First Stream Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums and videos recommended by the Billboard Latin editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
C. Tangana & Nathy Peluso, “Ateo” (Sony Music España)
An ode to bachata, which C. Tangana first explored on “Tu Me Dejaste de Querer,” the Spanish rapper now teams up with Nathy Peluso for another bachata-fused track titled “Ateo.” The genre-smashing artists first set the tone for the single’s release with a provocative teaser showcasing their bachata skills that stirred up some controversy. At its core, the track is a love song that narrates a love so pure it makes an atheist believe. “I was an atheist but I believe now,” they sing. “All it took was for a miracle like you to come down to earth.” About the song, Nathy Peluso said, “I immediately felt it was a classic. And when we worked together at the studio I reconfirmed that same feeling. It’s a project with a marvelous universe and a fantastic video that is truly a piece of art, and a very interesting topic that challenges us all. Long live Romanticism!” The cinematic film that accompanies the single, shot in Spain’s Toledo Cathedral, marks Tangana’s directorial debut.
Alejandro Sanz, “Bio” (Universal Music Spain)
Sanz opens up in a purely expressive freedom exercise with “Bio” — the first single from his forthcoming new album — driven by his lyrics and aligned with nothing more than a piano, strings and acoustics. What you hear is what you get, a story told by a sensitive and spontaneous singer-songwriter that lets the lyrics become the essence of the song: a meaningful in-depth introspective exercise. “Life took hold of me, and I started dreaming big. To be doing the same thing, I already had my lip in blood/I did not believe in miracles or that I could achieve them,” he says in the third verse.
Lito MC Cassidy & Daddy Yankee, “El Gran Robo 2″ (Lito Music)
Old-school rap gets new life in “El Gran Robo 2,” the new collab between Lito MC Cassidy (of Lito y Polaco) and Daddy Yankee. Conceived as a sequel to 2002’s “El Gran Robo,” the hard-hitting track is a movie (or Netflix series) tale of a heist, replete with details like hidden Russian passports and booty divisions. The track, from Lito’s upcoming album, La Jaula de los Vivos, is pure fun and great storytelling.
ChocQuibTown, Lil Silvio & El Vega, La Ross Maria- “Morena” (Sony Music Latin)
This Caribbean bop came to fruition after the chorus — previewed by ChocQuibTown, Lil Silvio & El Vega while working on in the studio — went viral on TikTok earlier this year. How La Ross María ended up on the track after she recorded a version of herself singing the chorus on TikTok. “I honestly didn’t think I’d be part of this track, it’s one of my favorites and I think it will be a hit with the favor of God,” said La RossMaría. The end result is a head-bobbing rhythmic-urban anthem about falling in love at first sight. “Morena” is the first single off ChocQuibTown’s upcoming album.
Immasoul “Vuelvo A Ti” (Immasoul/EMPIRE)
Delivering a soulful R&B, the Afro-Mexican artist bares it all in “Vuelvo A Ti,” a track that finds Immasoul narrating a heartbreak story with lyrics revealing her inability to let go of a toxic relationship. Powered by a hypnotic bass line, the track showcases Immasoul’s wide-ranging vocals that will hook you instantly. “Vuelvo A Ti” previews her upcoming debut album titled Natural.