Music

The remake of El Chombo’s novelty track, featuring Pitbull and released on dance label Ultra Records, served as Karol G’s first entrée onto the Billboard charts. Even though her featured appearance was brief, it got her name up on lights and opened the door for what was to come.

A sonic departure for all artists involved, the country-tinged, cowboy-style “Location” features fellow Colombian hitmaker J Balvin and Anuel AA. The trio debuted at No. 6 on Hot Latin Songs. “We had country as a starting point, but it didn’t sound ‘Latin’ — so we added the reggaetón drums,” producer Ovy on the Drums told Billboard on how the genre fusion came about.

Technically, “China” was not a song by Karol but by her ex-boyfriend, Anuel AA. Released in 2019, the track also includes Daddy Yankee, Ozuna and J Balvin, and topped Hot Latin Songs for 12 weeks. As the only woman in a powerful reggaetón combo, Karol not only showed that she could hang with the best, but also stand out.

The 2024 single “Contigo” interpolates Leona Lewis’ 2007 pop ballad “Bleeding Love” into a Spanish-language dance-pop anthem. Produced by EDM giant Tiësto, with the help of Ryan Tedder, the song is a certified club hit, while maintaining its original emotional depth, soaring in at No. 3 on Hot Latin Songs. It celebrates love and acceptance, highlighted in its accompanying music video featuring Young Miko.

Released at the height of the Latin trap craze in 2018, “Culpables” explores the complexities of a forbidden love affair, where Anuel and Karol find themselves entangled in a relationship, despite being with other people. It also played a role in bringing the two artists closer, possibly paving the way for their real-life romantic relationship. The song peaked at No. 8 on the chart dated Jan. 19, 2019.

Ozuna recruited Karol G and Myke Towers for the remix to “Caramelo” two months after dropping the single. In this new version, Karol G added her sweet, high-pitched vocals, delivering a fresh twist to one of Billboard’s Latin summer songs of 2020 (which debuted at No. 7 on Hot Latin Songs), with Towers singing about a ride-or-die girl he’s crazy about.

Released in the summer of 2020, “Ay Dios Mío!” emerged as a collaborative creation between Karol G and the Venezuelan artist Danny Ocean, who co-wrote it. The song, part of the album KG0516, peaked at No. 5 on Hot Latin Songs. In an exclusive interview with Billboard, the Colombian superstar shared that the playful reggaetón jam told the story about how she met her then-boyfriend, rapper Anuel AA. 

Karol G and Annuel AA’s second collaboration not only made their relationship official, but also earned the Colombian singer her fourth No. 1 on the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart. The reggaetón track, with its thumping beat, became a classic due to its honest lyrics about their feelings at the time. It debuted at No. 10 on the Hot Latin Songs chart.

A sunny, lighthearted tune that opens with a lift of Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” “Mientras Me Curo Del Cora” (Spanish for “While My Heart Heals”) is the opening song from Karol G’s history-making Mañana Será Bonito album. With heartfelt, honest lyrics, including, “Give me time/ I’m not at my best moment, but I’ll get better little by little/ Today, I’m down but tomorrow will be prettier,” the Colombian superstar normalizes feeling blue, and tells her followers that it’s OK to need space to heal. It’s an empowering and relevant message in the picture-perfect social media times.

For Mañana Será Bonito, Karol was not afraid to explore new rhythms all while staying faithful to her urban Medallo swag — and “Tus Gafitas” was definitely one of those experimental tunes. Co-produced with Finneas (Billie Eilish’s brother), the song has a feel-good pop-rock beat and finds the Colombian artist opening up about finding love again. If the title (“your sunglasses” in English) is any indication, the track is a sweet ode to Feid, who’s known for wearing white sunglasses at all times. “Tus Gafitas” debuted at No. 10 with 6.7 million streams on the Hot Latin Songs chart.

Kali Uchis and Karol G set the scene ablaze with “Labios Mordidos” (Bitten Lips), off Uchis’ 2024 album Orquideas; the single released last year in November Produced by Manuel Lara and Albert Hype, the sweltering reggaetón cut sees the two Colombian femmes fatale indulging in risqué flirtation. “The girl is on fire and sticks to me like a tattoo/ I guarantee there’s no one harder than you,” Kali seductively croons in Spanish. Meanwhile, Karol responds with her hushed coo: “I guarantee there’s no one more chimba than you.” The song debuted at No. 10 on the Hot Latin Songs chart dated Dec. 9.

“Qlona” marked a big moment for Latin music because it united two of Latin music’s biggest hitmakers today. Karol G and Peso Pluma’s first collaborative effort earned them a No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs. The cheeky reggaetón track, powered by electronic keyboard melodies, peaked at No. 1 on Sept. 2, 2023, and spent five weeks atop the tally. 

“Gatúbela” features Maldy of Plan B, which may begin to explain why it’s one of Karol’s raciest tracks. Released in 2022, it debuted and peaked at No. 4 on Hot Latin Songs, and highlights Karol’s perreo side. Here, the tables are turned, with the girl looking for the action.

In an act of rebellion and freedom, Karol dropped “Sejodioto” following her public breakup to Puerto Rican rapper and then-boyfriend Anuel AA. Meaning “everything got screwed,” the simple-yet-catchy urban bop laces Karol’s melodious vocals with a distinct clock-ticking sound to narrate the story of a woman who has no commitments, looks better than ever, and is having fun with whomever she wants. The track — which she exclusively announced during her Superstar Q&A at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Week — earned Karol her 12th No. 1 on Latin Airplay and peaked No. 9 on Hot Latin Songs.

A nod to música Mexicanal’s continued dominance, Karol G delivered another exceptional regional Mexican song as part of the historic Mañana Será Bonito. “Gucci Los Paños,” co-written by Latin Grammy-winning producer-songwriter Edgar Barrera, is packed with heavy tuba melodies and slow-tempo requintos. The norteño-banda song spent 13 weeks on Hot Latin Songs, where it peaked at No. 9. 

Featured on Karol G’s KG0516, the Neo-produced “El Makinon” delivers an irresistible reggaetón thump that celebrates female independence and breaking free from the norms alongside her comrades. “Makinon,” symbolizing a powerful entity, narrates the journey of a woman who has been self-reliant since her teens. The song debuted at No. 9 on Hot Latin Songs and later peaked at No. 6 on the tally. In November 2023, its music video entered YouTube’s Billion Views Club.

Karol G’s experimentation with regional Mexican music can be traced back to her sierreño effort “200 Copas,” which is included on her 2021 album KG0516. On Mañana Será Bonito, she continued her homage to música Mexicana with the grupero and cumbia-tinged “Mi Ex Tenía Razón.” The track spent one week atop Hot Latin Songs. Plus, it’s a nice tribute to Tex-Mex and cumbia queen Selena Quintanilla, an artist who’s inspired Karol. 

Marking the fourth single off of her fourth studio album Mañana Será Bonito, “X Si Volvemos” (in case we get back together) is the first collaborative effort between Karol and Romeo Santos. Instead of dropping a sensual bachata, the artists delivered a sultry reggaetón duet about a toxic relationship that only lasted because of sexual chemistry. “It didn’t work out/ We gave it our all so we’re leaving/ But before we leave, let’s do it one last time/ Our relationship didn’t work but we understood each other in bed,” they sing on the chorus. “X Si Volvemos” peaked No. 4 on Hot Latin Songs, becoming Santos’ first top 10 debut since 2017’s “Imitadora.”

One of Karol’s early major hits, “Mi Cama” (from her 2019 break-through álbum Ocean) is deliciously spiteful, providing a taste of how Karol could give any guy their comeuppance with her songs (“While you make up stuff, my bed makes noise,” she purrs). The video, shot in Medellín and featuring a Karol full of attitude, also furthered the narrative of the singer-songwriter as a woman who comes on top. “Mi Cama” started slow on Hot Latin Songs, debuting at No. 45 before rising to No. 6, and today remains a Karol G anthem. The remix with pals Nicky Jam and J Balvin only further cemented Karol’s credibility.

In 2017, an emerging Karol G joined forces with the also-rising Bad Bunny to deliver a saucy trap song about not needing a man. In “Ahora Me Llama” (now he calls me), the Colombian artist chants about an ex who’s calling to win her back — but she’s moved on and is living life on her own terms. The Puerto Rican rapper backs up her decision by spitting lines such as “I’m doing better now that I’m single … I’m doing everything I want.” The track, part of Karol’s debut set Unstoppable, scored Karol her first top 10 on the Hot Latin Songs chart, and also received a remix featuring Migos rapper Quavo.

Karol’s “S91,” from Mañana Será Bonito, takes its name from the Bible’s Psalm 91, which talks about the righteous believers sailing unharmed amid the dangers (“A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you,” murmurs Karol in the closing lines). It’s not a religious song by any means, but it’s definitely a survivor’s tale, anchored in belief. Set to a lilting beat whose mellow mood and use of guitars is reminiscent of her earlier “Provenza,” it serves as an anthem of triumph and belief among doubters.

Becky G and Karol G unite to dismiss toxic men and celebrate girl power on their first collaboration “MAMIII.” Kicking off with the twang of a nylon guitar and some Mexican-style gritos, the two “G”s spit verses about moving past heartbreak, while injecting defiance with snarky verses like, “Don’t call me/ my number has changed/ If you want me to give it to you, call 1-800-f–k you” against a reggaetón backdrop, courtesy of Ovy on the Drums. The single — which appears on Becky’s 2022 album Esquemas — debuted atop Hot Latin Songs and even reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Colombian powerhouses Karol G and Shakira joined forces to deliver the ultra-empowering “TQG,” short for “Te Quedó Grande,” and loosely meaning “I was too good for you.” The collab is powered by a somber, hard-hitting reggaetón beat, and packed with fierce and unapologetic lyrics about getting over an ex and successfully moving on. “It hurt me to see you with the new one, but I’m already doing my own thing,” declares Shakira. Karol and Shakira ruled Hot Latin Songs with “TQG” for five weeks. The track eventually became an anthem, adopted by women around the world, and went on to win best collaboration at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. 

Karol G’s triumphant team-up with Nicki Minaj marked several milestones for the Colombian star. It was the first Latin song of all women artists to reach a billion streams on Spotify, and it was also the first song with a female lead artist to debut atop Hot Latin Songs since 2016. The ultra-catchy reggaetón breakup track ruled that tally for four weeks after becoming a cultural phenomenon when it dropped in 2019, with people on social media blasting the song and recording themselves singing it at the top of their lungs at nightclubs. The song catapulted Karol G to mainstream success.  

This timeless Karol G track is one of her best songs to date. On a streak of reggaetón-powered hits, Karol slowed things down with “Provenza.” The song stands out for its liberating, anthemic lyrics, which are paired with a chill calypso, Afro-fusion beat that allows you to get lost in the moment. Nominated for record and song of the year at the 2022 Latin Grammys, the Ovy on the Drums-produced track is a testament to Karol’s ability to make music that garners both critical acclaim and commercial success. With “Provenza,” Karol G became the first woman to replace herself at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart when it traded places with “MAMIII” on May 14, 2022.  

On the heels of her megahit “Tusa” with Nicki Minaj, Karol G unleashed “Bichota” on Oct. 23, 2020 — a song that ultimately blessed her with her new alter ego “La Bichota,” and the name of her own label, Bichota Records. Helmed by her longtime producer Ovy on the Drums, the hard-hitting reggaetón track not only demonstrated a mature and evolved Karol, but also became a timeless female anthem. “Bichota” is linked to the Puerto Rican slang word “bichote,” which is an “individual who, due to his economic or political position, is considered important or influential, generally related to the sale of drugs,” according to Tesoro Lexicográfico del español de Puerto Rico.

But the Colombian artist gave it a new meaning: one that reflects “a moment of feeling sexy, flirtatious, daring, strong, empowered” and “translates into personal motivation and self-confidence,” she previously told Billboard. “Bichota” peaked at No. 3 on Hot Latin Songs, and marked Karol’s 10th top 10 hit there, making her the first female artist to debut in the list’s top 10 without another act in eight years. Prior, only Gloria Estefan and Paulina Rubio had achieved the feat, with “Hotel Nacional” in 2012 and “Ni Una Sola Palabra” in 2006, respectively. “Bichota” also won Karol the 2021 Latin Grammy for best reggaetón performance, and its music video currently boasts over 1.2 billion views on YouTube.