s normal.”
Puerto Rican trap artist Kevin Fret pioneered representation for gay men in música urbana before his murder in January 2019. Since then, there has been a notable increase of LGBTQ people in reggaeton, with women like Young Miko and Villano Antillano leading the way. Now, La Cruz is becoming a leading gay artist in reggaeton. Growing up as Alfonso La Cruz in La Guaira, Venezuela, he listened to the music of reggaeton pioneers like Ivy Queen and Arcángel. La Cruz sings a bit of the latter’s love song “Mujer Maravillosa” while noting the lack of gay perspective in the genre back then.
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“That song is for a woman but when I was in love with my first boyfriend and I listened to it, I felt I could relate,” he says. “I would have loved to hear a song that expressed exactly how I felt. Within a genre that I’ve listened to all my life, I had never heard a song where I could say, ‘Wow! I experienced what happened in that song.’”
Due to the ongoing economic crisis in Venezuela, La Cruz decided to move to Madrid to pursue his dreams of a music career. In 2018, he became known throughout Spain for competing on the reality singing competition Operación Triunfo. After the show, La Cruz was courted by a few record labels. One was ready to sign him under the condition that he would not mention gender in his songs. La Cruz instead went the independent route and rounded up a small team who believed in his vision.
“I didn’t sign any contract that would make me unhappy or that I couldn’t relate with,” he recalls. “I’ve had obstacles in my career, and they’ve been more on the industry level musically speaking with A&Rs, labels and music streaming platforms. I’ve seen myself in uncomfortable situations, but I’ve taken all that as a sign to keep going.”
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In 2022, La Cruz started pushing the boundaries of reggaeton with his music videos for “Desnudx,” “Boulevard,” and “Te Conocí Bailando,” which showed him in love with (or lusting after) other men. Throughout his debut album Hawaira, which is named after his Venezuelan hometown, his objects of affections are clearly identified with male pronouns. The album’s songs have collectively registered 2.5 million official on-demand U.S. streams, per Luminate.
“Sometimes as gay people we limit ourselves a lot from achieving our dreams because we believe they won’t happen on the basis of being gay,” he says. “That’s something that we need to get out of our heads. I love being a reference for those kids who want to make music but don’t do it because they’re afraid. The fear only stops you. You have to go for it.”
In June 2023, La Cruz made the jump into international stardom thanks to his follow-up single “Quítate La Ropa.” In the sultry reggaeton romp, he sang about wanting to lose his clothes with a lover. In the music video, La Cruz was surrounded by hunky, shirtless men that were perreando in a gym locker room. The song went viral on TikTok during Pride Month with gay men embracing a reggaeton anthem they could twerk to in videos of their own.
“The idea for the ‘Quítate La Ropa’ video came to me in a gym,” he says with a laugh. “I knew it had to involve some twerking. It’s something that a gay boy sometimes imagines in a locker room. That was me showing the world that other things exist. That song basically changed my life.”
La Cruz’s “regayton,” which is what his fans playfully call his music, has caught the attention of artists like Omar Apollo, Young Miko, Villano Antillano and Venezuela’s top reggaeton artist Danny Ocean. The latter recently featured La Cruz in his music video for “Cero Condiciones,” which talks about “coming out of the closet” to live a free and truthful life. After DMing for several months with Colombian superstar Karol G on Instagram, she invited La Cruz to meet her at her concert in Caracas last March.
“I told her I was very nervous because I’m a big fan of hers,” he recalls. “She told me, ‘No! I’m also a big fan of yours!’ That was a beautiful moment because she’s one of my idols. Knowing that she listens to me and likes what I do, that’s incredible. She supports my message and my concept and told me, ‘Keep it up.’ I feel like I made a spiritual connection with her.”
La Cruz’s recent singles such as “Easy Boy,” his reggaeton ode to casual sex, are being distributed by Sony Music Entertainment España. He is also hard at work on his second album. With a bigger team and the support of the LGBTQ+ community, La Cruz wants to continue to break down barriers for queer artists like himself.
“To have a community of people that identify with my music and they can relate to those experiences, that’s the most beautiful thing,” he says. “With my music, I want to give visibility and normalize a lot of things on a social level that are looked down upon. It’s the people consuming my music who are making things happen [for me] and I’m having a great time with them.”
Alfredo Olivas scores his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart thanks to the Alejandro Fernández collab, “Cobijas Ajenas,” as the song climbs from No. 8 to lead the list dated June 8.
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“Cobijas Ajenas” rolls to No. 1 on the overall Latin radio tally thanks to a 49% gain in audience impressions, to 8.73 million, earned in the U.S. during the May 24-30 tracking week, according to Luminate. The hit is from Fernández’ full-length album Te Llevo En La Sangre, released May 24 via Universal Music Latino/UMLE.
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The song ejects Blessd and Feid’s “Si Sabe Ferxxo” from the lead, after the latter’s one week in charge, with a hefty 19% dip in impressions, to 6.9 million.
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“Cobijas” is a cause of celebration for singer-songwriter Olivas, as the radio ramp-up brings him to his first champ on Latin Airplay. Before the new leader, “Yo Todo Soy” gave him his best showing, with a No. 5 high in 2021. The Mexican artist later picked up the No. 7-peaking “No” in April 2022.
Fernández, meanwhile, returns to No. 1 following the one-week ruling of “No Es Que Me Quiera Ir” in August 2023. In total, he adds 11 rulers to his Latin Airplay career account, only two through collabs. As Fernández’s collection of rulers grows, here’s the updated list of his Latin Airplay chart-toppers:
Peak Date, Title, Artist, Weeks at No. 1
Oct. 18, 1997, “Si Tú Supieras,” six
Dec. 27, 1997, “En El Jardín,” featuring Gloria Estefan, six
March 14, 1998, “No Se Olvidar,” eight
July 18, 1998, “Yo Nací Para Amarte,” five
Aug. 21, 1999, “Loco,” one
Dec. 1, 2001, “Tantita Pena,” six
Oct. 23, 2004, “Me Dediqué a Perderte,” two
Feb. 6, 2010, “Se Me Va La Voz,” one
Jan. 4, 2020, “Caballero,” two
Aug. 5, 2023, “No Es Que Me Quiera Ir,” one
June 8, “Cobijas Ajenas,” with Alfredo Olivas
In addition to their Latin Airplay coronation, Fernández and Olivas, each add a new No. 1 to their Regional Mexican Airplay ledger as “Cobijas” lifts 2-1: nine for the former, and a fourth champ for the latter.
Lastly, thanks to its radio haul, “Cobijas Ajenas” concurrently debuts on the multimetric Hot Latin Songs chart, which combines airplay, streaming data and digital downloads, at No. 49.
The list includes all Estefan’s No. 1 hits on the Hot Latin Songs and Billboard Hot 100 charts, and some classics from her days with Miami Sound Machine.
Gloria Estefan can do it all — from breaking molds in the music industry to doing her own laundry, literally. And she knows it.
It’s something she learned from the biggest “legends” in her life: her grandmother Consuelo and her mother Gloria Fajardo, whose life circumstances forced them to take the reins and provide for their family. “I grew up with two women who did everything,” Estefan says. “So for me there was never the question [of], ‘Well, as a woman, can I do this?’ Because the women in my life did it all.”
Since rising to stardom in the 1980s as the lead vocalist for the Miami Sound Machine — alongside her husband, visionary producer Emilio Estefan — Gloria Estefan has helped infuse Latin flavor into English-language pop music, breaking barriers with hits like “Conga” and “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” and singing at the same time en Español.
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On the Billboard charts, she has placed 29 songs on the Hot 100, including three No. 1 hits (“Anything For You” in 1988, “Don’t Wanna Lose You” in 1989 and “Coming Out of the Dark ” in 1991) — as well as 30 hits on Hot Latin Songs, 15 of which reached the top spot (from “No Me Vuelvo A Enamorar” in 1986 to “Hotel Nacional” in 2012). Her first full-length album in Spanish, Mi Tierra (1993), spent a whopping 58 weeks at the summit of Top Latin Albums, and won her first of three Grammy Awards.
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This weekend, the Cuban-American superstar — who only six months ago became the first ever Latina artist to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame — will receive the Legend award at the 2024 Billboard Latin Women in Music gala in Miami.
You are a music icon and a legend. What many may not know is how down to earth you are. I remember I interviewed you a few years ago over the phone and you apologized for the noise of the washing machine — you said that you were doing laundry because you were going on a trip, and I confess I was impressed. I didn’t imagine that Gloria Estefan washed her own clothes.
Sometimes I have to, you know? [Laughs.] I am blessed to have staff at home who are really family — they have been with us for more than 30 years, and they pamper and spoil me a lot — but there come times when there are some things that you have to do yourself. And of course, I know how to do everything! And Emilio is the same too. Emilio starts cleaning because he is meticulous, he sprays water everywhere with the hose. It’s hilarious to watch.
How have you managed to stay so grounded despite all the fame and success?
You know what, I went through a lot as a child. Taking care of my dad [who had multiple sclerosis], trying to help my mother, who had everything left on her shoulders — raising her two daughters, helping my grandmother. My grandmother helped us too. I believe that when you have the example of knowing what’s really [worthwhile] in life, the things that have real value, which is health primarily, love, affection, family — and if it weren’t for my family I wouldn’t know where I’d be — that helps me a lot.
Also, I already had a son when we achieved great global success, and I was still a mother; I would take him on tour with me and he would see me on stage and see that part, but when I got off I was just a mom. Having family with you like that really keeps you grounded.
Who have been the female legends in your life, as a woman and as a musician?
My grandmother Consuelo, who came to this country at 57. She didn’t speak English. She grabbed my grandfather and told him, “This is what we’re going to do” — and she created a food business, with which she managed to buy her home and help us. She was an entrepreneurial woman who unfortunately was taken out of school in Cuba when she was 9, because it was the global Depression and she had many siblings and they had to help the family work to survive. She wanted to be a lawyer, she was born in 1905 — a woman in Cuba! She was brilliant. She was spiritual, someone who gave everything and helped many people.
My mother too. I grew up with two women who did everything, so for me there was never the question, “Well, as a woman, can I do this?” because the women in my life did it all. My father was sick, my grandfather too, so women had to take charge of everything.
And on a professional level, Celia Cruz was an inspiration for me — a woman whose humbleness, professionalism, love for what she did, for her people, for her fans, her family… I had the joy of being able to be her friend and share time with her, and she was a very big example for me. She was ageless on stage! For me, that is a legend, someone who really breaks all the molds that exist. That was Celia. So that is the triangle of women who have somehow left their mark on me in a thousand ways.
You’ve stayed active in music. Only last year, you released a Christmas album with your family and recorded the main track from the movie 80 For Brady (“Gonna Be You”). Now you’re writing a Broadway musical with your daughter Emily. You could easily retire and live off the royalties of your many hits. What keeps you going?
For me, it is a blessing and a privilege to be able to make music and in some way inspire others who listen to it; That is what I enjoy the most. Right now, we’re in the workshop of a musical that we have been working on for two years. It has been an inspiration to be part of the process and even more so working with my daughter, which is a very unique opportunity, and to put new songs in the hearts of people tied to an original musical based on the real life story of The Cateura Orchestra of Recycled Instruments [in Paraguay]. They are children who live next to a landfill, and the man who did all this created a music school and they have made instruments from waste and live off that landfill.
It is inspiring to see the triumph of the spirit of young people who, under the most difficult circumstances, have managed to send music to the world. This is not work for me. The luxury I have now is that I can choose the projects to which I say yes […] because now I also have a grandson and I don’t want to be away, I don’t want to miss those years that go by so quickly. So it’s a nice balance.
You have also remained active with the Gloria Estefan Foundation, which you created in 1997 in response to your accident (of 1990, when a truck crashed into your tour bus and left you temporarily paralyzed). What would you say has been the greatest satisfaction it has given you?
Being able to be of service to others. It is a privilege to be able to help in any way. We have many organizations that we support […] I also want to be part of the paralysis cure, because I was paralyzed and I was a positive story after that accident, so I want to help in any way. We help teachers a lot, because my mother was a teacher, so that they can help their children, because sometimes public schools don’t have the funds.
And a strange thing, but something I love: the Miami Beach Police can’t buy bulletproof vests for the police dogs, because they are very expensive and are not in the budget. So many of the dogs were dying — and I was able to buy vests and donate them, so they are more protected, because I also love animals. It is a nice way to be part of the community, be of service to others and find the best way to help.
Would you say that the accident was the most difficult moment you have ever had to go through?
It wasn’t fun, I can tell you that. But I wouldn’t change it. I wouldn’t want to go through it again, but, although I already appreciated life a lot, it gave me a way to live totally grateful every day of my life — for simply being able to stand up, go get a glass of water myself. Because my father was in a wheelchair, I knew what my family would experience if I remained in a wheelchair. Although I am very positive, and if I had stayed in the chair I would be playing basketball. [Laughs.]
It was difficult, but I had so much support, so many prayers that I felt and absorbed and that I know are part of my recovery. I worked very hard, doing six to seven hours a day of rehab — first floating in the pool, because I couldn’t walk. Until I was able to step on stage, 20 days before the one year anniversary of the accident. Every year when that date arrives, the day I broke my back, March 20, […] I celebrate my rebirth. So I’m only 34 years old right now.
How would you describe the role that music has had in your life?
Music for me has been the vehicle of my soul. To express myself. To stay strong. To vent. To have fun, celebrate. Music is the center of my life. Always has been. I’ve been singing since I’ve been able to talk, it came with me. And it’s not that I had to be famous or anything, because I had to get used to being the center of attention — it’s not part of my personality. But I can’t imagine my life without music. And having the privilege of other people listening to my lyrics, my melodies, is something I feel grateful for every day of my life.
When you look back, what moment as a Latin woman in music do you view with greatest pride?
The album Mi Tierra. Definitely. Because although I grew up in this country — I came when I was two and a half years old, and American music and everything I listened to became part of me — to be able to share my culture, an era of Cuban music that was paralyzed with the revolution and didn’t grow any more, being able to make original songs that celebrate and honor Cuban music and spread it throughout the world, for me is my greatest achievement. And if I had to leave only one album, it would be that one.
Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024 will air exclusively on Telemundo Sunday (June 9) at 9 p.m. ET, and will also be available on the Telemundo app and on Peacock.