New Music Latin is a collection of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by the editors of Billboard Latin and Billboard Español. Check out this week’s picks below.
Grupo Marca Registrada, Evo Luxury 2 (RB Music)
If the album’s title isn’t enough to indicate that Grupo Marca Registrada is in a period of evolution, the album’s tracks are. Marca Registrada, led by singer-songwriter Fidel Castro, has released what may be their most eclectic album to date. Evo, short for Evolución (or evolution), includes the sharp accordion-driven norteña “Bugatti Chiron,” which has defined the Mexican band’s sound for years. But Castro doesn’t just sum himself and his band around norteño. BW aims to break away from Bugatti and takes a more Tumbado-like approach, with Requintos at the forefront. “En El Audi” stands out for Castro’s airy, airy vocals over an EDM-flavored pop track, showcasing his experimental side.
Throughout Evo, Marca Registrada winds through the corridors of lavish lifestyles, creepy characters like Bruce Wayne, and heartbreak. This eclectic album reflects a broader trend of young Mexican and Mexican-American hitmakers proving that Mexican music is no longer regional, but global. Yet, even as Marca Registrada expands into new and more versatile territory, its essence remains musical Mexicana. — Griselda Flores
Aleman & Guerra MX, Rich Mafia, Vol. 1. (Sony Music Entertainment Mexico)
Mexican rappers Aleman and Guerra MX unite in a bold collision of electrifying beats and powerful lyricism to release their collaborative album Rich Mafia Vol. 1. 1. Filled with pioneering rap virtuosity, this 12-song album feels like a grand celebration, a stardust-studded reunion, marking the end of eight years on stage (since the “Sin Perder el Tiempo” days). Their edges have dulled rather than dulled, proving that their lack of togetherness has only sharpened them.
The Baja California Sur and Nuevo León rapper casts lines full of bravado and sharp imagery, evoking a persona that embodies the unapologetic style of prowling the night.
The featured track “Como Pacman” encapsulates the album’s overall theme. It’s bold, relentless, and packed with clever pop culture references that hit as hard as the beats that accompany it.
“Bendición” featuring C. Tangana and “Cabo Girl” with Leonel Garcia inject the album with genre-bending appeal that expands its scope beyond hardcore rap. Then, the electro-corridos fusion of “Crows Friends” featuring Junior H and Cozy Kaz only adds to the more diverse genre listening experience. “LA Baby” spits out a nostalgic electro-funk style beat that will remind you of who you are. Aleman and Guerra MX not only occupy the throne of Mexican rap, they elevate the entire genre to the same level as them. — Isabella Raigoza
Kany Garcia & Rawayana “La Culpa” (5020 Records)
Flavors of Puerto Rico and Venezuela coalesce in this fusion of plena and other Caribbean rhythms that denounce common social problems, such as the weakness of the electricity system and other public services, with a joy and passion unique to the region. I’m doing it. “I just went out because the power was out so bad / And I went to get some rum to numb it,” Garcia sings, before Rawayana’s Beto gracefully adds: It’s lightweight and doesn’t use water. “La Culpa” is undoubtedly a deliciously written 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-inspired ballad about a past love that comes back when it’s too late. A heart like “Before, I wanted you to fight for me instead of with me/It was you who left the unbearable silence/And now it’s me who’s to blame.” “A Las 12 Te Olvidé” has thoughtful lyrics, giving each of the three singers space to shine, while also providing fun vocal harmonies. It’s part of Ha*Ash’s new album, Haashville, which was released on Thursday (October 31st) and also provided the first look at the new single. — S.R.A.
Hear more of our editors’ Latin picks in the playlist below.
