poll

Billboard Latin and Billboard Español are celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop by curating The 50 Most Essential Spanish-Language Rappers of Yesterday and Today list out today (Aug. 9).
Ahead of the genre officially turning 50 on Friday (Aug. 11), the Latin and Español editors unveiled 50 of the most extraordinary, compelling and commanding Spanish-language hip-hop acts of our generation and beyond. The ranked list includes notable rappers from Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Venezuela, to name a few countries.

Highlighted in the list are a handful of female rappers who are spearheading the male-dominated genre with their unapologetic prowess, such as newcomers Young Miko and Villano Antillano, as well as veterans Ana Tijoux, Mala Rodriguez and Ivy Queen, who always showcased her exceptional talent and innovation as a rapper and artist since her emergence in the mid ‘90s.

The ranking’s top 10 are Argentine MC Trueno (10), Control Machete’s Pato Machete (9), Ivy Queen (8), Mexico’s Aczino (7), Daddy Yankee (6), Cuban group Orishas (5), Tego Calderón (4), Ana Tijoux (3), Vico C (2) and Residente (1), who between his solo career and his work with Calle 13, holds the record for most Latin Grammy wins.

Other rappers on the list include Eladio Carrión, Santa Fe Klan, Cosculluela, Lapiz Conciente and Akapellah, to name a few.

Note: In a similar approach to Billboard/Vibe’s 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time list, the Billboard Latin and Billboard Español teams took into account the following criteria in the selection process and ranking: body of work/achievements (charted releases, gold/platinum certifications), cultural impact/influence (how the artist’s work fostered the genre’s evolution), longevity (years at the mic), lyrics (storytelling skills) and flow (vocal prowess.)

Who is your favorite Latin rapper? Vote below!

Every month, Billboard asks readers to vote for the best Latin collaboration released throughout the month that was highlighted on our weekly New Music Latin playlist or as a featured article.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

In our latest fan poll, we have more than 20 collabs that were released during the 31 days of July including Greeicy and Danny Ocean’s ultra-sultry “ZHA.” The slow-tempo electro song references a sensual connection between two people whose bodies want “zha, zha, zha” and forms part of Greeicy’s upcoming album called Yeliana. Another sultry selection is Farina and Sean Paul’s “VIBE,” a hip-swaying, Spanglish dancehall. Along that line is also Bad Gyal and Myke Towers’ first collaborative effort in “Mi Lova.” 

A couple of Música Mexicana artists stepped out of their comfort zone this month. Carin León, for example, joined Kany García on her pop ballad “Te Lo Agradezco;” Gabito Ballesteros teamed up with Piso 21 on “Me Liberé,” and most notably, Ryan Castro reeled in Peso Pluma in “QUEMA”—an infectious reggaeton that earned Castro his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 

Other collaborations in the poll include Blessd and Maluma’s “EL RELOJ,” Jay Wheeler’s “Pacto (Remix)” with Anuel AA, Bryant Myers, Dei V, and Hades66, Trueno and Cypress Hill’s “F*** EL POLICE (REMIX),” and Rauw Alejandro and Ivy Queen’s “Celebrando,” to name a few. 

Shakira and Manuel Turizo’s mermaid-inspired video for “Copa Vacía” won the June 2023 poll, racking over 33 percent of the votes. Who should win in June? Vote below:

The 2022 winning collabs, as voted on by fans, were Christina Aguilera and Ozuna’s “Santo” (January); Becky G and Karol G’s “MAMIII” (February); Sebastian Yatra and John Legend’s “Tacones Rojos (Remix)” (March); Bizarrap and Paulo Londra’s “BZRP Music Session” (April); Morar and Duki’s “Paris” (May); Blessd and Rels B’s “Energia” (June); Pablo Alboran and Sebastian Yatra’s “Contigo” (July); Anonimus and R3ymon’s “Santa Diabla” (August); Kany García and Christian Nodal’s “La Siguiente” (September); Juan Gabriel and Anahí’s “Déjame Vivir” (October); Nicki Minaj, Maluma and Myriam Fares’ “Tukoh Taka” (November); and Alejo and CNCO’s “Estrella” (December).

All winning collaborations of 2023 will be revealed at the end of year on Billboard.com/Latin and BillboardEspanol.com. 

Billboard unveiled its “23 Best Latin Songs of 2023 So Far” list, as recommended by the Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. The mid-year list includes a wide range of songs from different genres and that, mostly, have created a buzz on our charts and across social media. Named in alphabetical order from artist name, […]

This week, our New Music Latin roundup — a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums, and videos recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — is powered by new music from Residente, Ryan Castro, and Myriam Hernandez, to name a few.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

This week’s list includes Ryan Castro and Peso Pluma’s first collaborative effort called “QUEMA,” produced by SOG. The irresistible old-school perreo track is signature Castro, who has a knack for delivering hooky songs and finds the corridos singer returning to urbano following “La Bebe Remix,” his hit song with Yng Lvcas, which has now spent 16 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. “QUEMA” is part of Castro’s upcoming studio album, El Cantante del Ghetto. 

Speaking of forthcoming sets, Spanish singer and rapper Rels B also dropped a number from his future album, Afrolova, set for a July 21 release. The track, called “Un Rodeoooo” is a sensual Afrobeats cut with bachata undertones that accompany lyrics about meeting and falling for a beautiful girl at a party. “My producers are very connected with this culture, and we’ve traveled to Nigeria to work with producers there as well. It’s a project that I believe will mark a before-and-after for the Afrobeats genre,” the Spanish artist and rapper, a former Billboard Latin Artist on the Rise, previously said to Billboard of the overall production.

Meanwhile, Residente returned with a nearly 10-minute diss track called “Bajo y Batéria,” where with he testifies to his unmatched lyrical mastery, spitting verses like, “Ya nadie en el género urbano sonríe conmigo que sus dientes me los puse de collar,” this time challenging fellow Puerto Rican rapper Cosculluela.

Other new releases included in the weekly fan poll are: Karol G’s “S91;” Duki, Khea, and Bizarrap’s “Remember Me;” and Nathy Peluso’s “Salvaje,” to name a few. 

Last week, C. Tangana’s “Oliveira Dos Cen Años” won the reader poll with nearly 90 percent of the votes. Who should win this week? Vote below!

Peso Pluma continues to make his mark across the Billboard charts. This time, he’s done it with his third studio album, Génesis. 
The set now has the biggest week by units earned for a regional Mexican album ever, dating back to when the all-genre Billboard 200 began ranking by units in December 2014. The previous largest week by total units arrived just less than two months ago, when Eslabon Armado’s Desvelado launched with 44,000 units (May 13-dated list).

The Guadalajara-born rapper and singer also reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 after earning 73,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. during its first official tracking week ending June 29, according to Luminate. 

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

The new set from Peso Pluma — which features collabs with Música Mexicana stars Natanael Cano, Junior H and Luis R Conriquez, to name a few — has also earned the 24-year-old singer his first No. 1 on any album chart. Génesis — which features previously released singles “Rosa Pastel” with Jasiel Nuñez, the Eladio Carrión-assisted “77,” and “Bye” — skyrocketed to No. 1 (from No. 35) on the Top Latin Albums chart (dated July 8) after its first full tracking week, and also jumped 10-1 on Regional Mexican Albums.

On the former chart, Génesis becomes only the fourth regional Mexican effort to lead Top Latin Albums this decade, following Alejandro Fernández’s Hecho en México (Feb. 29, 2020) and two Eslabon Armado albums — Vibras de Noche (August 2020) and Desvelado (May 2023).

“It took me a while to assimilate what was happening,” Peso previously told Billboard of his rapid success. “To see my name on the charts, to see my name next to really important artists, I always dreamed of this. I know it’s all happening so fast, but that doesn’t mean that we’re going to stop working hard. On the contrary, I feel obligated to continue delivering hits.”

In celebration of Peso’s chart feat, vote for your favorite track on Génesis below:

This week, our New Music Latin roundup — a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums, and videos recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — is powered by new music from Shakira, Becky G, and Peso Pluma, to name a few. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts […]

This week, our New Music Latin roundup — a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard‘s Latin and Billboard Español editors — is powered by new music from Gloria Trevi, David Bisbal, Boza and many more. Though he’s still rooted in the reggae plena sound that made him a household name, Panamanian singer Boza gets experimental on his […]