J Balvin to Release New Album, “Rayo,” This August

Posted on July 11, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

J Balvin will be catching some rayos this summer…

The 39-year-old Colombian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer has announced plans to release his upcoming new album, titled Rayo, on August 9.

Balvin’s 15-track LP includes collaborations with Feid, Chencho Corleone, Bad Gyal and Carín León, among others.

The set will follow the hitmaker’s Grammy-nominated Jose released three years ago, which peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart for three weeks.

Overall, Balvin has placed four No. 1 sets on the tally since 2016, including Energía, Vibras and Oasis, his 2019 joint album with Bad Bunny.

As with all his previous albums, this one also started with a name before even recording any of the songs included. “My albums have always started with their names,” he previously told Billboard. “That way, we let ourselves be guided by the vibe.” The singer-songwriter also shared that London was a major source of inspiration for the set, specifically its nightclub scene, where he and his team would play demos sometimes. “We wanted to see fan reaction, and it was amazing,” he teased.

According to a press release, Rayo is an expression of “earnest need for human connection that drove Balvin to create an album that feels more like a house party than a collection of songs.”

On this new album, he blends elements of reggeatón with electronic pop and dembow, the statement further adds.

In April, Balvin performed a riveting sci-fi-inspired headlining set at Coachella, where he sang his biggest anthems to date, including hits recent hits such as the Tainy-produced “Colmillo” and “Dientes.”

Some of his surprise guests included Jowell & Randy, De La Ghetto and Will Smith.

The new album announcement coincides with Balvin’s new single “Gaga” in collaboration with Saiko. The Keityn and L.e.x.v.z.-produced track dropped on Thursday (July 11).

Here’s the Rayo tracklist:

“Cosa de Locos”
“Polvo de tu Vida” featuring Chencho Corleone
“Swat” featuring Luar La L
“Bajo y Batería”
“Doblexxó” featuring Feid
“3 Noches”
“Gaga” featuring Saiko
“Gato” featuring Bad Gyal
“Lobo” featuring Zion
“La Noche” featuring Dei V
“Origami” featuring Ryan Castro and Blessd
“Sólido”
“Stoker” featuring Carin León
“Ganster”
“En Alta” featuring Omar Courtz, Yovngchimi, Quevedo, Mambo Kingz, DJ Luian

Enrique Iglesias Releases “Final, Vol. 2,” The Last Musical Set of His Career

Posted on March 29, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a final bow for Enrique Iglesias.

The 48-year-old Spanish singer and songwriter has released his new studio album Final, Vol. 2 via Sony Music Latin—almost three years after dropping Final, Vol. 1.

Iglesias is assuring everyone the album will be the last musical set of his career.

Comprised of 10 tracks, Final, Vol. 2 finds Iglesias navigating from his signature electronic dance and Latin pop fusions to other genres including bachata (“Así Es La Vida” featuring Maria Becerra), dembow (“La Botella” featuring El Alfa), country (“Space in my Heart” featuring Miranda Lambert), and cumbia (“Llórame Un Río featuring Belinda). His collaboration with Lambert is also available in Spanish with only Iglesias performing it called “Espacio En Tu Corazón.”

In addition to “Space in my Heart,” two other songs on the set are in English: “Love and Pain” and “Be Together”—further stamping the Spanish crooner’s global connection to his fans.

His sensual bachata with Becerra reached No. 1 on the Billboard Tropical Airplay chart for eight weeks, starting the December 9, 2023-dated chart, and it reached a No. 12 high on Latin Airplay chart (December 16).

Final, Vol. 2 follows Final, Vol. 1 (2021), his first album in seven years after Sex & Love and that includes hits such as the Nicky Jam-assisted “El Perdón,” “Duele el Corazón” with Wisin, “Súbeme la Radio” with Descemer Bueno and Zion y Lennox, and the Bad Bunny-assisted “El Baño.”

Final (Vol. 1) debuted and peaked at No. 12 on Top Latin Albums and at No. 2 on Latin Pop Albums (charts dated Oct. 10, 2021).

Kali Uchis & Karol G Release New Single “Labios Mordidos”

Posted on November 24, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Kali Uchis has teamed up with Karol G for a lip-biting new single…

The 29-year-old Colombian-American singer and songwriter and the 32-year-old Colombian superstar have joined voice the release the catchy new single “Labios Mordidos,” marking their second collaboration this year.

The pair previously teamed up for the highly successful single “Me Tengo Que Ir” from Karol G’s Mañana Sera Bonita (Bichota Season) earlier this year.

Produced by Manuel Lara and Albert Hype, the sweltering reggaeton cut sees the two 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 baby is aggressive with that cute face/ That tattoo on her back left me breathless.”

“I’m so excited for the Kuchis to finally have one of my favorite songs on Orquídeas with one of my favorite artists Karol,” Uchis said in a statement. “I hope this brings everyone lots of holiday cheer and you make plenty of memories going into the new year with this song!”

During Karol G’s opening performance of the 2023 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, November 19, La Bichota teased fans with a snippet of the song.

As anticipation builds for Uchis’ fourth album, Orquídeas, due January 12, “Labios Mordidos” emerges as the third single, offering a tantalizing preview of what’s to come. The song follows the vintage bolero-style song “Te Mata” and the Dominican dembow of “Muñekita” with El Alfa and JT.

“The orchid is the national flower of Colombia, and we have more species of orchid than anywhere on earth,” Uchis said last month. “I always felt distinctly intrigued and magnetized by the flower. This album is inspired by the timeless, eerie, mystic, striking, graceful and sensual allure of the orchid. With this vast scope of fresh energy, I wish to redefine the way we look at Latinas in music.”

The album will feature more collaborations, including with Peso Pluma, Rauw Alejandro and more. Orquídeas is Uchis’ second all-Spanish release.

Uchis entered a total of six Billboard Year-End Charts, including the Top Latin Artists chart at No. 32 and Top R&B Artists at No. 11. In October, she concluded her Red Moon in Venus Tour with sold-out performances across the U.S.

Tokischa Releases New Dembow Single “Candy”

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Tokischa is sweetening up the music world…

The 27-year-old Dominican musica urbana rapper and songwriter has released the new single “Candy.”

With the new single, inspired by a friend named Candy, Tokischa embraces the dembow stylings to deliver a fast-paced, slickly produced ode to getting high and keeping the vibes correct.

Candy is an authentic, risky, irreverent, liberal girl who loves excess. In the 2 minute and 58 second dembow track, Tokischa moves as a soloist with a rush of adrenaline that is projected in the speed of her rhymes, which she pronounces with the distinctive voice that has made her known across international borders.

in its explicit verse, the track presents an escape from Candy’s reality and the fascination of that journey to experience the excitement of the senses.

In the masterful music video directed by Raymi Paulus, Tokischa is shown embodying the personality of her friend, wearing similar styles in her way of dressing, hair and behavior.

Furthermore, the colorful music video shows Tokischa in urban scenes wasting his energetic strength, enjoying the feeling of freedom and expressing what he feels.

The single and music video for “Candy” are available on major digital music platforms.

El Alfa Signs Deal with Royalty-Financing Company Sound Royalties

Posted on October 10, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

El Alfa has a new deal…

The 32-year-old Dominican rapper, known as “The King of Dembow,” has signed an eight-figure deal with royalty-financing company Sound Royalties.

The announcement comes ahead of his forthcoming album, El Rey Del Dembow, as well as a multi-city tour slated for this fall.

“This multi-million-dollar funding will be instrumental in continuing to build my legacy and cement my influence in the Latin music space,” said El Alfa in a statement. “Beyond that, it is foundational for promoting and marketing my music, launching new career opportunities, and releasing more work through my own music label, El Jefe Records.”

El Alfa is known for his sensual voice and initial afro hairstyle, which led him to popularity in the early 2010s through songs like “Tarzan“, “Coche Bomba” and “Muevete Jevi“.

Anahi & Her RBD Mates Release New Single “Cerquita de Ti” Ahead of Reunion Tour

Posted on August 18, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a close encounter of the music kind for Anahi and her band mates…

The 40-year-old Mexican actress and singer and her recently reunited RBD mates have released the new single “Cerquita de Ti,” arriving just days before launching the band’s highly anticipated reunion tour on August 25 in El Paso, Texas.

The single begins with a melancholic piano note that then meets a subtle dembow beat for an explosive fusion of sounds.

The title of the song translates to “close to you,” which perfectly captures RBD’s long-awaited reunion.

“So great that we meet again, nobody believed us but we did it. It’s been hard but we’re here … You know I’ll always be close to you,” they sing.

After splitting in 2008, RBD — comprised of Anahí, Dulce María, Christian Chavez, Maite Perroni and Christopher von Uckermann — announced their comeback tour in January, confirming stadium and arena shows in the U.S., Mexico and Brazil.

“There’re cycles in life and each one of us had to focus on our careers as actors and musicians and that meant we had to give those projects time, energy and a lot of dedication,” Perroni previously told Billboard. “It also allowed each one of us to grow professionally and personally. Now, the time [for the reunion] is perfect because we’re now more conscious, more mature, we’ll enjoy it from a different perspective now as adults.”

Earlier this week, Billboard announced that RBD’s Perroni, Chávez and von Uckermann will be part of the 2023 Latin Music Week, set to take place on October 2-6 at the Faena Forum in Miami.

The three RBD members will take center stage to share how their reunion tour came to fruition. This RBD marquee appearance follows another first as this month, all five members will sit down with Billboard and Billboard Español for their first interview as a group.

Darell Releases New Album “Everybody Go to the Discotek”

Posted on July 29, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Darell is hoping to get you dancing…

The 33-year-old Puerto Rican rapper and songwriter has released his new album Everybody Go to the Discotek, which is named after his signature phrase.

The album features 18 tracks crafted for a good time at the club while showcasing Darell’s musical versatility.

At the core of each track is his distinct, deep, raspy vocals, but while some songs are hard-hitting perreos (“Deshidratado,” “Ponte Bonita,” and “Me Dice Daddy,” to name a few), Darell is as experimental as ever.

“Lollipop” is a sensual merengue-bachata fusion, “Rulay” is a tribute to Dominican dembow “Funka” is a saucy Brazilian funk number and focus single “Wait Deh Man,” a reggae-infused collaboration with Nicky Jam, Wisin and Luar La L.

Other collaborators on Everybody Go to the Discotek include Ozuna, Myke Towers, Sech, Jory Boy, Maffio, Omar Courtz and Omar Montes.

Bad Bunny Releases New ‘Jersey Club’ Single “Where She Goes”

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny is going where…

Following his smash cumbia-norteña hit collaboration “un x100to” with Grupo Frontera, the 29-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer/songwriter has just-released the Jersey club cut “Where She Goes.”

The English-titled, Spanish-language song sees Bad Bunny playing with dynamism with a subtle dembow rhythm, courtesy of super producer MAG.

Looking like a swaggering frontiersman armed with a cowboy buckle to boot, Bad Bunny rides around in a vintage Rolls-Royce in the Stillz-directed music video. He then appears on top of a tree amid the desert, and there’s also a scene that projects a Burning Man vibe with a tribe of people surrounding a massing bonfire.

Special guests include Brazilian soccer legend Ronaldinho, Frank Ocean, Lil Uzi Vert, Dominic Fike, Sabrina Lada and more.

Lil Uzi Vert, who is also featured doing his famous TikTok dance, is an appropriate guest, as the “Just Wanna Rock” hitmaker helped spark Jersey club’s rise in 2022, a genre that is permeating the New York drill scene.

Bad Bunny is the first artist in Latin music to embrace the East Coast sound. Jersey club first originated in Newark, New Jersey, in the early new millennium.

“Baby, tell me the truth if you forgot about me/ I know it was only one night, that we’re not going to repeat,” Bunny croons in the opening verse against a dramatic, ominous electronic sound. “In you I wanted to find what I lost in someone else/ Your pride doesn’t want to speak to me, so we’re going to compete.”

Two days before the song’s arrival, Bad Bunny teased the new track on social media, introducing its first 42 seconds.

Although he mentioned a possible break in last December’s cover story, Bad Bunny proceeds to be at the forefront of pop culture. This year, he became the first Spanish-speaking artist to headline Coachella and made waves at the Met Gala. He also continues to churn out a bevy of No. 1 hits on Billboard‘s charts.

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Eladio Carrión Launching First Sauce Boyz Fest in Puerto Rico

Posted on April 10, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Eladio Carrión is bringing the sauce to Puerto Rico…

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican rapper and singer of Latin trap and reggaeton will launch the first Sauce Boyz Fest , which he conceived.

The event, which promises to be historic, will host some of the most exhilarating acts in the música urbana and rap game.

Headliners include Argentine giants Bizarrap and Duki, rap superstar Wiz Khalifa, Dominican dembow artist Tokischa, and rising stars like Young Miko, Dei V, Yovngchimi and more, with an expected attendance of 45,000 total.

The event sold out weeks before the lineup was even announced.

“We really want [fest-goers] to have the best experience of their life. Musically it’s going to be crazy. I’ve been dying to just announce this lineup,” Carrión tells Billboard Español. Taking place May 18 and 20 in Mayagüez and San Juan, the Puerto Rican festival is the first of its kind, being held at a beer factory on day one and by the beach on day two.

At the same time, Carrión will launch his own beer line, La H.

Nicky Jam Releases High Octane, New Single “Toy a Mil”

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Nicky Jam is bringing it at 1,000…

The 41-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American singer-songwriter has released his latest single “Toy a Mil” via Sony Music Latin.

Packed with Caribbean-packed sounds, the track is described as a “full-on summer jam.”

The track fins Nicky Jam meshing Jamaican reggae beats with Dominican dembow, while belting sensual and playful lyrics full of Dominican slang.

An invitation to start the party, the Jorge Milliano-produced track focuses on a girl Nicky Jam was waiting for to be single.

The just-as-vibrant music video captures the veteran hitmaker having a “boys night out” with perreo duo Jowell & Randy — who doesn’t shy away from doing the signature Dembow dance, holding a party foam cup in one hand and swaying the other side to side to the thumping rhythm.

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