Latin
5 Uplifting Moments in Latin Music This Week (February 6)
A Pablo Alboran Anniversary Pablo Alborán celebrated the 10-year anniversary of his self-titled debut studio album on Feb. 2. “I’d never thought that this day would change my life,” the Spanish crooner tweeted. “Thank you for so many emotions. I never forget the effort and work of all the people who have believed and believe in me. For 10 more years !!” Alborán’s album dropped in 2011 and includes his breakthrough single “Solamente Tú.” A Premio Lo Nuestro Surprise Selena Gomez will make her debut at the 2021 Premio Lo Nuestro, where she will premiere “Baila Conmigo” next to Rauw Alejandro. “Baila Conmigo” is Gomez’s second Spanish-language single released in 2021, following “De Una Vez.” Both f...
Wisin & Los Legendarios Say New Joint Album Is ‘Full of Emotions & Great Music’
Los Legendarios, who have been in the scene since 2008, are behind many reggaeton hits, including “Vacaciones,” “Escapate Conmigo” and “Me Niego.” Their superpowers also come out to play on this album, home to 19 tracks, including La Base’s newest talents: Chris Andrew, Abdiel and Linares. “It’s always a fun and different experience working with new talents, especially when they are hungry to learn, very talented and humble,” Ramirez says. But Wisin, Los Legendarios, and the entire squad at La Base were not alone on this journey: Their collaborators included Nicky Jam, Myke Towers, Sech, Reik, Rauw Alejandro and Lunay, to name a new. “It’s a great blessing,” Wisin says to Billboard. “I think that one of the keys to success in this genre are collaborations. Receiving an honest ‘ye...
PTF: Nigeria has over 100 molecular laboratories
Nigeria can now boast of over 100 molecular laboratories for the testing of COVID-19 in the country, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF), Boss Mustapha, has said. This is just as the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, flayed the non challant attitude of people in his home state, Kwara, to the pandemic. The SGF who spoke Tuesday at the commissioning of State House Clinic Special Care Centre (COVID-19 Isolation Centre) stated that the number of molecular laboratories grew from two last year to more than 100 as at today and are spread across the 36 states of the federation. His words: ‘‘From just two molecular laboratories for the testing of COVID-19 in Nigeria, we now have over 100 molecular laboratories, public and private, across the 36 States of the Feder...
Anuel AA & Ozuna Celebrate ‘Los Dioses’ Debuting at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums Chart
“It was a process in which we had a lot of fun,” Ozuna tells Billboard. “We supported each other with the lyrics and the creative process. When you are comfortable and enjoy what you do, time passes, and great things happen like this album.” Los Dioses was released Jan. 22 via Aura/Real Hasta La Muerte/Sony Music Latin. It starts with 29,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Jan. 28, according to MRC Data. Out of the set’s opening sum, 6,000 derive from sales and the bulk of the remainder from streaming activity. The Top Latin Albums chart ranks the most popular Latin albums of the week in the U.S. based on multimetric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent a...
20 Questions With Guaynaa: Puerto Rican Artist on Paying Homage to Mexico in ‘Monterrey’
In the Old West-style music video, filmed at the estate of Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés in Mexico, Guaynaa notably references Pancho Villa. “I think Pancho Villa is an interesting man,” the artist says. “He symbolizes resistance and revolution. For me, he’s an icon.” Below, check out Billboard’s 20 questions with Guaynaa. 1. Describe your new single “Monterrey” in one word: Astonishing. 2. In celebration of your new song, what do you like most about Mexican culture? Its resistance. 3. What’s so special about Monterrey? The people, the tacos al pastor, the Cerro de la Silla mountain. There’s a lot of things I can say. 4. What was Lele Pons’ reaction when she heard your single? She LOVED the song and the music video. She said it looks like a movie. 5. What are you most look...
Fans Choose Selena Gomez & Rauw Alejandro’s ‘Baila Conmigo’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music
The Tainy-produced track, which translates to “Dance With Me,” arrived two weeks after “De Una Vez,” a rhythmic pop song about healing and self-worth. It marked the singer’s first Spanish single in more than a decade. Both songs will appear on Gomez’s all-Spanish EP, Revelación, which is scheduled for release on March 12. Placing second on the past week’s tally with 9% of the vote was the “other” category, followed by Weezer’s latest album, OK Human, in third with almost 5% of the vote. “OK Human was made at a time when humans-playing-instruments was a thing of the past,” the rock band tweeted in mid-January when announcing its 14th album. “All we could do is look back on ancient times when humans really mattered and when th...
5 Uplifting Moments in Latin Music This Week (January 30)
Latin Artists to Watch in 2021 From regional Mexican singer Junior H to Argentine sensation Nathy Peluso and promising reggaetonero Jay Wheeler, Billboard editors combed far and wide to gather the 22 artists who we think will have a major impact in 2021. Our selections are informed by chart achievements, streaming totals, overall quality, and gut instinct. Check out the exclusive list here. Selena Gomez announces Spanish EP Calling all Selenators: Earlier this week, Selena Gomez officially announced that her first-ever Spanish-language EP is set to drop March 12. Titled Revelación (Revelation), the album follows Gomez’s recently-released Spanish singles “De Una Vez,” which arrived Jan. 16, and the Rauw Alejandro-assisted “Baila Conmigo.R...
How Fran Rozzano Landed a Record Deal With Pina Records in a Pandemic
A music video, directed by Fernando Lugo in Miami, features Natti Natasha as the star with a cameo from Pina. But before making the rounds with his new bop and landing on YouTube’s Trending page, Rozzano was chasing his dream. One that he was able to reach thanks to the power of social media and in the midst of a pandemic. He was discovered in October of last year during Raphy Pina’s “Tienes Un Minuto” competition on Instagram, where he encouraged aspiring artists from all over the world to remix Natti’s “Que Mal Te Fue.” Rozzano ultimately won the competition and landed a record deal with Pina Records. “It changed my life,” he tells Billboard. Below, read our Q&A with Rozzano. How did you find out about Raphy Pina’s “Tienes Un Minuto” dynamic? I come from doing covers and my fam...
Leslie Grace & Meek Mill Revamp Gloria Estefan’s ’80s Party Hit ‘Conga’: Here’s A Comparison
Calling the process “innovative,” Grace explained that the project originally began at the end of 2019 but was put on pause because of the Coronavirus pandemic. “I went into the studio pre-Covid with Boi-1da. We immediately hit it off. I had written the first verse and the pre onto a loop he had sent me,” she notes. “Everything else was basically done remotely. Meek Mill jumped on the track later on after listening to the structure we built.” The Estefans were also part of the process “every step of the way.” Grace adds: “Everyone was really focused on maintaining the essence of this iconic track. Having their support and suggestions was beautiful. They approved every single thing on the project. This was really a labor of love and really intentional every step of the way with the original...
Danna Paola Scores First Top 10 on Latin Pop Albums Chart With ‘K.O. (Knockout)’
Danna Paola is the first female solo act to debut in the top 10 on the Latin Pop Albums chart in 2021. She follows the late Selena’s No. 8 start with Selena: The Series, Music From the Netflix Original Series (chart dated Dec. 19, 2020). Who did it prior to her? Kali Uchis with Sin Miedo (Del Amor y Otros Demonios), her first chart appearance and first top 10 (No. 2 start, Nov. 28, 2020-dated survey). Concurrently, Danna Paola is just the 10th female solo act alive to secure a top 10 debut on the tally since 2018 (Kany García records two entries). Let’s take a look: Artist, Title, Debut Position, Debut Date Natalia LaFourcade, Un Homenaje Al Folclore Latinoamericano En Manos de Los Macorinos 2, No. 5, February 2018Laura Pausini, Haste Sentir, No. 5, March 2018Kany Garcia, Soy Yo, No....
21 Latin Artists to Watch in 2021
Will Alaina Castillo go for English or for Spanish? The Houston-born singer/songwriter navigates easily between the two languages, infusing both with a heady mix of R&B that enhances lovely, breathy vocals. Most definitely one to watch, with potential to grow in many spaces. — LEILA COBO Alex Rose (WK/Sony Latin): Signed to Walter Kolm’s newly launched WK Records (with Sony Music U.S. Latin), Puerto Rican Alex Rose has already netted major chart traction with “Jangueo,” the extremely catchy reggaetón/pop hit alongside Rafa Pabón. “Jangueo” spent 19 weeks on Spotify’s global 200 chart and made us dance a storm. But the versatile Pabón can go more mellow in tracks like “Bendición” alongside Emilia. — L.C. Bizarrap (Dale Play Records) After launching his career in 2017 by uplo...
Latin Grammy Foundation Grants Awarded to Rafael Escalona Foundation, LAMC & More
This year’s winners reflect that. The Escalona grant was given to the Rafael Escalona Foundation in Bogotá, for a project to preserve a collection of 174 physical Escalona files and offer them in a new user-friendly format. The second preservation grant went to support ongoing archival and cataloguing work at The Latin American Music Center (LAMC) at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., including the Center’s exclusive collection of compositions and manuscripts. Research grants were given to Buenos Aires’ Universidad Nacional de Quilmes for a field study to record traditional canto con caja (song and drum), and to researcher María Alejandra de Avila in Córdoba, Colombia, who is producing an interactive e-book of banda music in Colombia. Since its inception in 2015 , the ...
