From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and more, Billboard editors highlight the latest news buzz in Latin music every week. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week: “Michael X” Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, the Puerto Rican rapper turns his feelings into song rapping about racism and police brutality. In his new song “Michael X,” Myke Towers raps about slavery and having dealt with discrimination himself. Towers kicks off the track with words from Malcolm X’s famous 1962 speech: “We are oppressed. We are exploited. We are downtrodden.” He then goes on saying he needs to speak out against racism and can no longer hide how he’s feeling. The song drops amid natio...
The song also lands atop the Latin Pop Airplay chart. Maluma’s “ADMV” hits No. 1 on the Latin Airplay chart as the song jumps 4-1 on the July 11 survey. It’s his 16th No. 1 on the all-genre list which dates back to his former three-week leader “Borro Cassette” in November 2015. “I’m super happy,” Maluma tells Billboard. “This 16th No. 1 is extra special because ‘ADMV’ is a ballad that is very close to my heart and it means a lot at this time when the world is going through so much. It’s also amazing that my first Latin Airplay No. 1 was less than five years ago, so I am so thankful for the fans and everyone at radio that have been so supportive.” “ADMV” (abbreviation for “Amor de mi vida,” which translates to “love of my life”) marks Maluma’s second No. 1 of the year. He previously landed ...
Brazilian star Marisa Monte, the elegant singer, songwriter, producer and instrumentalist known for her distinctive vocals and ability to span multiple genres of Brazilian music, has signed a global administration agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group. The deal encompasses Monte’s impressive catalog of songs on Monte Songs, spanning an almost four-decade career, including hits like “Ainda Bem,” “Depois,” “Beija Eu,” “Amor I Love You,” “Não Vá Embora,” “Já Sei Namorar,” “Velha Infância,” “Passe em Casa” and “Não é Fácil.” Long regarded as one of Brazil’s leading female acts, Monte is also a much-admired artist globally who has worked with the likes of David Byrne, Phillip Glass, Arnaldo Antunes and Carlinhos Brown. The latter once described her voice as “one of the most perf...
As promised, 6ix9ine released his new song “Yaya” Friday afternoon (July 3). The party-ready track sees him rapping and singing in Spanish, a departure from the previous English-language singles he’s dropped this year following his early release from prison. The vibrant music video was filmed while 6ix9ine remains on house arrest and features a whole lot of suggestive booty shaking and milk — and not much social distancing. “THIS IS THE BEST ONE I DID SO FAR,” he teased on Thursday, saying, “WE BREAKING THE INTERNET PARAAAAA MI GENTE LATINAAAAAAAAAAA LATINO AMERICA !!!!” “Yaya” follows the rapper’s recent singles “Gooba” and “Trollz,” the latter of which was released with Nicki Minaj and went to No. 1...
Latin star Prince Royce has divulged that he has COVID-19 and called for others to be aware of the very real dangers of contracting the disease. “It’s so frustrating to me to see people at supermarkets without a mask. It’s so frustrating to me to see that people are being irresponsible and not protecting others,” Royce said in an interview with the Associated Press. That false sense of security, he said, is what led him to speak out. “Just because you’re young doesn’t mean that you’re not gonna get it,” said Royce, who is 31 years old. “I’m hoping that my story can educate the youth, the people that are trying to go out this weekend because of the holiday.” In the AP article, Royce says he doesn’t know how or when he got infected, but thinks it happened while dining out after restaurants a...
“First Stream Latin” is a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums and videos recommended by the Billboard Latin editors. Check out this week’s picks below. Greeicy, “Los Consejos” (Universal Music Latin) Hunkered down in Colombia because of the coronavirus quarantine, Greeicy continues creating music with accompanying heartfelt videos. Following “Los Besos,” released in the midst of lockdown, the Colombian pop artist presents “Los Consejos.” The romantic ballad-turned-pop with hints of vallenato and reggaeton is about life lessons and the importance of following advice from your loved ones. “Mama told me to be careful because you can lose what you neglect, and she was right,” Greeicy chants. “It hurts to love you and you’re so far/ I had faith that we would grow o...
It’s the group’s first visit to any Billboard Latin albums chart. The Black Eyed Peas secure their first top five on any Billboard Latin albums chart as the trio’s new star-studded Translation debuts at No. 3 on the Top Latin Albums chart (dated July 4) and at No. 52 on the all-genre Billboard 200. The 15-song set includes eight Spanglish tracks featuring superstars from the world of Latin music including J Balvin, Maluma and Shakira. Translation, the Black Eyed Peas’ eighth studio album and first since 2018’s Masters of the Sun Vol. 1, bows with 15,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending June 25, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. Of that sum, 4,000 were in albums sales while the bulk of the remainder stemmed from streaming activity. Translation was released on June 1...
Watch the exclusive premiere of Jenni Rivera’s “Quisieran Tener Mi Lugar” music video. In celebration of her 51st birthday, Jenni Rivera‘s new posthumous single “Quisieran Tener Mi Lugar” is released today (July 1) along with a music video that pays homage to La Diva de la Banda. Penned by Luis Antonio López “El Mimoso” and Rivera, the Mexican-American singer-songwriter reflects on her hard work to get to the top with lyrics like, “It hurts them to see that I’m the diva, but I say what I feel … to earn respect, I’ve worked hard, I won’t stop.” An unstoppable force, even eight years after her death, “Quisieran Tener Mi Lugar” follows Rivera’s two previous posthumous singles “Aparentem...
The song follows the reign of “Mi Meta Contigo.” Banda Los Sebastianes clock their third No. 1, and second in a row, on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart as “En Eso No Quedamos” ascends 2-1 on the survey dated July 4. “En Eso No Quedamos” (which translates to “We Didn’t Agree on That”) follows the six-week reign of the group’s “Mi Meta Contigo” in November. Banda first led the Regional Mexican Airplay chart for six weeks with its longest-charting title “A Través del Vaso” (39 weeks on the chart) in Feb. 16, 2019, over three years after the band’s first entry on the chart, “Indeleble” (No. 39, Sept. 2015). “En Eso No Quedamos” rises thanks to a 13% boost in audience impressions (to 6.2 million) earned in the week ending June 28, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. With a 19-week cli...
After a two-week poll circulated asking Billboard readers to vote for the best dad in Latin music, fans crown Richard Camacho of the Latin pop group CNCO. Camacho, who’s the father of three-year-old Aaliyah Sofia Camacho, nabs nearly 80 percent of the votes. He’s followed by other favorite Latin dads Ricky Martin in second place and Enrique Iglesias in third. On August 1, 2016, the New York-born Dominican artist announced the birth of his daughter on social media. “Very excited and very blessed!” he tweeted. “Thank you, God, for the amazing gift, the angel you have brought to me. Thank you for my little monkey, Aaliyah!” Camacho is the only CNCO member who’s a father. Joining the CNCOwner crew, Aaliyah’s adorable and playful ways are showcased on the group’s Instagram page. Recently,...
Many artists have enjoyed years of success, but Los Palmeras have managed to reach the top of their career after 50 years. The group was formed in Santa Fe, Argentina, in 1968 with the idea of performing local cumbia, which includes touches of reggaeton and chamamé, a traditional rhythm from the northeast of the country. It is made up of Rubén “Cacho” Deicas, Marcos Camino, Exequiel Enrique, Gustavo Martínez, Darien Jorge Grenon and Silvio Medina. Although they have performed more than 10,000 times, the sextet is preparing what will be their greatest show ever at the Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires. The show, full of rhythms never played before by the band and with guests from all over the region, was scheduled for May 16 and canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The group w...
The first half of the year is already gone, wrapping up in yet another month with great Latin collaborations. With the last day of June here, Billboard highlights the team-ups that were featured throughout this month’s First Stream Latin playlists. The poll includes 16 bops such as Abraham Mateo and Becky G’s infectious “Tiempo Pa’ Olvidar,” Manuel Medrano’s funk pop “Cielo” featuring Nile Rodgers, the summer-ready “Bésame” by Play-N-Skillz, Daddy Yankee and Zion & Lennox, and “Por Siempre Manuel” by Gerardo Ortiz and Virlan García, to name a few. In May, Anuel and Enrique Iglesias nabbed the title with “Fútbol y Rumba,” part of Anuel’s Emmanuel album. Feid took the crown in April with his Sky Rompiendo-assisted song “Relxjxte.” Chino & Nacho’s comeback track “Raro” nabbed the titl...