Karol G to Co-Headline This Year’s Rock in Rio Festival

Posted on April 20, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G is ready to rock…

The 33-year-old Colombian Grammy-winning singer/songwriter will co-headline this year’s Rock in Rio, one of the biggest music festivals in Brazil.

Karol G has been added to the line-up, which will include performances from Mariah Carey, Ludmilla and many other artists.

The very first Rock in Rio festival took place in 1985. The line-up included music icons like Queen, Tina Turner, AC/DC, Rod Stewart and Iron Maiden. Since then, many other global stars like Britney Spears, Shakira, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Paul McCartney and Drake have performed at the multi-day festival.

This year, Rock in Rio will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the festival in a big way. The event will take place over two weekends, Sept. 13 to 15 and 19 to 22, at the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro.

Karol G was added as a co-headliner to the September 20 date. She’s currently touring Latin America with her Mañana Será Bonito Tour. The tour will visit Brazil on May 10 in São Paulo. Her fans in Brazil will get a second chance to see her in Rio de Janeiro for Rock in Rio. She’ll headline the Palco Mundo (World Stage) that day with Katy Perry, Cyndi Lauper and Ivete Sangalo.

Brazilian superstar Ludmilla is one of the co-headliners on the September 13 date. She recently performed on the main stage of the Coachella music festival. Travis Scott, 21 Savage, and Matuê, Teto & Wiu will also headline the Palco Mundo. Mariah Carey will headline the Palco Sunset (Sunset Stage) on September 22. Other performers to look out for over those two weekends include Lulu Santos, DENNIS, Gloria Groove, Iza, Ed Sheeran, Charlie Puth, Imagine Dragons and One Republic.

Next month, the 2024 Rock in Rio Lisboa will first take place. From June 15 to 16 and 22 to 23, Camila Cabello, Jonas Brothers, Aitana, Doja Cat, Sheeran and many others will perform at the precursor festival to the one later happening in Rio de Janeiro.

Luisa Sonza to Receive Global Force Award at Billboard Women in Music Awards

Posted on January 28, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Luisa Sonza is a global force… And now she’ll have an award to prove it!

The 25-year-old Brazilian singer-songwriter will be among the honorees of this year’s Billboard Women in Music Awards.

Sonza will receive one of Billboard’s new Global Force Awards.

Sonza has released three studio albums, two EPs and two compilations. She has also collaborated with both Katy Perry and Demi Lovato. She and Pabllo Vittar cohost the HBO Max show Queen Stars.

But she’s not the only Latinx artist being feted…Young Miko will receive the Impact Award.

The Puerto Rican rapper and singer-songwriter cracked the Billboard Hot 100 last year with her reggaeton song, “Classy 101” (with Feid). She incorporates her identity and interests, including anime and urban music, into her music.

Ice Spice will receive the Hitmaker Award.

“Four” is the 24-year-old half-Dominican American rapper’s magic number at the moment. That’s the number of Grammy nominations she received this year, including best new artist. And it’s the number of top 10 hits on the Hot 100 she amassed last year – for collaborations with Taylor Swift (“Karma”), PinkPantheress (“Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2”) and a pair of collaborations with Nicki Minaj (“Princess Diana” and “Barbie World,” which also featured Aqua).

The latter song is nominated for two Grammys – best rap song and best song written for visual media. “Karma” is nominated for best pop duo/group performance.

Tracee Ellis Ross will host the 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards, which will be held Wednesday, March 6, at YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif. – just outside of Los Angeles — and will stream on March 7. The annual event features musical performances and honors women powerhouses who are shaping the music landscape.

Presenters, performers and additional honorees, including the identity of the 2024 Billboard Woman of the Year, will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We could not be more excited to celebrate these inspiring and dynamic artists from around the world, as they move our culture forward and inspire women everywhere to push boundaries and pursue their own dreams,” Billboard’s editorial director, Hannah Karp, said in a statement. “With the talented Tracee Ellis Ross as our host, this year’s Billboard Women in Music Awards will be an unforgettable evening.”

Tickets to attend the Women in Music Awards are available to the public. American Express Card Members get early access to tickets from Wednesday, January 24 at 10:00 am PT/1:00 pm ET – Friday, January 26 at 10:00am PT/1:00 pm ET (terms apply), before the public on-sale Saturday, January 27, at 10:00 am PT/1:00 pm ET, at billboardwomeninmusic.com. Prices range from $89 – $279. Fans can watch the show on Thurs, March 7 at 5pm PT/8pm ET on billboardwomeninmusic.com; more details about the stream will be announced soon.

Here’s a list of the 2024 honorees that have been announced so far.

NewJeans: Group of the Year Award
The South Korean group made a big splash in August 2023 when their second EP, Get Up, entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1, displacing Taylor Swift’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). The group also had five Hot 100 hits, topped by “Super Shy,” which rode the chart for two months.

Ice Spice: Hitmaker Award
“Four” is Ice Spice’s magic number at the moment. That’s the number of Grammy nominations she received this year, including best new artist. And it’s the number of top 10 hits on the Hot 100 she amassed last year – for collabs with Taylor Swift (“Karma”), PinkPantheress (“Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2”) and a pair of collabs with Nicki Minaj (“Princess Diana” and “Barbie World,” which also featured Aqua).

The latter song is nominated for two Grammys – best rap song and best song written for visual media. “Karma” is nominated for best pop duo/group performance.

Victoria Monét: Rising Star Award
Monét was nominated for seven Grammys in 2024, for performance, songwriting and engineering. Her haul includes two of the Big Four awards – best new artist and record of the year for “On My Mama.” Monét’s album Jaguar II is nominated for two awards – best R&B album and best engineered album, non-classical.

Kylie Minogue: Icon Award
Minogue kicked off her Las Vegas residency on the heels of her 2023 Tension album, which featured the dance-floor smash “Padam Padam.” The track is nominated for a Grammy for best pop dance recording. Minogue won a Grammy for best dance recording 20 years ago for “Come Into My World.”

Minogue has a longer history on the Billboard Hot 100 than any of this year’s other nominees. She landed her first top 10 hit, a cover version of Little Eva’s “The Loco-Motion,” in 1988. She returned to the top 10 in 2002 with “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” Her album Fever reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in 2002.

Maren Morris: Visionary Award
Last year, Maren announced that she was taking a break from country music, the format in which she became a star. She has also been outspoken about aspects of country music culture where she would like to see change. She won a Grammy for best country solo performance for “My Church” seven years ago. She has landed two top 10 albums on the Billboard 200, Hero (No. 5 in 2016) and GIRL (No. 4 in 2019). She landed her biggest hit to date for a pop recording, “The Middle,” on which she teamed with Zedd and Grey. The smash reached No. 5 on the Hot 100 in 2018.

Charli XCX: Powerhouse Award
The pop star performed “Speed Drive” on Barbie: The Album. Her biggest unaccompanied hit on the Hot 100, “Boom Clap,” was also from a film, The Fault in Our Stars. That song made the top 10 in 2014. She has made the top 10 as a featured artist twice – on Icona Pop’s “I Love It” and Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy.” Charli XCX’s album Crash reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200 in 2022.

Tems: Breakthrough Award
The Nigerian singer-songwriter and record producer is nominated for a Grammy as a co-writer of Rhianna’s smash “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The smash, which entered the Hot 100 at No. 2 in late 2022, is nominated for best song written for visual media. A year ago, it brought Tems and her co-writers an Oscar nod for best original song.

Tems won a Grammy last year – best melodic rap performance for Future’s “Wait for U,” on which she was featured (along with Drake). That song topped the Hot 100 in 2022. Tems landed her first top 10 hit, as a featured artist on Wizkid’s “Essence,” in 2021. Justin Bieber was also featured on that smash.

Young Miko: Impact Award
The Puerto Rican rapper and singer-songwriter cracked the Hot 100 last year with her reggaeton song, “Classy 101” (with Feid). She incorporates her identity and interests, including anime and urban music, into her music. Young Miko’s birth name is María Victoria Ramírez de Arellano.

Luísa Sonza: Global Force Award
The Brazilian singer-songwriter will receive one of Billboard’s new Global Force Awards. Sonza has released three studio albums, two EPs and two compilations. She has also collaborated with both Katy Perry and Demi Lovato. She and Pabllo Vittar cohost the HBO Max show Queen Stars.

Play-N-Skillz Signs Label Deal with Pitbull‘s Mr. 305 Records

Posted on July 20, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Play-N-Skillz are getting (Mr.) Worldwide support…

The Latin/American record production/DJ group, comprised of brothers Juan “Play” Salinas and Oscar “Skillz” Salinas, has signed a label deal with Pitbull‘s Mr. 305 Records.

The Dallas-born siblings join a roster that includes Omar Courtz, IAMCHINO and Montana Tucker, among others.

“Joining Mr. 305 Records is a perfect match for us,” said Play-N-Skillz in a statement. “We have a strong history with Pitbull and being part of his record label is an amazing chance for growth. We appreciate the trust he has in us and are excited to create incredible music together.”

After DJing house parties in their hometown, Play-N-Skillz landed its big break in the early 2000s after producing Lil’ Flip‘s second album, U Gotta Feel Me.

Since then, Play-N-Skillz has produced for artists such as Chamillionaire, David Guetta, Lil Wayne, Becky G, Nicky Jam and Daddy Yankee.

In 2019, Play-N-Skillz produced and co-wrote Yankee’s smash hit “Con Calma” ft. Snow, which later got a remix with Katy Perry. The original track peaked at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart for a total of 14 weeks.

“I am thrilled to welcome Play-N-Skillz to the Mr. 305 Records family. Our history of working together has been marked by mutual respect, creativity, and shared musical vision. I have always admired their exceptional production skills and their ability to push boundaries in their craft,” added Robert Fernandez, CEO of Mr. 305 Records. “It’s an honor that they have decided to partner with us and trust us to help bring their brand and artistic vision to the next level. Together, we will continue to make history and ccreate music that will captivate audiences worldwide. The future looks incredibly exciting, and I couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the journey ahead with Play-N-Skillz.”

Play-N-Skillz is currently working on new music set to drop soon under Mr. 305.

Jennifer Lopez to Perform at Charity Gala for Ukraine Children & Families

Posted on July 30, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is helping to raise funds for the children of the Ukraine…

The 53-year-old Puerto Rican superstar is set to perform on the Italian island of Capri at a Ukraine-focused charity gala for UNICEF.

Expected guests at the exclusive event, which is called LuisaViaRoma for UNICEF, include Leonardo DiCaprio; Jamie Foxx; Elon Musk’s mother, the supermodel Maye Musk; Naomi Campbell, Jared Leto, and Vanessa Hudgens.

The intimate Capri charity event will take place in the island’s Certosa di San Giacomo, a 14th-century monastery with a large grassy cloister area and a stunning view of the Mediterranean.

Lopez will be the main musical act at the exclusive gala, where the hit-making DJ Diplo and singer/actress Sofia Carson, as well as Switzerland’s DJ Cruz, are among other artists that are expected to take the stage, Italy’s La Repubblica reported.

Past editions of the charity concert have been complemented with performances by the likes of John Legend, Katy Perry and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, as well as Rita Ora, Ricky Martin and Ellie Goulding, according to Variety sister publication Women’s Wear Daily, which broke the news in May that Lopez would headline the Capri gala.

After kicking off with musical entertainment, the event will be followed by a lavish dinner and charity auction.

The guest list also includes Dutch supermodel and actor Lara Stone; U.S. producer and director Tonya Lewis Lee; Saudi producer and philanthropist Mohammed Al Turki; and, from Italy, singer and songwriter Sangiovanni and actor Matilde Gioli, according to La Repubblica.

During the charity gala, UNICEF representatives based in Ukraine will join the soirée remotely. A documentary will also screen, detailing the work being done by UNICEF at the Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps in Jordan that welcome Syrian children and their families.

It’s Lopez’s first stage performance since marrying actor Ben Affleck earlier this month.

Bruno Mars Earns Eighth No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 with Silk Sonic Single “Leave the Door Open”

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars is Leave-ing his mark yet again…

“Leave the Door Open” by Silk Sonic, the duo of the 35-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer and Anderson .Paak, rises from No. 3 to No. 1 for its first week at the summit of the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.

It’s Mars’ eighth Hot 100 No. 1, while Anderson. Paak earns his first.

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data.

“Leave the Door Open” drew 21.5 million U.S. streams (up 13%) and sold 28,600 copies, downloads and CDs combined (up 138%), in the week ending April 8, according to MRC Data. It also attracted 59.1 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 9%) in the week ending April 11.

Combining digital and physical sales, the song was the most-sold of the tracking week, aided by two CD versions that shipped to purchasers in that span (one for $2.50 and a live version for the standard $1.29 single price), as it wins the Hot 100’s top Sales Gainer award.

Bruno Mars’ Hot 100 No. 1s:
“Nothin’ on You” (B.o.B feat. Mars), two weeks, beginning May 1, 2010
“Just the Way You Are,” four weeks, Oct. 2, 2010
“Grenade,” four weeks, Jan. 8, 2011
“Locked Out of Heaven,” six weeks, Dec. 22, 2012
“When I Was Your Man,” one week, April 20, 2013
“Uptown Funk!” (Mark Ronson feat. Mars), 14 weeks, Jan. 17, 2015
“That’s What I Like,” one week, May 13, 2017
“Leave the Door Open” (Silk Sonic [Mars & Anderson. Paak]), one week to-date, April 17, 2021

With eight Hot 100 No. 1s dating to his first, as featured on B.o.B‘s “Nothin’ on You” on the chart dated May 1, 2010, Mars ties Drake, Katy Perry and Rihanna for the most in that span. Mars becomes one of 18 artists in the Hot 100’s entire history with at least eight leaders.

Meanwhile, “Leave the Door Open” reaches No. 1 in its fifth week on the Hot 100, completing Mars’ quickest coronation. He wrapped a prior-best eight-week ascent to the summit with “Uptown Funk!” in 2015.

Silk Sonic pushes “Leave the Door Open” from No. 2 to No. 1 for its first week atop the multi-metric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where it’s Mars’ fourth leader, after “That’s What I Like” (10 weeks, 2017), “Finesse” (one week, 2018) and “Please Me” (one week, 2019), the latter two with Cardi B.

“Door” concurrently rebounds 2-1 for a third week atop the Hot R&B Songs chart, which, like Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, uses the same methodology as the Hot 100.

Christina Aguilera’s Randi Rahm Archive 2007 Pre-Grammy Party Dress Among Gowns Headed to Auction

Posted on November 25, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Here’s your chance to own a little bit of Christina Aguilera fashion history…

Property from the Randi Rahm Archive, an exclusive collection of iconic couture gowns worn by Hollywood‘s elite, including the 39-year-old half-Ecuadorian American Grammy-winning singer, will be up for auction next month.

Julien’s Auctions has announced that the Rahm signature styles that have graced the covers of magazines and waltzed down red carpets will be available for bidding December 2-3, both live from Beverly Hills and online.

The top items featured in the auction include Aguilera’s black satin crepe gown from the 2007 Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Awards party (estimated $2,000 to $4,000), Beyoncé‘s nude fringe embellished dress she wore to first lady Michelle Obama‘s 50th birthday bash in 2014 (estimated $3,000 to $5,000), and Mariah Carey‘s orchid and gray twisted halter silk dress from her 2005 “We Belong Together” music video.

Three more items from Beyoncé’s wardrobe, Carrie Underwood‘s one-shoulder purple satin silk gown from her 2010 CMA Awards performance (estimated $2,000 to $4,000), Katy Perry‘s tie-dye aqua-blue cocktail dress from her 2012 “Katy Perry: Part of Me” Tokyo meet-and-greet (estimated $2,000 to $4,000) and more are also included in Rahm’s collection.

The collection will be available to both bidders and collectors, who must register either in-person at the exhibition or online before the sale here.

The public exhibition at Julien’s Auction is free to the public and open until November 27 (closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26) at 257 N. Canon Dr. in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The auction will take place from Wednesday, December 2, to Thursday, December 3. Interested parties can place their bids in person, online and on their iPhone app, over the phone with an auction house representative, or in advance via absentee bid. Absentee bid forms are available by calling Julien’s Auctions, checking their website and seeing the back of each catalog.

Bad Bunny Wins First-Ever American Music Award Prizes of His Career

Posted on November 23, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny is celebrating a big night…

The 26-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton superstar took home two trophies at this year’s American Music Awards, the most of any Latinx artist.

Bad Bunny, who picked up the first-ever AMAs of his career, beat himself in the Favorite Album – Latin category. His second studio album YHLQMDLG, which became the highest-charting all-Spanish album ever on the Billboard 200 at number two when it debuted in February, won against his own Las que no iban a salir, the surprise follow-up album he released two months later. He also beat out Anuel AA’s Emmanuel for the coveted trophy.

Bad Bunny, who had to cancel his scheduled performance on the show due to testing positive for COVID-19, also won in the Favorite Male Artist – Latin category.

Becky G picked up her first AMAs trophy…

The 23-year-old Mexican American bilingual singer/rapper took home the award for Favorite Female Artist- Latin.

Becky G gave a heartwarming acceptance speech that celebrated her Mexican and immigrant heritage. She told fans she “proudly waves both flags Mexican and American.” She went on to dedicate the award to immigrant parents, students, and her abuelitos.

Karol G took home her first-ever American Music Awards prize – in the Favorite Song – Latin category – for her chart-topping “Tusa” single, featuring Nicki Minaj; while Cardi B won in the Favorite Song – Rap/Hip-Hop category for her Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “WAP,” featuring Megan Thee Stallion.

Hosted by Taraji P. Henson, this in-person ceremony aired on ABC and was wildly socially distanced with cardboard cutouts of Beyonce, Jay Z, Dolly Parton and others in the orchestra section of the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, select masked fans who were tested for COVID and socially distanced were in the balcony of the theater to provide live energy to performers that included Jennifer Lopez, Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa, Katy Perry, Darius Rucker, BTS as well as the unexpected duet of The Weeknd and Kenny G.

Here’s the full list of winners:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Doja Cat

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours”

FAVORITE SOCIAL ARTIST
BTS

FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO
Taylor Swift, “Cardigan”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Justin Bieber

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Taylor Swift

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK
BTS

FAVORITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK
Harry Styles, “Fine Line”

FAVORITE SONG – POP/ROCK
Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Kane Brown

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST- COUNTRY
Maren Morris

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – COUNTRY
Dan + Shay

FAVORITE ALBUM – COUNTRY
Blake Shelton, “Fully Loaded: God’s Country”

FAVORITE SONG – COUNTRY
Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
Juice WRLD

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
Nicki Minaj

FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP
Roddy Ricch, “Please Forgive Me For Being Anti Social”

FAVORITE SONG – RAP/HIP-HOP
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
The Weeknd

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Doja Cat

FAVORITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B
The Weeknd, “After Hours”

FAVORITE SONG – SOUL/R&B
The Weeknd, “Heartless”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – LATIN
Bad Bunny

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST- LATIN
Becky G

FAVORITE ALBUM – LATIN
Bad Bunny, “YHLQMDLG”

FAVORITE SONG – LATIN
Karol G & Nicki Minaj, “Tusa”

FAVORITE ARTIST – ALTERNATIVE ROCK
Twenty One Pilots

FAVORITE ARTIST – ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Jonas Brothers

FAVORITE ARTIST – CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Lauren Daigle

FAVORITE ARTIST – ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)
Lady Gaga

FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK
“Birds of Prey: The Album”

Demi Lovato to Perform at This Week’s Pepsi Unmute Your Voice Concerts on Triller

Posted on October 8, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is trillin’ for votes…

The 28-year-old half-Meican American singer will perform at the Pepsi Unmute Your Voice concert on Triller on Thursday, October 8 and Friday, October 9.

Lovato, who recently released the emotional ballad “Still Have Me,” joins a lineup that includes Chance the Rapper, Chloe x Halle, Saint Jhn, Brett Young and Ava Max.

The shows, slated to kick off at 8:00 pm ET both days, are a collaboration with Rock the Vote.

“I’m joining @triller & @pepsi for their #PepsiUnmuteYourVoice concert This election is SO important me to so get registered to vote with @RockTheVote and join me on 10/9 at 8pm EST on #Triller!!” Lovato tweeted. The concerts are the latest get out the vote effort in the run-up to the Nov. 3 election.

With less than 30 days to go before the election, artists from Taylor Swift to Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Frank Ocean, Billie Eilish, Katy Perry and Vanessa Hudgens are putting a full-court press on voter registration, joining existing campaigns and making personal pleas to exercise your constitutional right to pick the next President.

Selena Gomez Urges Facebook to Stop the Spread of “Hate, Misinformation, Racism and Bigotry”

Posted on September 20, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is going straight to the source in the fight against online misinformation and hate speech…

The 28-year-old Mexican American singer/actress shared on Instagram Stories a direct message to Facebook leaders Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg, calling them out for their lack of accountability.

Gomez, who has 193 million followers on Instagram (owned by Facebook) and tops 77 million on Facebook itself, asked Zuckerberg, the Facebook founder and CEO, and Sandberg, its chief operating officer, to start talking about misinformation and hate speech.

Gomez didn’t specify what information she classified as belonging to those categories, but called on Zuckerberg and Sandberg to shut down individuals and groups promoting it.

“Facebook and Instagram are being used to spread hate, misinformation, racism, and bigotry,” she wrote, days after a significant push by stars like Rosario Dawson, Kim Kardashian, Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Sacha Baron Cohen, Mark Ruffalo, Dwyane Wade and Katy Perry promoted #StopHateforProfit by blacking out their social media activities.

“I am calling you both to HELP STOP THIS. Please shut down groups and users focused on spreading hate speech violence and misinformation. Our future depends on it.”

Gomez also pointed to the national election in her message. She’s a co-chair of “When We All Vote,” a claimed nonpartisan organization that encourages voter participation. Michelle Obama, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Shonda Rhimes are among its leaders.

“We cannot afford to have misinformation about voting,” Gomez said in her message. “There has to be fact-checking and accountability. Hope to hear back from you ASAP.”

Facebook has not yet publicly responded to Gomez.

Daddy Yankee Releases “Don Don,” a Spanish Reimagining of Sisqo’s “Thong Song” Featuring Anuel AA & Kendo Kaponi

Posted on September 12, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is putting a Spanish spin on another ‘90s classic…

The 43-year-old Puerto Rican rapper/singer has joined voices with Anuel AA and Kendo Kaponi to release “Don Don,” their Spanish reggaeton take on Sisqo’s 1999 hit song “Thong Song.”

In the reimagined song, Anuel AA sings the “Thong Song” melody during the chorus. It’s a nifty gimmick, but “Don Don” is more beguiling than its familiar hook: Daddy Yankee is a stick of dynamite on the track, his flow compact and rewarding. And make sure to keep your ears peeled for a nod to the Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance, as well as Daddy Yankee’s intensity balancing out Anuel’s suave demeanor as they both invite listeners to the dance floor in their own way.

Daddy Yankee scored a hit last year with “Con Calma,” which revived Snow’s 1993 hit single “Informer” and featured the singer himself. And then he later released a remix version of the song featuring Katy Perry. The song, which passed two billion views on YouTube, recently won the iHeartRadio Music Award for Latin Pop/Reggaeton Song of the Year.

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