Tainyis taking it old-escuela…

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican hit-making producer and songwriter captures the essence of the reggaetón he was raised on “Nada,” the just-released single off his forthcoming debut solo EP The Kids That Grew Up On Reggaeton: Neon Tapes.

Featuring Lauren Jaureguiand C. Tangana, “Nada” crosses language and genre barriers with Jauregui’s soulful pop vocals filtering Spanish and English lyrics and C. Tangana’s electronically-tinged trap verses. 

The song has a sexual flare to it, as both singers reject the notion of marriage but bemoan that they’re giving each other “nada” or nothing with their undefined yet playful relationship. 

The Elliot Muscat/The Garden-directed music video is set in Miami, Fla. where Tainy launched his NEON16 studio, showing the city’s raw, yet vibrant landscapes from green palm trees cascading over a vintage red Mercedes Benz that the former Fifth Harmony member rests on to turquoise-colored houses where Tainy kicks back with the guys. 

The Kids That Grew Up On Reggaeton: Neon Tapes marks Tainy’s first solo venture after working with the likes of Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Anuel AA, Ozuna and more Latin popstars in his accelerating successful career, spanning 47 Hot Latin Songs entries and a No. 1 producer ranking last year on Billboard‘s Latin Producers chart (dated July 20). 

“Nada” marks a pivotal cross-cultural moment in Tainy’s reggaetón speciality, democratizing the Latin urban genre for both mainstream American and Latin artists. “You can’t go too drastic when you’re creating records for the Latin market; it’s about expanding what their ear is used to,” Tainy told Billboard in an interview last month. “The American market has more liberty. Hearing the essence of reggaetón from [his production team] Luny Tunes, but listening to different chords from The Neptunes or how big and full Timbaland‘s percussion sounds [are] and adding those pop and electronic elements [influences my work].”