It’s no surprise Latin music slayed streaming plays and video clicks in 2017. Listeners peered through layers of political action, nature’s reactions and community traction all to come out on the other side bouncing to a new sound. The top artists who kept our third eye open and our champagne glasses full in 2017 gave us our generation’s music at the volume we like. Check out your favorite’s favorites including this year’s powerhouses, a recent gem and our 2018 MVP prediction.
Residente | One Ain’t the Loneliest Number
Residente’s first solo project the self-titled Residente set a mark on Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Albums of 2017 and his grass-roots vibes drummed harder than ever. With the power of self, one half of the hermano duo Calle 13 kept the grit in his voice laying down multi-lingual track after track on his most reflective music collection yet. With Grammy noms already on deck, outside the booth no words were left unsaid as Residente advocated for national contribution toward Puerto Rico’s hurricane aid. Don’t believe us? Just check out his performance at the 2017 Latin Grammys below.
Camila Cabello | Cohibas for the Ladies
The former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello paid homage to her bloodline with the made for radio smash “Havana”. Cabello soared with sass and style opening for Bruno Mars’ crowded tour stops giving fans a sneak peek of what to expect for her self-titled debut album ready for next year. Being the only harmony never felt better.
Cardi B | Cardi B vs. Everyone
More New York than food cart suspicions, Cardi B arguably had the greatest año ever. The Bronx born, Washington-Heights fed Dominican-Trini flooded our feeds shining on magazine covers, stages and even a shoe campaign. Even before a debut LP, Bodak Yellow proved the road to Billboard’s Top 100 is paved in red and the iTunes chart doesn’t look much different with Cardi creds on no less than four smash hits. The glow up is so real, she was a Halloween costume this year!