Artists🎼🎧

Beyoncé

Beyoncé

About a half-hour into her 2019 concert documentary, <i>HOMECOMING</i>, Beyoncé Knowles says, “When I decided to do Coachella, instead of me pullin’ out my flower crown, it was more important that I brought <i>our culture</i>”—in this case, the homecoming rituals of historically Black colleges and universities in the American South. An incredible show, no doubt. But the real impact lay in realizing how few of the millions of people watching her had probably seen anything like it. Of course, this is what Beyoncé does. Few modern pop artists have worked as hard to put the culture and concerns of Black America in front of a broader audience, whether it’s civil rights (“Formation”), Black feminism (“***Flawless,” “Irreplaceable”), the collective pride of HBCU culture (<i>HOMECOMING</i>), or the liberations of disco and house music (<i>RENAISSANCE</i>). Entertainment, yes—but also a kind of ambassadorship. Born in 1981 and raised in Houston, she started singing and dancing as a child. (One teacher, Darlette Johnson, discovered she could sing when she started humming a song and Knowles finished it—a performance the shy Knowles wouldn’t reproduce until Johnson offered her a dollar.) In 1990, she joined Girl’s Tyme, which evolved into Destiny’s Child. Under the management of Knowles’ father, Mathew, they became one of the biggest forces in pop, blending the familiar comforts of the all-girl vocal group with notions of female empowerment, sisterhood, and a refreshingly contemporary mix of pop, R&B, and hip-hop (“Bills, Bills, Bills,” “Say My Name,” “Survivor,” “Soldier”). Her first solo feature was on a track by her future husband, JAY-Z (“’03 Bonnie & Clyde”), marking the beginning of a fertile partnership and a point of enduring public fascination. (The song was also helmed by a rising Chicago producer named Kanye West, who flipped a 2Pac sample—“Me and My Girlfriend”—into a desperado set piece.) From there, Knowles has been more or less unstoppable. As her fame has grown, her sound and approach have only gotten bolder, spawning intimate, relatively experimental albums like <i>BEYONCÉ</i> and <i>Lemonade</i> alongside celebrations like the JAY-Z collaboration <i>EVERYTHING IS LOVE</i> (credited to THE CARTERS) and 2022’s <i>RENAISSANCE</i>, which celebrated the liberated sound of queer disco and house. It isn’t just the music—which has crisscrossed from dancehall to soul ballads to New Orleans bounce to the chopped-and-screwed sound of her native Houston—but also the figure she cuts in the culture. Here’s a woman who sang at a presidential inauguration (2009, the Obamas, Etta James’ “At Last”), revealed her pregnancy in front of an audience of millions (2011, the MTV Video Music Awards, “Love on Top”), and joined ranks with Black Lives Matter (“Formation”) and feminism (“***Flawless”) when her high-profile status had all but exempted her; who name-checked figures like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Audre Lorde, and Cornel West for people who might otherwise not have encountered them. In 2017, she spoke on behalf of transgender rights, and later that year she gave former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick the Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, cementing her role as both pop star and public figure. “It was important to me that everyone that had never seen themselves represented felt like they were on that stage with us,” she said in <i>HOMECOMING</i>. “As a Black woman, I used to feel like the world wanted me to stay in my little box. And Black women often feel underestimated,” she explained in the movie. “I wanted everyone to feel thankful for their curves, their sass, their honesty—thankful for their freedom.”

Usher

Usher

Usher's position at the forefront of R&B spans the post-new jack swing mid-'90s through the genre's flirtations with Afrobeats and amapiano. Primed early for the spotlight, the singer, songwriter, and dancer started in the church and vaulted quickly from Star Search contestant to major-label signee. Although "Call Me a Mack" (1993) was a lofty declaration from a 14 year-old on his debut single, it wasn't long before Usher gained control of a fully developed, flexible tenor voice and could lay valid claim to the R&B throne. My Way (1997) followed the modest success of his self-titled debut with a barrage of <a href="spotify:artist:6nfYGe7IIuuP5bMY1jkJP6">Jermaine Dupri</a>-produced singles that either topped or nearly topped Billboard Hot 100. After scoring his second Top Ten album and first Grammy, respectively with 8701 (2001) and its "U Remind Me," the singer went supernova with Confessions (2004). The source of four distinct number one pop hits, from the party-starting <a href="spotify:artist:7sfl4Xt5KmfyDs2T3SVSMK">Lil Jon</a> collaboration "Yeah!" to the romantic <a href="spotify:artist:3DiDSECUqqY1AuBP8qtaIa">Alicia Keys</a> duet "My Boo," Confessions won a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album and earned a rare diamond platinum certification. More trips to the top of the album chart were made with Here I Stand (2008), Raymond v Raymond (2010), and Looking 4 Myself (2012), a period during which shrewd collaborations such as "Love in This Club" (featuring Jeezy), "OMG" (produced by and featuring <a href="spotify:artist:085pc2PYOi8bGKj0PNjekA">will.i.am</a>), and "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" (with <a href="spotify:artist:0TnOYISbd1XYRBk9myaseg">Pitbull</a>) did much to maintain Usher's commercial momentum. (The latter two were among the era's biggest crossover EDM hits.) Less prolific from that point onward, Usher returned to the Top Ten in the mid-2010s with Hard II Love (2016), teamed with <a href="spotify:artist:1mceaxtjWdEmwoDVAlkC41">Zaytoven</a> for the comparatively low-profile "A" (2018), and not until the mid-2020s offered his cosmopolitan ninth album, Coming Home (2024), issued after he completed a 100-show Las Vegas residency. Born Usher Terry Raymond IV in Dallas, Usher spent much of his childhood in Chattanooga, and eventually moved to Atlanta for the sake of his budding music career. After a LaFace A&R representative spotted him on Star Search, his career took off. The 14-year-old auditioned for LaFace co-founder <a href="spotify:artist:3qEzkkBwK5vKVggMiZYOWa">L.A. Reid</a>, who signed the gospel choir boy to a recording contract. He made his recorded debut in 1993 on the Poetic Justice soundtrack with "Call Me a Mack," a single that reached number 56 on Billboard's R&B/hip-hop chart. The following year, Usher released his debut album of the same name, which featured co-executive producer Sean "Puffy" Combs. The first single, "Think of You," gained Usher wide recognition and reached gold status. From that initial exposure, Usher was approached to do other projects. In 1995, he recorded a national holiday jingle for Coca-Cola. He also joined several top male R&B vocalists to form Black Men United for the single "You Will Know," featured on the Jason's Lyric soundtrack. He also teamed with teen singing sensation <a href="spotify:artist:6nzxy2wXs6tLgzEtqOkEi2">Monica</a> for a remake of <a href="spotify:artist:0nVQLK3LSM9SFP5xp64D7a">Latimore</a>'s "Let's Straighten It Out." After graduating from high school, Usher released his sophomore album, My Way, in 1997. In an attempt to display his maturity and songwriting abilities, he co-wrote six of the nine songs and enlisted the help of producers <a href="spotify:artist:6nfYGe7IIuuP5bMY1jkJP6">Jermaine Dupri</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3aVoqlJOYx31lH1gibGDt3">Babyface</a>, and, again, Combs. The album's first single, "You Make Me Wanna," reestablished Usher as one of R&B's hottest artists, and also made him a crossover sensation. It topped Billboard's R&B chart for 11 weeks, hit number two on the Hot 100, and eventually went double platinum. Both of the follow-up singles, "Nice & Slow" and "My Way," also went platinum; the former stayed at number one on the R&B chart for eight weeks and became his first number one pop single. In the meantime, Usher launched an acting career, appearing in the 1998 horror spoof The Faculty and the 1999 urban high-school drama Light It Up. To tide fans over until his next studio release, Usher issued a concert recording titled simply Live in 1999. He returned on the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Arista%22">Arista</a> label with his third proper album, 8701, in 2001, and progressed from a teen pop star to a sultry R&B singer. "U Remind Me" and "U Got It Bad" topped the Hot 100 and R&B/hip-hop charts, while the latter and "U Don't Have to Call" (merely number three pop, number two R&B/hip-hop) won the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in consecutive years. In 2004, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Arista%22">Arista</a> released the single "Yeah!" Produced by <a href="spotify:artist:7sfl4Xt5KmfyDs2T3SVSMK">Lil Jon</a> and guesting <a href="spotify:artist:3ipn9JLAPI5GUEo4y4jcoi">Ludacris</a>, the addictive, lightly crunk cut fast became a club favorite, and then it went global -- a number one pop hit in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and several other territories. Confessions, the parent album, was Usher's most mature and diverse work. It won a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album, while "Yeah!" took home the award for Best Rapped/Sung Collaboration, and the <a href="spotify:artist:3DiDSECUqqY1AuBP8qtaIa">Alicia Keys</a> duet "My Boo" won Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Usher starred in 2005's In the Mix and returned in 2008 with Here I Stand, an album that topped the Billboard 200 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts but inevitably failed to do as well as what preceded it. Raymond v Raymond, inspired in part by the end of Usher's marriage, was released in 2010 as three of its songs were climbing the charts. Its buzz single, "Papers," had already topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. An EP titled Versus followed later in the year. At the Grammy ceremony the following February, Raymond v Raymond won in the category of Best Contemporary R&B Album, and "There Goes My Baby" won for Best R&B Male Vocal Performance. Led by yet another Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart-topper, "Climax" (co-produced by <a href="spotify:artist:5fMUXHkw8R8eOP2RNVYEZX">Diplo</a>), Looking 4 Myself was issued in 2012, driven by the Top Ten single "Scream," and it became Usher's fourth number one album. "Climax" made Usher an eight-time Grammy winner when it took the award for Best R&B Performance. In 2013, Usher began a stint as a coach for the NBC talent show The Voice. His contestant, <a href="spotify:artist:1rVN2nOV74weTglog9V0gk">Josh Kaufman</a>, won season six of the competition in 2014. Meanwhile, Usher released singles throughout the year, including "Good Kisser," "She Came to Give It to You," and "I Don't Mind," the last of which -- featuring <a href="spotify:artist:5gCRApTajqwbnHHPbr2Fpi">Juicy J</a> -- became his 13th number one R&B/hip-hop smash. In 2016, Usher starred as Sugar Ray Leonard in the movie Hands of Stone. The song "Champions" (with <a href="spotify:artist:5BwMgvRwlq61SmknvsVIQj">Ruben Blades</a>) was included on the film's soundtrack. It became one of four singles -- along with "Missin' U," "Crash," and "No Limit" featuring <a href="spotify:artist:50co4Is1HCEo8bhOyUWKpn">Young Thug</a> -- released in preparation for his eighth album, Hard II Love, which entered the Top Five of the Billboard 200 and R&B/hip-hop charts that September. In October 2018, on the weekend of his 40th birthday, Usher made a surprise return with "A," a brief album produced by "Papers" collaborator <a href="spotify:artist:1mceaxtjWdEmwoDVAlkC41">Zaytoven</a> with features from <a href="spotify:artist:2hlmm7s2ICUX0LVIhVFlZQ">Gunna</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:1RyvyyTE3xzB2ZywiAwp0i">Future</a>. It peaked at number 31 on the Billboard 200. In 2019, he issued the track "LaLaLa" with <a href="spotify:artist:6wMr4zKPrrR0UVz08WtUWc">Black Coffee</a> and guested on <a href="spotify:artist:57LYzLEk2LcFghVwuWbcuS">Summer Walker</a>'s single "Come Thru" (from her album Over It) while he worked on a new album. He released the single "Don't Waste My Time," featuring <a href="spotify:artist:7HkdQ0gt53LP4zmHsL0nap">Ella Mai</a>, at the end of the year. Four more singles in 2020 included the charting "Bad Habits." Featured on tracks by <a href="spotify:artist:1uNFoZAHBGtllmzznpCI3s">Justin Bieber</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:37hAfseJWi0G3Scife12Il">City Girls</a> over the next couple years, Usher didn't headline again until 2023, when he increased anticipation for his ninth album with a series of tracks highlighted by "Good Good," a Top 40 collaboration with <a href="spotify:artist:57LYzLEk2LcFghVwuWbcuS">Walker</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:1URnnhqYAYcrqrcwql10ft">21 Savage</a>. Usher completed a year-and-a-half residency in Las Vegas that December, and the following February, two days before his halftime performance at Super Bowl LVIII, released Coming Home. In addition to "Good Good" and final prelude "Ruin" (featuring <a href="spotify:artist:5Jv1MsZBh0sqokFq7pU8Xg">Pheelz</a>), Usher's ninth album contained his and <a href="spotify:artist:3Y7RZ31TRPVadSFVy1o8os">H.E.R.</a>'s duet for the 2023 version of The Color Purple ("Risk It All") and additional collaborations with <a href="spotify:artist:3wcj11K77LjEY1PkEazffa">Burna Boy</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3MdXrJWsbVzdn6fe5JYkSQ">Latto</a>. ~ Lynda Lane & Andy Kellman, Rovi

Mario

Mario

R&B singer/songwriter, producer, and actor Mario debuted in the early 2000s as a smooth R&B-dance vocalist similar to Usher and Ne-Yo. Known for 2004's chart-topping "Let Me Love You" from his platinum-certified sophomore effort, Turning Point, he went on to issue a pair of follow-ups before a decade-long absence. During that time, he continued to release stand-alone singles, but wouldn't return until 2018 with his fifth album, Dancing Shadows. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Mario Dewar Barrett developed his natural talent while singing along with his mom using a karaoke machine at home. Discovered at the age of 11 in a local talent show, he later traveled to New York City to establish a career and scored a contract with Clive Davis' J label. Following his contribution to the Dr. Doolittle 2 soundtrack and a captivating performance of Stevie Wonder's "You and I" at Davis' Grammy party in February 2002, the newcomer was primed for stardom. At the age of 15, Mario debuted with the release of "Just a Friend 2002," produced by Warryn Campbell and based on rapper Biz Markie's hit "Just a Friend." His self-titled album followed in July, featuring contributions by Grammy-winning Alicia Keys. Turning Point, released in 2004, went to number two on the R&B album chart, hoisted by the ubiquitous smash "Let Me Love You," a single that also helped launch the career of Ne-Yo, the song's writer. The December 2007 release of Mario's third album, Go, was preceded by several delays and projected release dates; its initial date was November of the previous year. The album featured productions from Polow da Don, Timbaland, Stargate, the Neptunes, the Underdogs, and Akon. Go's last song, "Do Right," dealt with his relationship with his mother, a heroin addict. Just prior to its release, MTV aired I Won't Love You to Death: The Story of Mario and His Mom, a program documenting the pair's struggle. Go peaked at number four on the R&B chart, just prior to Mario's appearance on the sixth season of Dancing with the Stars. D.N.A., Mario's fourth album, was released in October 2009, with two of its songs, "Break Up" and "Thinkin' About You," already on the singles charts. In the years that followed, a series of setbacks kept Mario from issuing a new album, including scrapped recordings and label shakeups. He managed to release a handful of stand-alone singles, reappearing in 2011 with "My Bed" and "The Walls" and in 2013 with "Somebody Else" featuring Nicki Minaj and "Fatal Distraction." Additional singles continued to slowly trickle out until 2018, when Mario finally returned with his fifth official full-length, Dancing Shadows (New Citizen/Empire). The album included the singles "Drowning" and "Goes Like That." ~ Andy Kellman & Neil Z. Yeung

Chris Brown

Chris Brown

Chris Brown arrived in the mid-2000s as a squeaky-clean teen R&B artist with "Run It!," the first debut single by a male artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 in over a decade. While there was nowhere to go but down, at least in terms of chart positions, the singer and occasional rapper was only getting started, despite the swift decline of his wholesome image. By the end of the decade, he was one of the biggest active pop stars, with a clutch of Top Ten singles and platinum albums to his credit, along with constant comparisons to a young Michael Jackson and several acting roles on the side. His momentum slowed little despite pleading guilty to assaulting girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. His commercial clout remained, as his successive albums into the next decade topped the Billboard all-genre and R&B charts. Brown came from a small Virginia town called Tappahannock. Like a lot of kids born in the mid- to late '80s, he was initially into his parents' favorite music but eventually fell under the spell of hip-hop. Around the time he reached puberty, he discovered his singing ability and switched his focus away from MC'ing. A move to New York led to being discovered by Tina Davis, a Def Jam A&R executive who became the singer's manager shortly after losing her position in the Sony-BMG merger. The Jive label, due in part to its track record with younger artists who had established longevity (like Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake), won the bidding war for Brown and lined up several production and songwriting heavyweights, including Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Dre & Vidal, Sean Garrett, and Storch, for his self-titled first album. An immediate Top Ten hit when it was released in 2005, Chris Brown not only featured the number one "Run It!" but two other Top Ten singles in "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)" and "Say Goodbye." Exclusive, released in 2007 and a bit of a departure from the squeaky-clean image he displayed throughout his debut, was even more successful, featuring the number one single "Kiss Kiss" and two other Top Five hits. Yet another Top Five hit came with "No Air," a duet with Jordin Sparks that appeared on Sparks' own self-titled album. In March 2009, Brown was charged with felonious assault of Rihanna -- an altercation that had prevented his then-girlfriend from taking the stage at the Grammy Awards. Brown was scheduled to perform as well, but he did not appear and maintained a low profile for several months. A fairly substantial backlash resulted in Brown's songs being pulled from rotation on several radio stations. Ultimately, however, it had little bearing on the progress of his music and acting careers; the week prior to the December release of his third album, Graffiti, the single "I Can Transform Ya" was well on its way to reaching the Top 20 of the Hot 100, and his acting roles -- which had already included spots in Stomp the Yard and a recurring role on The O.C. -- hadn't shown any sign of drying up. Graffiti fell considerably short of gold-selling status, but it was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Contemporary R&B Album, and the Tank collaboration, "Take My Time," was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Weeks after the 2011 Grammy Awards ceremony, Brown released his fourth album, F.A.M.E., which already had four singles on the charts. That album topped the Billboard 200 and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop charts, and it also took the 2012 Grammy for Best R&B Album. During the ceremony, he performed a medley of "Beautiful People" (off F.A.M.E.) and "Turn Up the Music," the latter of which previewed Fortune, his fifth album, released in May 2012 and an immediate chart-topper in the U.S. Brown toured Asia, Europe, and Africa during the rest of the year, and prepped his sixth album. A sequence of several singles that began with "Fine China" preceded X, released in September 2014, two weeks after he pleaded guilty to simple assault (for an altercation with a man that had occurred the previous October). Less inspired by European dance-pop and more R&B-oriented than his previous release, the album included contributions from Lil Wayne, R. Kelly, Usher, Rick Ross, and Brandy, among many others. Four of its singles peaked within the R&B Top 10. Only five months after the release of X, Brown and Tyga, who had previously teamed up for one of those singles -- "Loyal," as well as the earlier "Deuces" -- teamed up for Fan of a Fan: The Album. By the end of 2015, Brown released Royalty, his seventh proper album, which was propped up by the Top 20 pop hit "Back to Sleep." The following year, Brown issued singles such as "Grass Ain't Greener" and "Party" as preludes to the 45-track Heartbreak on a Full Moon, released in October 2017. The following year, Brown appeared on a handful of high-profile collaborative singles including "Stranger Things" with Joyner Lucas, "Freaky Friday" with Lil Dicky, and "Overdose" with Agnez Mo. He returned to his solo work with 2019's "Undecided." ~ Andy Kellman

Ne‐Yo

Ne‐Yo

One of the most acclaimed R&B artists of the 2000s, Ne-Yo entered the mainstream as a songwriter in 2004 with Mario's "Let Me Love You," a number one pop hit. By the time Billboard determined that the romantic ballad was the eighth most successful single of its decade, Ne-Yo had racked up a career's worth of accomplishments as a composer and recording artist. He had platinum certifications for In My Own Words (2006), Because of You (2007), and Year of the Gentleman (2008), the second of which won a Grammy award in the category of Best Contemporary R&B Album. Seven of his singles, as well as five on which he appeared as a featured artist, peaked within the Top Ten of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" (2006) and Rihanna's "Take a Bow" (2008), two of the many songs he wrote for other artists, were smash hits as well. Although he hasn't been as prolific in the 2010s -- he has worked extensively behind the scenes as a Motown executive, amid a slew of acting and televised talent-competition gigs -- he has released new albums every two or three years, all the while continuing to add a high level of sophistication to pop-oriented R&B, inspired as ever by the likes of Michael Jackson and Babyface. Born Shaffer Smith in Camden, Arkansas and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ne-Yo broke into the music industry as a songwriter, though he had a false start with a short-lived group called Envy. Prior to exiting his teenage years, he penned material for Youngstown. Shortly thereafter, he co-wrote "That Girl" for Marques Houston and "I'm Sorry" for Christina Milian; the former composition had been intended for Smith's own debut album, which was recorded for Columbia but never released. In late 2004, he became known throughout the industry as the co-writer of Mario's "Let Me Love You," one of the most-played songs on urban radio stations across the U.S. Ne-Yo subsequently signed a solo deal with Def Jam. In My Own Words came out in February 2006 and reached the top of the Billboard 200 and R&B/Hip-Hop album charts, supported by the number one hit "So Sick" -- one of his many collaborations with Norwegian production duo Stargate. The same year, he appeared on Remy Ma's There's Something About Remy and Ghostface Killah's Fishscale, and he had a hand in writing a pair of Top Ten hits: Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" and Rihanna's "Unfaithful." Because of You, his second album, followed in May 2007. It topped the Billboard 200 and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, with its upbeat title track topping out at number two on the Hot 100. A Grammy in the category of Best Contemporary R&B Album followed early the next year. After another series of songwriting triumphs, including Rihanna's "Take a Bow" and Jennifer Hudson's "Spotlight," Ne-Yo released his third album, Year of the Gentleman, in September 2008. Propelled by the hits "Closer," the Grammy-winning "Miss Independent," and "Mad," the set eventually went platinum, which made Ne-Yo three for three in that regard. Ne-Yo then went relatively quiet for a brief period but returned in 2010 with Libra Scale, an album inspired by science fiction and comic books, as well as Stevie Wonder's and Michael Jackson's most ambitious recordings. It debuted in the Top Ten. He maintained his mainstream presence as a featured artist on Pitbull's "Give Me Everything," Young Jeezy's "Leave You Alone," and Calvin Harris' Grammy-nominated "Let's Go," among a handful of minor hits. In November 2012, after he signed to Motown and was named the label's Senior Vice President of A&R, he released R.E.D. ("Realizing Every Dream"). The album found him continuing to embrace dance-pop while maintaining his connection to R&B. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200. The singer spent much of 2013 collaborating with other artists, including Akon, David Guetta, Cher Lloyd, and Celine Dion. The build-up to Non-Fiction, Ne-Yo's sixth studio album, started during the first half of 2014 with the release of "Money Can't Buy," a single featuring Jeezy that charted outside the Top 40 of the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Additional collaborative singles with Juicy J (the platinum hit "She Knows") and Pitbull ("Time of Our Lives") followed shortly thereafter. The parent album arrived in January 2015 with a Top Ten chart showing. Later in the year, he added to a previously short list of minor acting credits with appearances in Sharknado 3 and on Empire, and for a live televised stage production of The Wiz, he played Tin-Man. Featured collaborations with the likes of Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike ("Higher Place"), Yunel and J Alvarez ("Sin Miedo"), and T-Pain ("Marry You") arrived as Ne-Yo semi-regularly made television appearances as a judge on programs such as America's Got Talent and World of Dance. In mid-2017, he began releasing singles in anticipation of his seventh album, including the tropical-flavored "Push Back," a collaboration with Stargate, Stefflon Don, and Bebe Rexha, issued the following March. Parent release Good Man arrived three months later. ~ Andy Kellman

PARTYNEXTDOOR

PARTYNEXTDOOR

R e s e n t m e n t

Drake

Drake

Canadian rapper and vocalist Drake has retained a bigger-than-life commercial presence shortly after he hit the scene in 2006, whether with his own chart-topping releases or with a long string of guest appearances on hits by the likes of <a href="spotify:artist:55Aa2cqylxrFIXC767Z865">Lil Wayne</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5pKCCKE2ajJHZ9KAiaK11H">Rihanna</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:13ubrt8QOOCPljQ2FL1Kca">A$AP Rocky</a>. Thanks to his introspective rap style, his sensitive R&B crooning, and his golden touch with songwriting, each one of his albums -- from 2011's Take Care to 2018's trap-influenced Scorpion -- topped charts worldwide, and singles like the Grammy-winning "Hotline Bling" and many of his mixtapes did too. As his star rose, he helped others along, sponsoring <a href="spotify:artist:1Xyo4u8uXC1ZmMpatF05PJ">the Weeknd</a>'s early work, starting the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22OVO+Sound%22">OVO Sound</a> label, and giving features on his records to up-and-coming acts. By the second decade of his career, Drake's constant chart domination, his Grammy wins and nominations, and his meme-worthy cultural presence made him one of the world's most popular musicians, and the release of albums like 2022's Honestly, Nevermind and 2023's For All the Dogs became cultural events. Initially known for his role as Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi: The Next Generation, the Toronto-born Aubrey Drake Graham stepped out as a rapper and singer with pop appeal in 2006, when he initiated a series of mixtapes. A year later, despite being unsigned, he scored major exposure when his cocky and laid-back track, "Replacement Girl" featuring <a href="spotify:artist:2iojnBLj0qIMiKPvVhLnsH">Trey Songz</a>, was featured on BET's 106 & Park program as its "Joint of the Day." He raised his profile throughout the next several months by popping up on countless mixtapes and remixes, and as rumors swirled about contract offers from labels, he gradually became one of the most talked-about artists in the industry. It did not hurt that he had support from the likes of <a href="spotify:artist:5K4W6rqBFWDnAN6FQUkS6x">Kanye West</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3nFkdlSjzX9mRTtwJOzDYB">Jay-Z</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:55Aa2cqylxrFIXC767Z865">Lil Wayne</a>. By the end of June 2009, "Best I Ever Had," a promotional single, had climbed to number two on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. After a fierce bidding war, Drake signed with Universal Motown in late summer and released an EP, So Far Gone, made up of songs from his popular mixtape of the same title. It peaked at number six on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and won a 2010 Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year. Thank Me Later, a full-length featuring collaborations with the <a href="spotify:artist:2qk9voo8llSGYcZ6xrBzKx">Kings of Leon</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1W3FSF1BLpY3hlVIgvenLz">the-Dream</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3nFkdlSjzX9mRTtwJOzDYB">Jay-Z</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5K4W6rqBFWDnAN6FQUkS6x">Kanye West</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:55Aa2cqylxrFIXC767Z865">Lil Wayne</a>, was issued through <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Young+Money%22">Young Money</a> in June 2010. It debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Still, the artist felt his debut was rushed, so its follow-up arrived in November 2011 with the title Take Care, referencing the increased time and effort put into the album's creation. Receiving critical acclaim, Grammy Awards, and the number one slot on the U.S. Billboard 200, Take Care cemented Drake's place as one of Canada's biggest exports. While on tour in 2012, Drake announced that he had started work on what would be his third studio album; Nothing Was the Same was released the following September. It spawned many singles, topped charts around the world, was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, and was nominated for a Best Rap Album Grammy Award. Soon after the album's release, Drake hit the road on an extended tour, took part in some collaborations, and released a few singles, including the Grammy-nominated "0 to 100/The Catch Up." His next release was planned as a free mixtape before <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Cash+Money%22">Cash Money</a> decided they would rather charge for it. The decidedly downbeat If You're Reading This It's Too Late was released in February 2015 and debuted at number one, while all 17 of its songs entered the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In late summer 2015, Drake released a trio of new tracks on his SoundCloud page. One of them, the <a href="spotify:artist:7JLwBH0X2G8tgHceqvOu5B">Timmy Thomas</a>-sampling "Hotline Bling," became a Top Five pop hit in Canada and the U.S. and something of a cultural phenomenon. Later that year, Drake hit the studio with <a href="spotify:artist:1RyvyyTE3xzB2ZywiAwp0i">Future</a> for a six-day session that yielded the mixtape What a Time to Be Alive. Upon the album's September release, it became Drake's second recording of the year to debut at number one. After issuing three singles in the beginning months of 2016, his fourth album, Views, arrived in April and debuted at number one. It revolved lyrically around his hometown of Toronto and featured production by longtime cohorts <a href="spotify:artist:4vQEj0zCIa6CvDruKZCLNk">Noah "40" Shebib</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:2RQnTQM6OQd8dTUDF7UsT7">Boi-1da</a>, among others. Late that year, Drake issued another trio of singles, including the chart-topping "Fake Love." They preceded the playlist More Life, released the following March with appearances from <a href="spotify:artist:5K4W6rqBFWDnAN6FQUkS6x">Kanye West</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0VRj0yCOv2FXJNP47XQnx5">Quavo</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0Y5tJX1MQlPlqiwlOH1tJY">Travis Scott</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:50co4Is1HCEo8bhOyUWKpn">Young Thug</a>. The release became his seventh consecutive chart-topping album. At the start of 2018, Drake issued the two-song EP Scary Hours. Both "Diplomatic Immunity" and "God's Plan" hit the Top Ten, the latter becoming his second solo chart-topper. It served as a precursor to his fifth album, the two-disc set Scorpion, which was broken into a rap side and an R&B side that featured the hit single "Nice for What." It was released in June and instantly went platinum, while also breaking records for most streams in a single day. At the 61st Grammy Awards, Drake took home the prize for Best Rap Song for "God's Plan." In 2019, Drake raided the vaults for two archival releases: an official streaming release of the So Far Gone mixtape, and the Billboard 200-topping Care Package, which rounded up tracks that were leaked, discarded, or used as teasers, dating back to the Take Care era. Drake collected two Grammy nominations for the 2020 ceremonies, one for Best Rap Song with his <a href="spotify:artist:1sBkRIssrMs1AbVkOJbc7a">Rick Ross</a> collaboration "Gold Roses" and another for Best R&B Song with his <a href="spotify:artist:7bXgB6jMjp9ATFy66eO08Z">Chris Brown</a>-assisted "No Guidance." That same year, he released another mixtape made up of demos and singles titled Dark Lane Demo Tapes. One of the tracks was "Toosie Slide," his third song to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making him the first male artist to accomplish that feat. Drake followed up with a slew of guest spots on songs by <a href="spotify:artist:0QHgL1lAIqAw0HtD7YldmP">DJ Khaled</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2EMAnMvWE2eb56ToJVfCWs">Bryson Tiller</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:55Aa2cqylxrFIXC767Z865">Lil Wayne</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:0p4ViyfJUTW0IT4SCBLexf">Drakeo the Ruler</a>, then issued the "Laugh Now Cry Later" single in late 2020. The <a href="spotify:artist:3hcs9uc56yIGFCSy9leWe7">Lil Durk</a>-featured track was touted as the first single from Certified Lover Boy, Drake's soon-to-be-released sixth official album. It didn't materialize as quickly as planned due to his knee surgery and recovery that precluded any work. Instead, an EP titled Scary Hours 2 was issued in early 2021, and Drake appeared on songs by <a href="spotify:artist:6oMuImdp5ZcFhWP0ESe6mG">Migos</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6loSmkIxQDRyetkJFNJHBr">Smiley</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0hCNtLu0JehylgoiP8L4Gh">Nicki Minaj</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:6Xgp2XMz1fhVYe7i6yNAax">Trippie Redd</a>. Sporting a controversial Damien Hirst-designed cover, the trap-inspired CLB was finally released that September and featured appearances by a who's who of the rap scene past and present including <a href="spotify:artist:1sBkRIssrMs1AbVkOJbc7a">Rick Ross</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3nFkdlSjzX9mRTtwJOzDYB">Jay-Z</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:50co4Is1HCEo8bhOyUWKpn">Young Thug</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1RyvyyTE3xzB2ZywiAwp0i">Future</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5f7VJjfbwm532GiveGC0ZK">Lil Baby</a>, and many more. Like the five previous records, it topped the album charts in Canada and the U.S. Drake stayed busy throughout 2022, appearing as a guest on albums by <a href="spotify:artist:2hlmm7s2ICUX0LVIhVFlZQ">Gunna</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:1RyvyyTE3xzB2ZywiAwp0i">Future</a>, collaborating with <a href="spotify:artist:0QHgL1lAIqAw0HtD7YldmP">DJ Khaled</a>, and signing a deal with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Universal%22">Universal</a> for one of the largest contracts in music business history. It took until June of that year for Drake to release any music under his own name, and when he did it was the house music-inspired Honestly, Nevermind. Though the album featured a large number of producers, most prominently <a href="spotify:artist:4vQEj0zCIa6CvDruKZCLNk">Noah "40" Shebib</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6wMr4zKPrrR0UVz08WtUWc">Black Coffee</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:7CCjtD0hCK005Bvg2WG1a7">Carnage</a>, the only other rapper to appear was <a href="spotify:artist:1URnnhqYAYcrqrcwql10ft">21 Savage</a>. The collaboration with the latter was built out into a full-length album titled Her Loss. Released in late 2022, the record relied on trap beats, melancholy synth washes, and a surprising number of disses. It topped both the Canadian Albums and Billboard 200 charts. In April 2023, he reached number two on the Hot 100 with "Search & Rescue," a track that sampled Kim Kardashian. After branching out into poetry with his first book, Titles Ruin Everything, in July, Drake returned with his eighth album, For All the Dogs. It featured guests ranging from <a href="spotify:artist:6l3HvQ5sa6mXTsMTB19rO5">J. Cole</a> to <a href="spotify:artist:0fGcIStdT1OpFFhOC7Wp36">Teezo Touchdown</a>, and delivered a set of aggressive and melancholy trap songs. It was issued on October 6, the same day he announced a year-long sabbatical from music to focus on health issues. ~ Tim Sendra, Rovi

Omar Courtz

Omar Courtz

Omar Courtz ha sido constante y acertado en la composición y producción de sus temas. Hemos sido testigo de la evolución del intérprete, acercándose a un mercado internacional, ofreciéndole a su audiencia creatividad y melodías innovadoras, solidificando su carrera y talento como intérprete y compositor. Courtz sigue dejando su huella en la industria de la música latina, demostrando que es una fuerza innegable que hay que tener en cuenta. Sus primeros éxitos “En Su Nota” y “Los Dueños De La Calle” acumularon millones de reproducciones y lo posicionaron en las listas más populares como: Baila Reggaeton, New Urbano, y Urbano Rising, entre otras. Recientemente, la estrella se presentó en los Latin American Music Awards 2023 junto con Pitbull, también fue nominado a Premios Tu Música Urbano 2023 en la categoría “Top Artista Nuevo Masculino”. En mayo 2023, también fue reconocido por los editores de Billboard Latin como uno de los artistas de tener en la mira. Actualmente, OUSI (como lo llaman sus fanáticos) se encuentra trabajando en lo que será su primer álbum de estudio, bajo su sello discográfico, Mr. 305 Records. Omar Courtz ha establecido su impacto en el género gracias a éxitos como "Blessings", "Amandita" con Young Miko, "Baby Schai" y "Paola", entre muchos otros, y ya ha colaborado con figuras como: Dalex, Darell, El Alfa, Farruko, Justin Quiles, Lenny Tavarez, Miky Woodz, Natti Natasha, Pitbull, por nombrar algunos.

Anuel AA

Artist

Rauw Alejandro

Rauw Alejandro

One of the leading Puerto Rican pop stars of his generation, singer, and songwriter Rauw Alejandro is known for his smooth tenor singing voice and genre-crossing reggaeton style that mixes Latin pop, R&B, hip-hop, and throwback sounds. After releasing his acclaimed debut mixtape, Punto de Equilibrio, in late 2016, he became a featured collaborator alongside Ozuna, Lunay, and Lyanno on "Luz Apaga," and with Lyanno, Alex Rose, Cazzu, and Lenny Tavárez on "Toda Remix." These and other collaborations resulted in Alejandro being nominated in four categories for Puerto Rico's Tu Musica Urban Awards in 2019. They also paved the way for his debut studio album, 2020's Afrodisíaco, which hit number two on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart. In June 2021, Alejandro topped the Latin charts with Vice Versa, which incorporated electro, drum'n'bass, neo-disco, and mainstream pop into his brand of reggaeton. Following the 2022 EP Trap Cake, Vol. 2., Alejandro again reached the Top Ten of the Latin charts with his third full-length, Saturno. RR, a collaboration with Rosalía, appeared in 2023 ahead of its companion album, Playa Saturno.Born Raúl Alejandro Ocasio Ruiz, he was raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. When he was a child, his family moved (temporarily) to the United States before returning to the island. His first passion was soccer, a sport he practiced seriously while studying at the Maria Auxiliadora School. Music was another hobby, but he never considered it as a career until his football playing was cut short by an injury during adolescence. As therapy to assuage his disappointment, he applied himself to music and began posting tracks to SoundCloud. Given his parents' love of music (his dad is a guitar player), he was influenced early on by Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, and later by Ricky Martin, Daddy Yankee, and Chris Brown. As he learned to sing and write songs, he put his talent for dancing to work on local stages and in videos, meeting numerous musicians, producers, and dancers. He quickly developed a reputation as a triple-threat talent. Alejandro was signed to the Under Music Group label, which nurtured his writing and singing talent. The label began issuing his singles in June 2016, including "No Me Siento Igual" (featuring Joyce Santana) and "Días Así," and "Se Tú" (featuring Lyanno and Sousa). Alejandro's debut mixtape, Punto de Equilibrio, appeared at the end of the year, and he toured Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the Southeastern United States. He was prolific and issued 14 singles and videos between 2016 and late 2017, not including guest appearances. The singer drew attention from trade and fan magazines across the Latin music spectrum, as well as Anglo industry weeklies. Between his own singles -- the streaming chart hits "Mi Llamada" (featuring Lyanno, Alex Rose, and Lenny Tavárez), "T.T.I.," and "Dale" (featuring Sousa and Mr. Naisgai) -- and his guest spots with Rafa Pabön ("Tarde") and Alex Rose ("Toda"), he appeared on no less than seven singles. He was featured on Ozuna's "Luz Apaga," which peaked at 26 on the Hot Latin Songs chart and even spent a week at number three on the Latin Digital Song Sales. Alejandro kicked off 2019 with the collaborations "Miénteme (Remix)" with Sousa, Cazzu, Lyanno, and Álvaro Díaz, followed by "Es Normal" with Javiielo, Lunay, Lyanno, and Sousa. He also delivered an EP, Trap Cake, Vol. 1, as well as the non-album duet hit "Que Le Dé" with Nicky Jam, which placed in the Top Ten on almost all the Latin streaming charts. In February he appeared on the club hit "Mírame" with Nio García and Lenny Tavárez. Alejandro toured Latin America and the United States in the winter and spring, and later that fall released the single "Fantasias," which saw him collaborating with Puerto Rican singer and songwriter Farruko. The non-album track "Algo Mágico" arrived in July 2020. That summer, he also issued the live album Concierto Virtual en Tiempos de COVID-19 Desde el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, which peaked at number ten on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. In November 2020, he released his Grammy-nominated debut studio album, Afrodisíaco, which included guest appearances by J Balvin, Sech, Anuel AA, and others. In February 2021, Alejandro appeared as Selena Gomez's duet partner on the Hot 100 hit "Baila Conmigo," which also topped the Hot Latin Songs chart. In June he released Vice Versa. Refusing to be pigeonholed, he worked with a slew of producers including Tainy and Mr. Naisgai (Luis J. Gonzalez) on a collection of originals that juxtaposed his fluid brand of urbano reggaeton with neo-disco, electro, drum'n'bass, funky breaks, and more, to jarring effect. The set entered the Top 200 at number 17 and the Top Latin Album charts at number one a week after its release. Its single "Todo de Ti" spent five weeks in the Hot 100. It also spawned the Top Five Latin hit "Desesperados" with Chencho Corleone. The singer's second EP, Trap Cake, Vol. 2, appeared in February 2022, hitting number six on the Latin chart. In November 2022, Alejandro issued the 18-track full-length Saturno. Co-produced under the alias El Zorro with longtime friend Kenobi and Mr. Naisgai, and in select places, major influences El Playero and Tainy, the set juxtaposed reggaeton and trap with funk, throwback hip-hop, pop, and retro new wave. Among his collaborators on the date were Baby Rasta, El Playero, and Arcángel. The release entered the Billboard 200 at number 25, and landed at number two on the Top Latin Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums charts. It also spawned several Top 30 Latin singles, including "Lejos del Cielo" and "Panties y Brasieres" (with Daddy Yankee). RR, a collaborative EP with Rosalía, arrived in March 2023 (on the heels of the couple's engagement) and featured the Top Ten Latin hit "Beso." He then paired with Bizarrap for the song "Rauw Alejandro: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 56" as well as "Baby Hello." The latter single heralded the singer's Saturno spin-off album, Playa Saturno, which reached number four on the Top Latin Albums chart and cracked the Top 30 of the Billboard 200. Alejandro again hit the upper echelon of the Latin songs chart with 2024's "Santa," with Rvssian and Ayra Starr. ~ Thom Jurek & Matt Collar

Jay Wheeler

Jay Wheeler

José Ángel López Martínez, conocido artísticamente como “Jay Wheeler”, nació en Puerto Rico el 25 de abril, 1994. Es cantante del género urbano. En el 2016 publicó un “freestyle” y realizó un cover de “Love Yourself” (Justin Bieber) logrando 1 millón de vistas. En 2018 con Dynamic Records lanzó su primer sencillo y video musical “Por tu Culpa”. Su estilo romántico y su melodiosa voz provoca el asombro entre sus fanáticos. En 2019 estrenó “Mensaje de Voz” y cautivó a su público por lo emotivo del tema. En verano 2019 contaba con miles de seguidores y un video viral. Gracias a eso Dj Nelson lo vio y quiso conocerlo. Luego surge la sociedad entre Dynamic Records y Flow Music. Comenzaron con los sencillos “Te soñé” y “Otra noche más”. En noviembre del 2019 estrenó su primer álbum Platónico (13 canciones) entre ellas “Otra Noche Más Remix” ft. <a href="spotify:artist:329e4yvIujISKGKz1BZZbO" data-name="Farruko">Farruko</a> . En febrero 2020 lanzó el primer concierto digital urbano “Platónico Unplugged” una versión acústica/live de su primer disco. En junio 2020 estrenó su segundo álbum “Platónicos” que cuenta con la participación de varios artistas como: Dalex, Brytiago, Feid, Nio García, Miky Woodz, Myke Towers, Alex Rose y Casper Mágico. Ha participado en colaboraciones con: Cauty, Lenny Tavarez, Noriel, Alex Rose, Bryant Myers, D Ozi y Larry Over. Hizo un junte con Onell Díaz para la prevención del suicidio. Jay Wheeler es un fenómeno importante dentro la música su talento está llegando a millones que lo convierten en “La Voz Favorita”.

Ozuna

Ozuna

Jan Carlos Ozuna Rosado, professionally known as Ozuna, is a reggaeton singer and songwriter from Puerto Rico. His aim is to write positive, uplifting songs that encourage people to work toward their dreams, and he avoids using profanity out of respect for his daughter. A songwriter since the age of 12, he signed a record contract in 2014 and began posting songs to YouTube. By 2015, songs such as "Si Tu Marido No Te Quiere" had become radio hits across Latin America, and he'd performed concerts in numerous countries. In March of 2016, he released a remix of his song "No Quiere Enamorarse," which featured superstar Daddy Yankee; the song immediately racked up millions of YouTube views. In 2017, he delivered his full-length debut album, Odisea, which featured guest appearances by De La Ghetto, Anuel AA, J Balvin, and others. Included on the album were the singles "Tell Him That You Love Him," "Your Photo," and "A Flower." In September, the album peaked at number one on the Top Latin albums chart. ~ Paul Simpson

Enrique Iglesias

Enrique Iglesias

https://www.enriqueiglesias.com/tour/ 
 The multi-platinum pop icon, Enrique Iglesias is a global superstar recognized for his musical versatility across pop and urban genres in Spanish and English. He has sold more than 180 million albums worldwide, released 11 studio albums and 3 greatest hits compilations. He has headlined 10 sold-out world tours and performed in front of 10+ million fans. He’s undeniably the biggest Latin recording artist in music history achieving 154 #1 single’s across Billboard charts with a total of 27 #1 singles on the Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart. He currently holds the record for most number ones in the chart’s history. Enrique Iglesias is known as pop music’s most influential singer/songwriters of our time with the highest success in English/Spanish crossover. He has collaborated with megastars such as Pitbull, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Juan Luis Guerra, Marco Antonio Solis and more. Enrique has been celebrated with countless awards as a singer and songwriter that include multiple GRAMMYs, Billboard Awards, ASCAP and more. He remains as one of the most streamed and viewed artists with over 20 billion views on YouTube and 16 billion audio streams. For more information visit: www.enriqueiglesias.com.

Gente de Zona

Gente de Zona

A lo largo de una década y media de explorar y pulir diferentes sonidos, este grupo comenzó como un colectivo callejero de rap se ha convertido en uno de los dúos más reconocidos a nivel mundial. Complementándose con sus respectivas interpretaciones vocales y sus estilos de componer, Alexander Delgado Hernández y Randy Malcom Martínez, ganadores de seis Latin Grammy&#39;s, han llegado a ser el centro de atención en la escena internacional de la música. Su primer mega-éxito fue “Bailando”, la colaboración entre Enrique Iglesias, Descemer Bueno y Gente de Zona que llegó a ser la canción más impactante del 2014. En 2015, el dúo lanzó dos grandes éxitos junto a Marc Anthony – “La Gozadera” y “Traidora”. Gente de Zona también ha grabado con artistas de la talla de Kylie Minogue, Thalía, Pitbull, Jennifer López, Carlos Vives, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Gerardo Ortiz, Carlos Rivera y Deorro entre otros. Su tema ganador de dos Latin Grammy 2021 “Patria y Vida”, desató una revolución y protestas del pueblo Cubano en y fuera de los Estados Unidos. Su más reciente álbum de “Menor a Mayor” fue presentado en abril del 2022.

Maluma

Maluma

Maluma is the stage name of award-winning Colombian pop singer, songwriter, and rapper Juan Luis Londoño Arias. Possessed of a sweet, grainy tenor voice and streetwise yet romantic delivery, the pop urbano was able to cross over from a reggaeton audience to the mainstream thanks to infectious early singles such as "Obsesión" and "Miss Independent" (whose videos also went viral). His 2012 debut Magia endeared him to radio listeners across Latin America, while 2015's Pretty Boy, Dirty Boy broke through in the U.S., landing on the upper rungs of the Latin Pop, Urban, and Tropical charts. Since that time, Maluma has been charging toward world domination with a steady stream of videos, charting singles, and hit albums like 2019's 11:11 and 2020's Papi Juancho. He was also the subject of the documentary Maluma: Lo Que Era, Lo Que Soy, Lo Que Seré. His success continued in the next decade with the chart-topping 2021 single "Sobrio," his starring role in the 2022 <a href="spotify:artist:2DlGxzQSjYe5N6G9nkYghR">Jennifer Lopez</a> rom-com Marry Me, and the release of The Love & Sex Tape. Maluma's name is a tribute to his family. Before he began singing professionally, his now-famous stage name was a tattoo on his left leg. He made the word up from the initial syllable of his family's names -- his mother Marlli, his father Luis, and his sister Manuela. He adopted the name a few years later when he started singing and gained fame as a teenager. He originally pursued football as a vocation for eight years and was gifted enough to attract the attention of the media in his native Medellín. He initially sang for pleasure at hundreds of birthday parties, weddings, and celebrations. Given the rise of social media, and YouTube in particular, his already intense focus on music turned exclusive. In 2011, at the age of 16, Maluma cut his first independent single, "Farandulera." Due to its internet popularity and emergent radio airplay in Colombia, the song gained the attention of <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Sony+Music%22">Sony Music</a>, which signed him. The following year, Maluma released Magia, his debut album. Several of its singles -- "Obsesión," "Loco," and "Miss Independent" -- received consistent airplay and hit the charts in Colombia and Latin America. His next single, "La Temperatura," entered the North American charts and earned him a Latin Grammy nomination in 2013. The following year, he was the featured vocalist on <a href="spotify:artist:1c22GXH30ijlOfXhfLz9Df">Elvis Crespo</a>'s hit "Ole Brazil," recorded for the World Cup. Maluma returned in early 2015 with PB DB. The Mixtape, a compilation of hits with two new singles, "Me Gustas Tanto" and "Climax." The new tracks charted and set the stage for a brand-new album, Pretty Boy, Dirty Boy, which appeared in the fall. The recording was produced by Walter Kolm. In 2016, Maluma released a collaborative track with fellow Colombian star <a href="spotify:artist:0EmeFodog0BfCgMzAIvKQp">Shakira</a>, "Chantaje," and the video became massively popular, racking up over one billion views online within five months. The track "Cuatro Babys," which reflected him as a swaggering Lothario with a rotating cast of women in and out of his bedroom, sparked a backlash when offended listeners called out the song's objectification of women. Some circulated a petition to have it removed from digital platforms. (It wasn't, but Maluma apologized.) In 2017, Maluma was named "Artist of the Year" at the Premios Lo Nuestro, a Latin music awards show presented by Spanish-language television network Univision. That same year, he began work on his next album, writing songs in English as well as Spanish. In November 2017, he delivered an initial pre-release single, "Corazón," featuring Brazilian singer <a href="spotify:artist:1B0Rp4SWGnFgGCPU5Pju6E">Nego do Borel</a>, that peaked at number five at Hot Latin Songs. In May, he released the full-length F.A.M.E., produced mainly by the artist's Medellín camp, including Édgar "Edge" Barrera and "Rude Boyz" Kevin ADG & Chan el Genio, with further duet contributions by <a href="spotify:artist:5Y5TRrQiqgUO4S36tzjIRZ">Timbaland</a> ("Mi Declaración"), <a href="spotify:artist:3MHaV05u0io8fQbZ2XPtlC">Prince Royce</a> ("Hangover"), and <a href="spotify:artist:07YZf4WDAMNwqr4jfgOZ8y">Jason Derulo</a> on the bilingual "La Ex." The album reached the top spot on the Latin Albums chart and number 37 on the Hot 200. Early 2019 saw Maluma issue a remix of the single "Mala Mía," which featured contributions from <a href="spotify:artist:7FNnA9vBm6EKceENgCGRMb">Anitta</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4obzFoKoKRHIphyHzJ35G3">Becky G</a>. A few months later, he collaborated with <a href="spotify:artist:6tbjWDEIzxoDsBA1FuhfPW">Madonna</a> on the song "Medellín" from her album Madame X. The pair's hi-tech performance of the song at the Billboard Music Awards brought the house down with its use of holograms. That May, Maluma released his fourth studio album, 11:11, supported by the singles "HP" and "11 P.M." His collaborators on the record included <a href="spotify:artist:1i8SpTcr7yvPOmcqrbnVXY">Ozuna</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6tbjWDEIzxoDsBA1FuhfPW">Madonna</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4VMYDCV2IEDYJArk749S6m">Daddy Yankee</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:7slfeZO9LsJbWgpkIoXBUJ">Ricky Martin</a>. It entered the Top Latin Albums chart at number one in June while F.A.M.E. was still in the Top 20. Also in 2019, YouTube Originals premiered its documentary on the singer, Lo Que Era, Lo Que Soy, Lo Que Seré, directed by Dominican filmmaker Jessy Terrero. In early 2020, Maluma scored another hit with the single "ADMV," which paved the way for his fifth album, Papi Juancho. Released in August of that year, it featured appearances by <a href="spotify:artist:0eHQ9o50hj6ZDNBt6Ys1sD">Yandel</a>, Yomo, <a href="spotify:artist:1pQWsZQehhS4wavwh7Fnxd">Lenny Tavárez</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:14zUHaJZo1mnYtn6IBRaRP">Justin Quiles</a>, and others, peaking at number two on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart and reaching number 34 on the Billboard 200. 2021 began with the release of the #7DJ (7 Días en Jamaica) EP, followed by the chart-topping stand-along single "Sobrio." Among Maluma's other singles that year were "Imposible Amor" with <a href="spotify:artist:1GDbiv3spRmZ1XdM1jQbT7">Natti Natasha</a> and "Mama Tetema" featuring <a href="spotify:artist:7G9dCn1mqomAa0ucJoBm6J">Rayvanny</a>. In 2022, Maluma starred alongside <a href="spotify:artist:2DlGxzQSjYe5N6G9nkYghR">Jennifer Lopez</a> in the romantic comedy Marry Me, and also sang on the soundtrack. A few months later, he revisited the steamier side of his sound with The Love & Sex Tape which yielded several hits including "Cositas de la USA" and "Nos Comemos Vivos" featuring <a href="spotify:artist:37230BxxYs9ksS7OkZw3IU">Chencho Corleone</a>. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi

Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny

The inevitability of Bad Bunny’s rise to Latin trap stardom seemed assured fairly early in his career. Singles like the punchy “Chambea,” the temperamental “Soy Peor,” and the lively Nicky Jam team-up “El Amante” showed off the Puerto Rican rapper’s range and set the stage for an epic come-up. Between the trap-boogaloo hybrid hit “I Like It” with Cardi B, the reggaetón posse-cut kiss-off “Te Boté,” and “MIA” with Drake, the artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio became a global phenomenon. Transcending his reputation as a prolific singles act, the late 2018 full-length debut <i>X 100PRE</i> proved his aptitude as an album artist, a feat repeated the following year on the joint mini-album OASIS with J Balvin. Adept in all forms of música urbana, Bad Bunny packs significant and complex emotionality into the genre on cuts like “Callaita” with Tainy and “LA CANCIÓN.”

Romeo Santos

Romeo Santos

Possessing a sweet, smooth, lushly romantic tenor, chart-topping singer, songwriter, and producer Romeo Santos rose to fame as lead vocalist for world-renowned boy band <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Aventura</a>, and embarked on a massively successful solo career in 2011. Santos' expert blend of tropical roots and bachata with hip-hop, trap, dance beats, Latin soul, neo-electro, pop, and rock made his 2011 debut album Formula, Vol. 1 a Top Five hit in the U.S., while 2014's Formula, Vol. 2 was a multi-platinum smash. His success continued with 2017's star-studded Golden and 2019's Utopia, which featured the hit single "Inmortal" performed by a reunited <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Aventura</a>, and spawned the 2021 concert document Utopia Live from MetLife Stadium. The following year Santos completed his Formula album trilogy with Formula, Vol. 3. Born Anthony Santos on July 21, 1981 in the Bronx, New York, he got his start as a singer in the choir of his church before co-founding <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Aventura</a> with his cousin <a href="spotify:artist:1cUfMJtWJXfhTQvYGJQtaF">Henry Santos</a> and brothers Lenny Santos and Max Santos. Originally known as <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Los Tinellers</a>, the teenagers made their full-length debut with Trampa de Amor (1995), followed by Generation Next (1999), their first album as <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Aventura</a>. Fusing bachata with R&B, pop, and hip-hop, <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Aventura</a> broke through to mainstream success with the worldwide chart-topping smash hit "Obsesión," from their third album, We Broke the Rules (2002). Subsequent albums Love & Hate (2003), God's Project (2005), K.O.B. Live (2006), and The Last (2009) were chock-full of similarly styled hit singles. With nine Top Five hits on the U.S. Latin singles chart to their name, <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Aventura</a> officially called it quits in 2011, as Santos embarked on a much-anticipated solo career. In conjunction with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Sony+Music%22">Sony Music</a>, he made his solo debut with the chart-topping Latin hit single "You," followed by "I Promise," another number one smash, this one featuring <a href="spotify:artist:23zg3TcAtWQy7J6upgbUnj">Usher</a>. Largely written and produced by Santos himself, 2011's Formula, Vol. 1 marked his full-length debut. He then burnished his success with a live album, The King Stays King: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden, released in 2012. For his second solo album, Santos drafted major stars from both the Latin and pop worlds -- <a href="spotify:artist:3TVXtAsR1Inumwj472S9r4">Drake</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0hCNtLu0JehylgoiP8L4Gh">Nicki Minaj</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4wLXwxDeWQ8mtUIRPxGiD6">Marc Anthony</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:3SUT1jjM5hzZj9TLfLZGIP">Tego Calderón</a>, among others. Released in 2013 as Formula, Vol. 2, the album went platinum 11 times over in the U.S, and double-platinum and gold in Spain. Including a pair of chart-topping singles ("Propuesta Indecente" and "Odio"), it hit number one in several countries and reached number five on the U.S. pop charts, remaining in the top rungs of the Latin Albums charts for more 120 weeks. In early 2017, he returned with the single "Héroe Favorito" and released his third album, Golden, on his birthday. Boasting guest appearances by <a href="spotify:artist:3nlpTZci9O5W8RsNoNH559">Jean Luis Guerra</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1i8SpTcr7yvPOmcqrbnVXY">Ozuna</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1SupJlEpv7RS2tPNRaHViT">Nicky Jam</a>, the album topped the Latin and Tropical albums charts and peaked at ten on the Top 200. Achieving multi-platinum status, it netted six charting singles including "Héroe Favorito," "Imitadora," and "Bella y Sensual." The album's video teaser racked up over eight million views on YouTube the week of its release. The video for "Imitadora" had 52 million views on its own. In April 2019, Santos released Utopia, his fourth studio album. It included guest spots on virtually every track. Its premier single, "Inmortal," marked the official studio-recorded reunion of <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Aventura</a> (who had been performing segments during Santos' concerts for a couple of years). Other hits included "La Demanda" with <a href="spotify:artist:5rvaaWutd0gsbc2iMNo9k5">Raulín Rodríguez</a>, "Millonario" with <a href="spotify:artist:66U02qGDesTqZImnLSiYeE">Elvis Martínez</a>, and "El Beso Que No Le Di" with <a href="spotify:artist:1YYp1qwJ7EAitFINQ7gOKV">Kiko Rodríguez</a>. Certified five-times platinum, Utopia entered the Latin and Tropical albums charts at number one and peaked at eight on the Top 200 and charted in seven countries. In September 2021, Santos followed it with Utopia Live from MetLife Stadium. The next year, the singer returned to his Formula album series, closing out the trilogy with Formula, Vol. 3 which featured the hit single "Sus Huellas" and an array of high-profile guests including <a href="spotify:artist:31TPClRtHm23RisEBtV3X7">Justin Timberlake</a> ("Sin Fin") and <a href="spotify:artist:7ltDVBr6mKbRvohxheJ9h1">Rosalía</a> ("El Pañuelo"). ~ Jason Birchmeier & Thom Jurek, Rovi

Prince Royce

Prince Royce

A regular feature at the top of the Billboard charts, New York-born singer and songwriter Prince Royce has become a bonafide Latin music superstar by bringing a mix of Bachata and contemporary R&B to the Spanish-speaking world. The multi-platinum bachata music idol has scored over 22 #1 radio hits and has been credited with over 90 awards. Royce has a massive fan base with more than 80 million followers on social media, has sold over 10 million albums worldwide and his music has amassed over 14 billion global streams. He has sold out many of the most prestigious venues in Latin America and the United States. Some of the artist&#39;s collaborations include Shakira, Chris Brown, Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Snoop Dogg, Pitbull, Thalia, Maná, Daddy Yankee, Becky G, Anitta, Ludacris, J Balvin, Bad Bunny, Farruko, and Maluma, among others.

Omar Courtz

Omar Courtz

Omar Courtz ha sido constante y acertado en la composición y producción de sus temas. Hemos sido testigo de la evolución del intérprete, acercándose a un mercado internacional, ofreciéndole a su audiencia creatividad y melodías innovadoras, solidificando su carrera y talento como intérprete y compositor. Courtz sigue dejando su huella en la industria de la música latina, demostrando que es una fuerza innegable que hay que tener en cuenta. Sus primeros éxitos “En Su Nota” y “Los Dueños De La Calle” acumularon millones de reproducciones y lo posicionaron en las listas más populares como: Baila Reggaeton, New Urbano, y Urbano Rising, entre otras. Recientemente, la estrella se presentó en los Latin American Music Awards 2023 junto con Pitbull, también fue nominado a Premios Tu Música Urbano 2023 en la categoría “Top Artista Nuevo Masculino”. En mayo 2023, también fue reconocido por los editores de Billboard Latin como uno de los artistas de tener en la mira. Actualmente, OUSI (como lo llaman sus fanáticos) se encuentra trabajando en lo que será su primer álbum de estudio, bajo su sello discográfico, Mr. 305 Records. Omar Courtz ha establecido su impacto en el género gracias a éxitos como "Blessings", "Amandita" con Young Miko, "Baby Schai" y "Paola", entre muchos otros, y ya ha colaborado con figuras como: Dalex, Darell, El Alfa, Farruko, Justin Quiles, Lenny Tavarez, Miky Woodz, Natti Natasha, Pitbull, por nombrar algunos.

Romeo Santos

Romeo Santos

Possessing a sweet, smooth, lushly romantic tenor, chart-topping singer, songwriter, and producer Romeo Santos rose to fame as lead vocalist for world-renowned boy band <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Aventura</a>, and embarked on a massively successful solo career in 2011. Santos' expert blend of tropical roots and bachata with hip-hop, trap, dance beats, Latin soul, neo-electro, pop, and rock made his 2011 debut album Formula, Vol. 1 a Top Five hit in the U.S., while 2014's Formula, Vol. 2 was a multi-platinum smash. His success continued with 2017's star-studded Golden and 2019's Utopia, which featured the hit single "Inmortal" performed by a reunited <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Aventura</a>, and spawned the 2021 concert document Utopia Live from MetLife Stadium. The following year Santos completed his Formula album trilogy with Formula, Vol. 3. Born Anthony Santos on July 21, 1981 in the Bronx, New York, he got his start as a singer in the choir of his church before co-founding <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Aventura</a> with his cousin <a href="spotify:artist:1cUfMJtWJXfhTQvYGJQtaF">Henry Santos</a> and brothers Lenny Santos and Max Santos. Originally known as <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Los Tinellers</a>, the teenagers made their full-length debut with Trampa de Amor (1995), followed by Generation Next (1999), their first album as <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Aventura</a>. Fusing bachata with R&B, pop, and hip-hop, <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Aventura</a> broke through to mainstream success with the worldwide chart-topping smash hit "Obsesión," from their third album, We Broke the Rules (2002). Subsequent albums Love & Hate (2003), God's Project (2005), K.O.B. Live (2006), and The Last (2009) were chock-full of similarly styled hit singles. With nine Top Five hits on the U.S. Latin singles chart to their name, <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Aventura</a> officially called it quits in 2011, as Santos embarked on a much-anticipated solo career. In conjunction with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Sony+Music%22">Sony Music</a>, he made his solo debut with the chart-topping Latin hit single "You," followed by "I Promise," another number one smash, this one featuring <a href="spotify:artist:23zg3TcAtWQy7J6upgbUnj">Usher</a>. Largely written and produced by Santos himself, 2011's Formula, Vol. 1 marked his full-length debut. He then burnished his success with a live album, The King Stays King: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden, released in 2012. For his second solo album, Santos drafted major stars from both the Latin and pop worlds -- <a href="spotify:artist:3TVXtAsR1Inumwj472S9r4">Drake</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0hCNtLu0JehylgoiP8L4Gh">Nicki Minaj</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4wLXwxDeWQ8mtUIRPxGiD6">Marc Anthony</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:3SUT1jjM5hzZj9TLfLZGIP">Tego Calderón</a>, among others. Released in 2013 as Formula, Vol. 2, the album went platinum 11 times over in the U.S, and double-platinum and gold in Spain. Including a pair of chart-topping singles ("Propuesta Indecente" and "Odio"), it hit number one in several countries and reached number five on the U.S. pop charts, remaining in the top rungs of the Latin Albums charts for more 120 weeks. In early 2017, he returned with the single "Héroe Favorito" and released his third album, Golden, on his birthday. Boasting guest appearances by <a href="spotify:artist:3nlpTZci9O5W8RsNoNH559">Jean Luis Guerra</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1i8SpTcr7yvPOmcqrbnVXY">Ozuna</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1SupJlEpv7RS2tPNRaHViT">Nicky Jam</a>, the album topped the Latin and Tropical albums charts and peaked at ten on the Top 200. Achieving multi-platinum status, it netted six charting singles including "Héroe Favorito," "Imitadora," and "Bella y Sensual." The album's video teaser racked up over eight million views on YouTube the week of its release. The video for "Imitadora" had 52 million views on its own. In April 2019, Santos released Utopia, his fourth studio album. It included guest spots on virtually every track. Its premier single, "Inmortal," marked the official studio-recorded reunion of <a href="spotify:artist:1qto4hHid1P71emI6Fd8xi">Aventura</a> (who had been performing segments during Santos' concerts for a couple of years). Other hits included "La Demanda" with <a href="spotify:artist:5rvaaWutd0gsbc2iMNo9k5">Raulín Rodríguez</a>, "Millonario" with <a href="spotify:artist:66U02qGDesTqZImnLSiYeE">Elvis Martínez</a>, and "El Beso Que No Le Di" with <a href="spotify:artist:1YYp1qwJ7EAitFINQ7gOKV">Kiko Rodríguez</a>. Certified five-times platinum, Utopia entered the Latin and Tropical albums charts at number one and peaked at eight on the Top 200 and charted in seven countries. In September 2021, Santos followed it with Utopia Live from MetLife Stadium. The next year, the singer returned to his Formula album series, closing out the trilogy with Formula, Vol. 3 which featured the hit single "Sus Huellas" and an array of high-profile guests including <a href="spotify:artist:31TPClRtHm23RisEBtV3X7">Justin Timberlake</a> ("Sin Fin") and <a href="spotify:artist:7ltDVBr6mKbRvohxheJ9h1">Rosalía</a> ("El Pañuelo"). ~ Jason Birchmeier & Thom Jurek, Rovi

Rauw Alejandro

Rauw Alejandro

One of the leading Puerto Rican pop stars of his generation, singer, and songwriter Rauw Alejandro is known for his smooth tenor singing voice and genre-crossing reggaeton style that mixes Latin pop, R&B, hip-hop, and throwback sounds. After releasing his acclaimed debut mixtape, Punto de Equilibrio, in late 2016, he became a featured collaborator alongside Ozuna, Lunay, and Lyanno on "Luz Apaga," and with Lyanno, Alex Rose, Cazzu, and Lenny Tavárez on "Toda Remix." These and other collaborations resulted in Alejandro being nominated in four categories for Puerto Rico's Tu Musica Urban Awards in 2019. They also paved the way for his debut studio album, 2020's Afrodisíaco, which hit number two on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart. In June 2021, Alejandro topped the Latin charts with Vice Versa, which incorporated electro, drum'n'bass, neo-disco, and mainstream pop into his brand of reggaeton. Following the 2022 EP Trap Cake, Vol. 2., Alejandro again reached the Top Ten of the Latin charts with his third full-length, Saturno. RR, a collaboration with Rosalía, appeared in 2023 ahead of its companion album, Playa Saturno.Born Raúl Alejandro Ocasio Ruiz, he was raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. When he was a child, his family moved (temporarily) to the United States before returning to the island. His first passion was soccer, a sport he practiced seriously while studying at the Maria Auxiliadora School. Music was another hobby, but he never considered it as a career until his football playing was cut short by an injury during adolescence. As therapy to assuage his disappointment, he applied himself to music and began posting tracks to SoundCloud. Given his parents' love of music (his dad is a guitar player), he was influenced early on by Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, and later by Ricky Martin, Daddy Yankee, and Chris Brown. As he learned to sing and write songs, he put his talent for dancing to work on local stages and in videos, meeting numerous musicians, producers, and dancers. He quickly developed a reputation as a triple-threat talent. Alejandro was signed to the Under Music Group label, which nurtured his writing and singing talent. The label began issuing his singles in June 2016, including "No Me Siento Igual" (featuring Joyce Santana) and "Días Así," and "Se Tú" (featuring Lyanno and Sousa). Alejandro's debut mixtape, Punto de Equilibrio, appeared at the end of the year, and he toured Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the Southeastern United States. He was prolific and issued 14 singles and videos between 2016 and late 2017, not including guest appearances. The singer drew attention from trade and fan magazines across the Latin music spectrum, as well as Anglo industry weeklies. Between his own singles -- the streaming chart hits "Mi Llamada" (featuring Lyanno, Alex Rose, and Lenny Tavárez), "T.T.I.," and "Dale" (featuring Sousa and Mr. Naisgai) -- and his guest spots with Rafa Pabön ("Tarde") and Alex Rose ("Toda"), he appeared on no less than seven singles. He was featured on Ozuna's "Luz Apaga," which peaked at 26 on the Hot Latin Songs chart and even spent a week at number three on the Latin Digital Song Sales. Alejandro kicked off 2019 with the collaborations "Miénteme (Remix)" with Sousa, Cazzu, Lyanno, and Álvaro Díaz, followed by "Es Normal" with Javiielo, Lunay, Lyanno, and Sousa. He also delivered an EP, Trap Cake, Vol. 1, as well as the non-album duet hit "Que Le Dé" with Nicky Jam, which placed in the Top Ten on almost all the Latin streaming charts. In February he appeared on the club hit "Mírame" with Nio García and Lenny Tavárez. Alejandro toured Latin America and the United States in the winter and spring, and later that fall released the single "Fantasias," which saw him collaborating with Puerto Rican singer and songwriter Farruko. The non-album track "Algo Mágico" arrived in July 2020. That summer, he also issued the live album Concierto Virtual en Tiempos de COVID-19 Desde el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, which peaked at number ten on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. In November 2020, he released his Grammy-nominated debut studio album, Afrodisíaco, which included guest appearances by J Balvin, Sech, Anuel AA, and others. In February 2021, Alejandro appeared as Selena Gomez's duet partner on the Hot 100 hit "Baila Conmigo," which also topped the Hot Latin Songs chart. In June he released Vice Versa. Refusing to be pigeonholed, he worked with a slew of producers including Tainy and Mr. Naisgai (Luis J. Gonzalez) on a collection of originals that juxtaposed his fluid brand of urbano reggaeton with neo-disco, electro, drum'n'bass, funky breaks, and more, to jarring effect. The set entered the Top 200 at number 17 and the Top Latin Album charts at number one a week after its release. Its single "Todo de Ti" spent five weeks in the Hot 100. It also spawned the Top Five Latin hit "Desesperados" with Chencho Corleone. The singer's second EP, Trap Cake, Vol. 2, appeared in February 2022, hitting number six on the Latin chart. In November 2022, Alejandro issued the 18-track full-length Saturno. Co-produced under the alias El Zorro with longtime friend Kenobi and Mr. Naisgai, and in select places, major influences El Playero and Tainy, the set juxtaposed reggaeton and trap with funk, throwback hip-hop, pop, and retro new wave. Among his collaborators on the date were Baby Rasta, El Playero, and Arcángel. The release entered the Billboard 200 at number 25, and landed at number two on the Top Latin Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums charts. It also spawned several Top 30 Latin singles, including "Lejos del Cielo" and "Panties y Brasieres" (with Daddy Yankee). RR, a collaborative EP with Rosalía, arrived in March 2023 (on the heels of the couple's engagement) and featured the Top Ten Latin hit "Beso." He then paired with Bizarrap for the song "Rauw Alejandro: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 56" as well as "Baby Hello." The latter single heralded the singer's Saturno spin-off album, Playa Saturno, which reached number four on the Top Latin Albums chart and cracked the Top 30 of the Billboard 200. Alejandro again hit the upper echelon of the Latin songs chart with 2024's "Santa," with Rvssian and Ayra Starr. ~ Thom Jurek & Matt Collar