Music
From Cardi B to Despacito, how Latin sounds are driving modern pop
The charts are suddenly awash with reggaeton, cha cha, salsa and more. Here are 10 tracks to intro you to the new wave of Latin music.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly two decades since we were Livin’ La Vida Loca. Ricky Martin was the highest profile example of a wave of Latin-flavoured late ‘90s pop that took in everything from Jennifer Lopez’s Waiting For Tonight to Santana to Shakira. For a brief window, the Billboard Top 100 was awash with bassy reggaeton and salsa remixes that saw the likes of Justin Timberlake, Will Smith and even Wyclef from The Fugees laying out Latin hooks like their ticket to Cancun springbreak depended on it.
Fast forward to 2017 and Latin sounds are back. This time the megahit is Despacito, a single by the Puerto Rico singer Luis Fonsi with a feature from Daddy Yankee that just became the most-streamed song of all time, with over three billion views on YouTube (the remix version featuring Justin Bieber can’t have done any harm). Despacito has grabbed the music industry by the cojones, and in its wake the hottest hip-hop, grime and R&B artists are riding the wave.
Below we look at eight artists picking up on this new Latin spirit, from big names set to sweep the mainstream to up-and-coming artists looking to keep things fresh – or check out the 30 track Spotify playlist above.
1. J Balvin and Willy William – Mi Gente
Mi Gente is the Summer 2017 banger we were all waiting for. The Columbian’s reworked version of French singer-producer Willy William’s snake-charmer dancehall has been credited with revitalising reggaeton, and has quickly become the second most-streamed in the world, dethroning Despacito and taking the title as the first fully Spanish song to top Spotify’s Global Top 50 chart. J Balvin’s earlier stuff is well worth a listen too – check out star-studded collabs like last year’s Safari, featuring Pharrell.
2. DJ Khaled ft Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – Wild Thoughts
The majority of DJ Khaled’s audience spinning Wild Thoughts on repeat will undoubtedly have no clue who the hell Santana is, but Wild Thoughts – which samples the Latin rock guitarist’s Maria Maria – has just gone platinum, viewed over 300 million times. It’s the standout from his album Grateful, which is packed with a jaw-dropping list of his pals such as Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Chance the Rapper, Future, Nicki Minaj and a shitload more.
3. French Montana ft Swae Lee and J Balvin – Unforgettable (Latin remix)
French Montana originally dropped Unforgettable on his 32nd birthday back in 2016 then quickly removed it. Thankfully his fans forgot about it until the final version was re-released on Epic and Bad Boy Records this April. It’s spawned a handful of remix collaborations with J Hus, Major Lazer and Mi Gente singer J Balvin, and his Latin remix currently sits at 1.8 million streams and counting.
4. Camila Cabello ft Young Thug – Havana
A founder member of Cowell/X Factor girl group Fifth Harmony, Cuban Mexican pop star Cabello is quickly working her way up the charts. Having previously collaborated on tracks with Pitbull and J Balvin, her single Havana is reminiscent of the cha cha club classics of yesteryear – think J-Lo's Let’s Get Loud or Marc Anthony’s I Need To Know – but with a feature from Atlanta rapper Young Thug to keep things current.
5. Kali Uchis ft Fuego – Tirano
Kali Uchis is on fire – a gorgeously slick Colombian-American singer, songwriter and music video producer who’s racked up a slew of ridiculously impressive appearances with the likes of Tyler the Creator, Kaytranada, Diplo, Major Lazer, Vince Staples, BadBadNotGood, Snoop and Gorillaz. Slinky single Tyrant quickly hit Spotify viral charts worldwide, and Uchis was smart to the trend of the double release, following it up with a Spanish language remix, Tirano. Keep your eyes peeled for her album, due later this year.
6. Dave – Tequila
Look no further for an example as to just how far the Latin wave can flow. On new single Tequila, one of the UK’s sickest lyricists, much-hyped Streatham rapper Dave is dropping verses like: “With my Spanish girl, playing FIFA. Mas tequila? Sí señorita”. It’s one of a string of UK rap and grime tracks with a Latin vibe – see also Donae’o's Mami No Like, Kojo Funds' Arriba and Fekky’s blistering new album El Clasico.
7. Bad Bunny ft Karol G – Ahora Me Llama
Puerto Rican rapper and trap/reggaeton producer Bad Bunny’s Ahora Mi Llama (Now Call Me) is the sultry, smouldering beauty all Latin slow jams should be built upon. With vocals from insanely sexy reggaeton starlet Karol G, it’s reached nearly 22 million spins on Spotify. But Bad Bunny isn’t settling there, taking his claim on tracks in the charts – check out Becky G’s Mayores.
8. NÍDIA – I Miss My Ghetto
Lisbon label Principe Disco’s grande dame Nídia might only be 19 but she means business. What she lacks in viral hits the artist quickly makes up for in street cred. Her loop laden, complex layers and signature taut drums boom and blast with the confidence of a seasoned pro. Her first widely-acclaimed physical release on Principe completely sold out and her 2017 debut LP – out this summer – promises to be her most ferocious work yet.
9. Princess Nokia – Kitana
NYC Puerto Rican shorty Princess Nokia has cast quite a spell. Taking time out from a non-stop schedule of worldwide festival slots, the feminist rap goddess and self proclaimed witch just put out two singles, Kitana and Brujas, within weeks of each other. Her phenomenally slick and hugely hyped album 1992 is re-released September 8.
10. Cardi B – Bodak Yellow Latin Trap Mix ft Messiah
Bronx-based Dominican rapper Cardi B is making money moves. Her prolific summer anthem Bodak Yellow has blown up big, becoming the highest charting single by a female rapper since Nicki Minaj’s Anaconda. Her pre-show appearance at the VMAs was one of the most talked about performances of the night, and she went on to create mass hysteria at New York’s Dominican Day parade when she dropped a Latin Trap Mix featuring Messiah.
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