Shakira is expanding her sound…
The 46-year-old Colombian superstar will release a new song in collaboration with Regional Mexican group Fuerza Regida.
Shakira took to social media to announce “El Jefe,” which is set for release on Wednesday, September 20. When talking about her upcoming new track during an interview with ET, Shakira didn’t reveal much and only teased, “I’m not the boss in this song, but wait and see.”
Then, she posted a snippet of “El Jefe,” Shakira’s first foray into Regional Mexican music, that’s about someone who has the mentality of a millionaire but doesn’t actually have money.
“You’re dreaming of leaving the barrio, you have everything it takes to be a millionaire, expensive taste, the mentality, you’re just missing a salary,” she sings over a fast-paced beat.
Shakira’s collab with Fuerza Regida is a reflection of Regional Mexican music’s dominance and influence on Latin music today. With acts like Fuerza at the forefront, the genre is having a record year growing in popularity in the United States and beyond. In May, Billboard reported that Regional Mexican music consumption in the U.S. jumped 42.1% year to date through May 25, outpacing gains in the Latin genre overall, as well as country, dance/electronic, rock and pop, according to Luminate.
The new song announcement arrives just days after Shakira’s show-stopping performance at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, where she sang a medley of her hits, including “She Wolf,” “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Objection” and newer hits such as “Te Felicito” and “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.”
The singer-songwriter also made history at the VMAs, becoming the first South American artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award. She is the second Latin artist to receive the award; Jennifer Lopez, the first performer of Latin descent, received the honor in 2018.