Lucas Villa is a freelance music journalist from Santa Ana, Calif. He's a lifelong pop music fan focused on increasing the visibility of Latinx artists in mainstream media. His words can be found in places like Rolling Stone, Billboard, MTV News, Remezcla, Consequence of Sound and more.
This article was originally published on Aug. 26, 2022 and was updated to reflect 2025 anniversaries. Every song in Selena's catalog, from the well-known anthems to the B-sides and covers, have resonated with fans in different ways. The late star — who was tragically killed in 1995 at just 23 years old —tackled multiple genres in her lifetime without losing…
Over the course of 25 years, Belinda has proven that she is a global star that can do it all. The Spanish Mexican singer and actress has scored hits across genres – from pop and rock, to cumbia, and reggaeton — while becoming an enduring presence on both small and big screens. While recent years have seen Belinda turn her…
On his debut album, 2024's El Cantante del Ghetto, Ryan Castro celebrated his hometown of Medellín, Colombia, with a reggaeton flair that propelled him to the mainstream. For its follow-up, SENDÉ, the singer/songwriter is paying homage to the island he once called home, Curaçao, and the music that helped shape his sound: dancehall and reggae. "I feel like I'm going…
Sebastián Yatra is still counting his blessings. Following a whirlwind past few years which have included stints acting for screen and stage, the Colombian superstar is taking a moment to catch his breath and appreciate the present. The two-time GRAMMY nominee has taken note of life's everyday miracles and channeled that celestial energy into his most vulnerable and romantic collection…
Flamboyant Latin pop artist Lasso has always done things exactly the way he wants, presenting multiple artistic iterations over his 13 years in the business. At the same time, the guitar-slinging star has become one of Venezuela’s leading artists.** The singer/songwriter debuted as an indie rocker with his 2012 album Sin Otro Sentido. In the years that followed, Lasso tried…
Carlos Rivera is capping off 20 years in the music industry with one of his biggest career achievements yet: his first Latin GRAMMY nomination. For two decades, Rivera's heartfelt love songs have resonated with fans across Latin America, Spain, and the U.S. Earlier this year, Rivera teamed up with another Latin pop heartthrob that also made his mark on TV,…
There's nothing orthodox about Latin Mafia. The trio of brothers from Mexico City — producer Mike de la Rosa and twins Milton and Emilio, who are the singers — are pushing Latin music to new places with songs that span R&B, reggaeton, EDM, pop, alternative, and other genres. A testament to their groundbreaking sound, Latin Mafia found out they are…
To celebrate 25 years of the Latin GRAMMY Awards, the Latin Recording Academy opened a new exhibit at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles on Sept. 19. The entire second floor of the museum is dedicated to capturing the growth of Latin music that has gone hand-in-hand with the Latin GRAMMYs through awards, artifacts, outfits, and instruments from previous winners…
Música Mexicana isn't the only sound of Mexico that's blowing up; the country's artists are now starting to make their mark in reggaeton. Imbued with the essence, swagger, and lingo of Mexico, reggaeton Mexa is the next big Latin sound that's going global. Originating in the Caribbean, reggaeton evolved from Panama’s reggae en español and Jamaican dancehall of the 1980s.…
For over three decades, Pepe Aguilar has proudly represented the traditions and culture of música mexicana. The iconic singer, songwriter and producer has made the biggest impact in mariachi music, penning and singing timeless love songs. Aguilar became a worldwide phenomenon in the '90s with romantic classics like "Por Mujeres Como Tú" and "Directo Al Corazón." His deep and soulful…
Electronic music is embedded within the diverse world of Latin music and, for the first time, will be recognized in a new Field and Category at the 2024 Latin GRAMMYs. Within that field, the award for Best Latin Electronic Music Performance was created to shine a light on DJs, producers, and artists blending proudly blending electronic music with the sounds…
Contemporary music is filled with artists who have transitioned from social media stardom to serious streams and even Music's Biggest Night. Kenia Os is proof of this trajectory: After building a massive following on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, she established as one of Mexico's top pop stars. Kenia Os' ability to pivot successfully is also apparent in her music. Her…
After establishing herself as a global pop star, Brazilian singer Anitta is bringing the music of her country to the forefront. On the just-released Funk Generation, the Latin GRAMMY nominee puts a spotlight on funk carioca — Brazilian funk. On the 15-track album, Anitta sings in Portuguese, Spanish, and English over funk carioca beats, which are Brazil’s aggressive and hyper…
From vinyl records by the 1975 and U2, to album reissues and previously unreleased music, record stores around the world are stocking limited and exclusive releases for Record Store Day 2024. The first Record Store Day kicked off in 2008 and every year since, the event supporting independently owned record stores has grown exponentially. On Record Store Day 2024, which…
Latin music has gone global and Enrique Iglesias is one of the superstars who laid the foundation for that crossover. The Spanish pop icon's music career spans four decades of hits both in his native tongue and in English. Following his reign as Billboard’s Greatest Latin Artist of All-Time, Iglesias marks the end of an era with the last album…
While reggaeton and música Mexicana currently dominate the Latin music scene, Latin pop is experiencing a vibrant revival — with female artists leading the charge. Both legacy and newer acts are putting a fresh spin on the genre, and their work is resonating with a new generation of fans. Latin pop was one of the first Spanish-language genres to go…
Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Pedro Capó made good use of quarantine quiet. With the world shut down, Capó carefully crafted his most personal and hands-on album yet, La Neta. That introspection had significant results; while Capó has spent more than a decade writing for himself and artists like Ricky Martin, his first GRAMMY nomination offered a special validation. "I make music…
Diverse genres within Latin music were celebrated at the Bésame Mucho Festival on Dec. 2 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, where more than 60 acts performed. At the second edition of the festival — which will boast an Austin, Texas edition in March 2024 — artists performed an array of música Mexicana, rock en español, and Latin pop…
Hip-hop is not only a global phenomenon, but a multi-lingual expression. There are many Latinx rappers who have contributed to the genre's legacy with Spanish-language music, and others who form the larger fabric of hip-hop history. Hip-hop was born on Aug. 11, 1973 at a back-to-school party in the Bronx, which included African American, Caribbean and Latinx attendees. While Latinx…
The people behind the lyrics of this year's biggest songs will be recognized at the 24th Latin GRAMMY Awards. For the first time, the Songwriter Of The Year category was created to put a spotlight on Latin music's composers. The Latin Recording Academy is highlighting the wordsmiths of Latin music with the Songwriter Of The Year category. To be eligible…
