So many of us grew up listening to iconic Latinx artists, Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony, and Selena… along with Smashmouth, Eminem, and Britney Spears. So needless to say, our generation has the absolute best taste in music.
Of course, there are some artists from juventud that are still creating bomb music, but you should never sleep on new talent. Here’s our list of who you should be listening to today:
1. Santana
Credit: Super Bowl. Digital Image. Popsugar. February 15, 2017.
Santana, you own my heart and my childhood. He has his own classics, but lately, he’s been doing a lot of collabs.
Listen to “Safari” with Guero Sosa and his 2017 album, “Power of Peace” with The Isley Brothers.
2. Bruno Mars
Credit: Finesse. Digital Image. Vulture. January 4, 2018.
Yes, Bruno Mars is an entity of his own but this collab with Cardi B is everything. It’s as ’90’s throwback as it looks and if you haven’t listened to it yet (?!), please pause. Listen. And find more Latino rappers for the next two slides.
3. Princess Nokia
Credit: Instagram @princessnokia
She’s Afro-Puerto Rican and identifies como una bruja and a queer feminist. Oh and she’s a crazy talented rapper. Um, plus, she straight up threw a cup of hot soup on a racist and then slapped him while on the train. In her own words, “And yes I threw hot soup in this mans face and kicked him off off the train, and kicked [him] in the face. Any other racists wanna try us again?” Just support her, k?
Listen to “Brujas” and “Tomboy.”
4. Maluca
Credit: Instagram @malucamala
Oh hey, look another Latina feminist! Yeah, she’s crushing the patriarchy with her words. You’ve got to listen to this Dominican rapper now.
Listen to “Mala” and “El Tigeraso.”
5. Becky G
Credit: Instagram @iambeckyg
You know her. She’s the Mexican queen of pop, today, who delivers both English and Spanish versions of her fans’ faves. The Inglewood native is also challenging the sexist double standard of what men and women can and can’t sing. Listen to her latest release, “Ya Es Hora.”
6. Jessie Reyez
Credit: Instagram @jessiereyez
Reyez is Colombian-Canadian and best known for “Figures,” which is the song you need to listen to if you’re going through a breakup. Check out the remix with Daniel Caesar she just released this weekend!
7. Ibeyi
Credit: Instagram @ibeyi2
If you could see her face, you might recognize 22-year-old twin sisters, Lisa Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz from Beyonce’s “Lemonade.” Their music is bomb AF. Seriously, they know how to drop a beat and is deeply rooted in their Afro-Cuban roots.
Listen to “River.” Bey’s a fan.
8. Camila Cabello
Credit: Instagram @camila_cabello
This goes without saying: Camila is our Cuban-Mexican heartthrob and I’m holding back from making this entire slideshow be about her.
Listen to “Havana Latin Remix” and “She Loves Control” and literally everything else.
9. Selena Gomez
Credit: Instagram @selenagomez
She’s named after the Selena and is Mexican-Italian. She’s been suffering from lupus, a gnarly auto-immune disease, and she’s been outspoken about her mental health. Also, she’s on a break with Bieber. Also, she’s talented AF.
10. Calma Carmona
Credit: Instagram @calmacarmona
Here comes the more chill música. Calma’s the Afro-Puerto Rican soulful trance goddess we need to recover from the day. Her music is bliss with a beat.
Listen to “100 Vidas” and “When I Was Your Girl.”
11. Carla Morrison
Credit: Instagram @carlitamorrison
This Mexican beauty sings soulful, gorgeous ballads and her presence on stage are ethereal for real. I’m obsessed with her and pretty soon, you will be too. 🙂
Listen to “Duele” and “Eres Tú” and try not to think about your ex.
12. Claudia Prieto
Credit: Instagram @claudiaprieto77
Ok, so she only has this one song that we found on the Spotify playlist, “Extranjera” but I’m obsessed. Think feel-good, chill vibes and support female artists.
13. Alex Cuba
Credit: Instagram @iamalexcuba
I first heard Alex Cuba open a set back in 2015 and he’s since released the solid Caribbean, Cuban music that you just need to sing along with.
Listen to “Por Donde Vas” and “Agua de Pozo.”
14. Shakira
Credit: Instagram @shakira
Shakira is a Colombian icon and while we know her from the 2000’s “Hips Don’t Lie”, she’s been producing music since she was in school.
Listen to her latest album “El Dorado,” especially the song “Me Enamoré.”
15. Cardi B.
Credit: Instagram @iamcardib
As if we even need to tell you to listen to Cardi B. This Trinidadian-Dominican, Bronx-er just dropped a new single over the weekend and it is the sexiest, sweetest way to rap to your boo’ to watch himself. Plus, she just glammed up her Bartier Cardi music video five seconds ago. Get on it!
