New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
Grupo Marca Registrada, Evo Luxury 2 (RB Music)
If the album’s title isn’t enough indication that Grupo Marca Registrada is in their evolution era, then the album’s tracks will. Led by singer-songwriter Fidel Castro, Marca Registrada has released what can be considered their most eclectic album yet. Evo, short for evolución (or evolution) includes “Bugatti Chiron,” a piercing norteña, with the accordion as its protagonist, that has characterized the Mexican band’s sound for years. But Castro doesn’t box himself or the band in just norteño. “BW” is a departure from Bugatti with requintos leading the way, for a more tumbado approach. “En El Audi” is a standout with Castro’s light and airy vocals singing over an EDM-tinged pop track, showcasing his experimental side.
Throughout Evo, Marca Registrada winds through corridos about lavish lifestyles, ominous characters like Bruce Wayne and heartbreak. The eclectic album reflects a wider trend, as young Mexican and Mexican-American hitmakers prove Mexican music is global, no longer just regional. Still, even as Marca Registrada expands into new, more versatile, territory, their essence remains música Mexicana. — GRISELDA FLORES
Alemán & Gera MX, Rich Mafia, Vol. 1. (Sony Music Entertainment México)
With a brash clash of electrifying beats and potent lyricism, Mexican rappers Alemán and Gera MX unite for a collaborative album in Rich Mafia, Vol. 1. Fueled with trailblazing rap virtuosity, the 12-track album feels like a grand celebration, a reunion sprinkled with stardust, proving that their eight-year absence from sharing the stage (since the “Sin Perder el Tiempo” era), only honed their edge rather than blunted it.
The Baja Californa Sur and Nuevo León rappers throw down lines brimming with bravado and sharp imagery, invoking personas to exemplify their night-prowling, unapologetic styles.
The focus track, “Como Pacman,” encapsulates the themes of the entire album — audacious, relentless, and packed with clever pop culture references that hit as hard as the beats accompanying them.
“Bendición” featuring C. Tangana and “Cabo Girl” with Leonel García infuse the album with a cross-genre appeal that broadens their scope beyond hardcore rap; then their electro-corridos fusion alongside Junior H with “Close Friends,” featuring Cozy Cuz, only adds a more genre-varied listening experience. “L.A. Baby” spits out a nostalgic, electro-funk-styled beat that transports you back. Alemán and Gera MX don’t just occupy the throne of Mexican rap, they invite the entire genre to level up with them. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Kany García & Rawayana, “La Culpa” (5020 Records)
The flavor of Puerto Rico and Venezuela come together in this fusion of plena and other Caribbean rhythms that denounces shared social problems — such as the fragility of the electrical systems and other public services — with the characteristic joy and passion of the region. “I only went out because it’s f—ing tough that the power is out/ And I went asking for a little bit of rum to be anesthetized,” García sings while Beto from Rawayana adds with grace that “in the Caribbean we make love without light and without water.” “La Culpa” is, undeniably, a deliciously portrayed social critique. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Ha*Ash & Elena Rose, “A Las 12 Te Olvidé” (Sony Music México)
Sister duo Ha*Ash and singer-songwriter Elena Rose join forces on this beautiful country-tinged ballad about a past love that returns when it’s too late. With heartfelt lyrics — like “Before I would have wanted you to fight for me, not fight with me/ You were the one who left such an unbearable silence/ And now I am the one to blame” — “A Las 12 Te Olvidé” gives the three singers the space to shine separately, while also offering some enjoyable vocal harmonies. It’s part of Ha*Ash’s new album, Haashville, released on Thursday (Oct. 31) with the premiere of this new single. — S.R.A.
Listen to more editors’ Latin recommendations in the playlist below:
