Latin
Brazilian Funk Powerhouse KondZilla Launches Twitch Channel With Exclusive Deal
The arrangement — which involves exclusive music, video and gaming content — follows the Twitch deal with rapper Logic earlier this week. Brazilian funk music company KondZilla, which operates one of the biggest YouTube channels in the world, has signed a partnership with Twitch to operate a channel on the streaming platform, in one of the first major deals Twitch has done with an international artist or label. Under terms of its deal, KondZilla is providing exclusive music, gaming, video and podcast content, including live remixing of video game tracks produced by DJs on Kondzilla Records, Andre Izidro, head of marketing and intelligence at KondZilla, tells Billboard. The Twitch channel will promote games, chats and feature funk music and stars from KondZilla, such as Mc Jotta...
‘Short, Precise and Catchy’: Farruko Breaks Down His Recipe For a Successful Single
Previewing his forthcoming album, Farruko has released his new single “La Tóxica” — a core reggaetón track that takes the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter back to his roots — today (July 24). “It’s the kind of reggaetón that made me,” Farruko tells Billboard. “I always experiment with different rhythms but I wanted to go back to my roots with this one.” Penned by Farru, Sharo Towers, Ghetto and K4G, “La Tóxica” starts off with a simple piano tune. Then, nearly one minute in, an explosive reggaetón beat carries the rest of the song. And, as a true testament to Farruko’s slick writing skills, it includes a catchy chorus line. “I always make sure that my songs have good content, but I also make sure I includ...
Mau y Ricky Say Their Latin Remix of John Legend’s ‘Bigger Love’ Was a ‘Pinch Me Moment’
John Legend‘s “Bigger Love” is getting bigger with a Latin remix featuring Mau y Ricky that will drop Friday (July 24). Ahead of its highly-anticipated release, Billboard spoke to Legend, Mau and Ricky about the joining of forces for this feel-good pop track that celebrates love and resilience. It also becomes the brothers’ first English-language collaboration. “I don’t know if we’re the best for the job but we for sure will be the quickest and the most efficient and the most hungry and excited for it,” Mau tells Billboard. “We’re just so grateful because to be honest, John is one of the artist that we admire the most so this is crazy and we still can’t believe it.” The making of the remix took no more than a mont...
From Billboard Charts to TikTok Dances: Behind Nio Garcia’s Viral ‘La Jeepeta’
After making the rounds with “Te Bote (Remix)” next to Casper, Darell, Nicky Jam, Bad Bunny, and Ozuna — which landed at No. 36 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 2018 — Nio Garcia unleashed “La Jeepeta” in January. The chorus was born inside a jeep after the power went off at Garcia’s recording studio in Puerto Rico. In January, he dropped the first version of “La Jeepeta” — a catchy mid-tempo reggaeton — in collaboration with Brray and Juanka, released via Flow La Movie and powered by GLAD Empire. Three months later, and in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Anuel AA and Myke Towers jumped on the remix, bringing “La Jeepeta” to a whole ‘nother level. Unlike the original, which did not secure a spot on the Hot Latin Songs chart, the remix arrived in...
Bad Bunny’s Road to Success Coming to YouTube’s ‘Artist Spotlight Stories’: Watch Trailer
For the past two months, Bad Bunny has been on a social media detox with his last post on Twitter and Instagram posted on May 19. “Bye, me fui,” reads the caption, which translates to “Goodbye, I left.” Despite being absent from the ‘gram, Bunny has been keeping busy amid the current health crisis, recently nabbing the cover for Playboy magazine and now, forming part of the YouTube Music “Artist Spotlight Stories” series. “Sometimes I feel I attract everything with my mind,” the Puerto Rican singer expressed in a one-minute trailer posted on his YouTube channel. “I think a lot of people, if not everyone, can do the same. But not everyone knows that.” Bad Bunny’s short documentary will share his road to success from the beginning of his career to his chart-topping YHLQMDLG album. “I try nev...
Cazzu Partners With Sprayground for Collaborative Backpack Design
Cazzu‘s iconic emo look is the inspiration behind Sprayground’s new functional backpack released today (July 20). The travel company and rising Argentine trap joined forces for this limited edition purple and green color-themed backpack co-designed by the artist herself. “As a music artist on the road, it’s imperative to have a functional backpack, but it’s hard to find a fashionable one too,” Cazzu said in a statement. “I have been a big fan of Sprayground for a long time, they make the dopest and also versatile backpacks and I’m so excited to get this out to fans!” Made with vegan leather and flaunting Cazzu’s pigtails and the infamous “shark mouth” logo, the design includes multiple carrying options and a padded lapto...
El Dany, Of Cuban Duo Yomil y El Dany, Dies at 31
Daniel Muñoz Borrego, better known as El Dany and one half of Cuban urban duo Yomil y El Dany, died Saturday morning (July 18) at a hospital in Havana, sources confirm. He was 31 years old. Billboard could not confirm the cause of death. Together with Yomil (real name Roberto Hidalgo Puentes), Muñoz found fame creating a sound he and Hidalgo dubbed “Trapton,” which the duo once described to Billboard as “our brand. It’s a mix of trap with dembow and reggaetón.” That brand allowed Yomil y El Dany to enter the charts in 2016 with their album Sobredosis, which spent one week on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart at No. 8. Most recently, the duo teamed up with Lenier, El Chacal, Srta. Dayana, El Micha and Maurofor the single “No Volveré,” which entered the...
Tom Morello, Los Van Van, Ozomatli & 60 More to Perform at Concert for Cuba
The two-day event to honor Cuban doctors will stream July 18-19. Cuban artists including Los Van Van and Alexander Abreu, plus Tom Morello, Michael McDonald and Ozomatli are among 60 acts that will join together for a free two-night concert to honor Cuba’s doctors. The Concert for Cuba is a two-night, six-hour streaming festival set for this weekend (July 18-19). It will rally to garner a Nobel Prize for the international efforts of Cuban medical professionals during the pandemic and advocate for the end of the U.S. embargo while showcasing performances by Cuban artists and international acts who will lend their support for the event’s messages. Other artists — including Orquesta Aragon, Mezcla, Síntesis, Dayramir Gonzalez, Omara Portuondo and Orquesta Failde — will perform fro...
Here’s How Two Local Youth Music Programs Are Keeping Traditional Mexican Music Alive
From son jarocho to mariachi, Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy in the Bay Area and the Mariachi Heritage Foundation in Chicago are preserving and keeping traditional Mexican sounds alive through music programs and young musicians. The importance of cultural preservation, specifically sounds that aren’t considered mainstream or don’t get much radio airplay, is what motivated Eugene Rodriguez (founder of Los Cenzontles) and Cesar Maldonado (Mariachi Heritage Foundation) to launch their music programs. “It was a way of connecting my Mexican side to my American side,” says Rodriguez, a musician and educator. “And it just became so natural for me to want to keep this music alive and to see younger people engaged and excited about, makes me happy.” &#...
Selena’s ‘Ones’ Surges on Billboard Charts After Its Vinyl Reissue
Set is first Latin title to hit No. 1 on nine-year old Vinyl Albums chart. Selena’s Ones is back in the top five on the Top Latin Albums chart (dated July 18) thanks to its 8,000 equivalent album units (up 198 percent) earned in the week ending July 9, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. Of that sum, nearly 6,000 are in album sales. The bulk of its surge was driven by the release of a limited-edition vinyl picture edition of the greatest hits album. Of the album’s 6,000 total sales for the week across all formats (CD, vinyl, digital download, etc.), the vinyl edition of the album accounted for 99 percent of it sales. The Top Latin Albums chart ranks the most popular Latin albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units...
Ruido Fest 2020 Is Officially Canceled, But Already Has 2021 Dates and a Headliner
Café Tacvba announced as headliner for next year’s edition. Ruido Fest 2020 has officially canceled this year’s edition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re very disappointed that we won’t be celebrating with you this summer, but the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic means that our primary focus is everyone’s health and safety,” organizers of the Chicago independent festival said in a statement. As coronavirus cases continue to surge across the country, Ruido Fest is moving to Aug. 20-22, 2021, with Café Tacvba announced as a headliner for next year’s festival. The Latinx-focused event’s cancellation joins other fests such as Los Dells, Coachella and Lollapalooza, who all officially canceled their 2020 editions. Launched in 2015, Ruido Fest has feat...
Karol G Confirms She Has Coronavirus
Karol G took to social media to confirm that she has tested positive for COVID-19. During an Instagram live watched by more than 100,000, the “Tusa” singer said that she tested positive two or three weeks ago but had not made it public so her parents wouldn’t worry. “First of all, thank you to all the people that have reached out to me. I hadn’t said anything because my parents are far away and I didn’t want them to worry about me,” she says. “Because my new single [Ay DiOs Mío] was coming out, I didn’t want coronavirus to be the news. Now that the news is out, my parents are very nervous and if it was under any other circumstance, they’d be here by my side.” Karol G went on to say that she is feeling well compared to others...
