The Year in Music 2016

The shape-shifting year of 2016 blessed us with music’s most Latino-style come ups, comebacks and clapbacks. With some blazing a trail and others just blazing together, listeners searched for the best by any streams necessary. Check out our ode to this year’s party guest who’s always the first to arrive and the last to leave – the music!

Snow Tha Product: Woke and Wavy

Spitting rhymes reeking of political statements and barrio life, fast-talking chicana Claudia Alexandra Feliciano aka Snow Tha Product arrived in 2016. From the tour bus to the booth she gave us Bay Area realness with her debut EP, Half Way There..Pt.1 licked with bi-lingual lyrics and the grit to match. With one hand balancing her #woke movement merch and the other still on her mother’s shoulder, Snow is ready with bars on deck for the new year. All while rocking the brows your girl wishes she had.

J Balvin: Straight Outta Medellín

Appropriately titled Energía, J Balvin had his first album to shine at #1 hitting the top of Billboard’s Latin Albums. This superstar is no stranger to Grammys or clicks with over 6 million views to date on his 2016 smash Ginza. El Colombiano is showing no signs of stopping and has collabed with some of music’s top hitters/fashion debonairness like Justin Bieber, Rick Ross and Pharell. The latter of which created the smash hit Safari. He’s sure to ring in the near year with Balvin-esque finesse scheduled for packed out performances in Puerto Rico and Mexico. Not to mention only JB can flex in the same red fox fur as Rihanna!

Messiah El Artista: Blonde Ambition

Just when you thought the search for the next reggaeton double threat was over, Messiah El Artista put himself on the forefront like a true godsend. Dominican born and Harlem bred, the self-proclaimed internet made artist has sold out some of NYC’s top spots effortlessly rapping and singing to a crowd as diverse as he is. He was featured in the laugh-out-loud track “Chapi Chapi” (with fellow ‘LLERO favs Cardi B and Loopy Blogger) and was blasted out of every sound system from the hood to la isla when he dropped his first LP, Creado En Europa. Now, with his ears to the street all eyes are on him.

Bruno Mars: Pure Gold

Anyone wearing that much silk must be having the best year ever. Just when you thought it couldn’t get better than Uptown Funk, Bruno Mars gleamed brighter than gold with #1 hit single and album 24k Magic. Smoother than your uncle’s perm, Mars continues to be an unstoppable force proving big things come in small packages. Gearing up for a world tour the suave singer hasn’t missed a beat this year leaving behind a classic SuperBowl performance, a Victoria’s Secret show that left the angels swooning and a hilarious carpool karaoke to match.

Juan Gabriel: Long Live the King

We lost some legends this year as well. This year’s passing of singer Juan Gabriel had generations of music lovers flocking to their catalogue of greats from the Mexican legend. Gone too soon, his recent MeXXIco Es Todo tour reminded us why we love him as he belted out classics like Amor Eterno and Te lo Pido por Favor until his very last day. The legacy of Juanga, as he was affectionately called, is not only etched in stone with a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame but is sure to make cameos for decades to come at your local weddings, Sunday dinners and quinceañeras.

Marc Anthony and Jlo Bring Back Pimpinela

Fanatics thought they were dreaming when the reunion of all reunions hit the Latin Grammy stage as Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez vibed out to their remake of the 80’s track Olvídame y Pega La Vuelta. The former power couple kept momentum as JLo reigned in Vegas and on television and to no one’s surprise Marc was named Latin Recording Academy’s Person of the Year. It makes total sense for the salsa king to be executive producer on Lopez’s new Spanish-language album scheduled for its debut in 2017, and we’re ready!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FET-wfFw8ug

Shakira

We never get tired of hearing from Baranquilla’s own, with her S shaped movements still as sharp as ever. This year Shakira teamed up with fellow Colombian Carlos Vives for the free-spirited single Bicicleta and also released Chantaje featuring Maluma from her 2017 11th studio album, both singles reaching over 750 million streams worldwide! Inspired by husband and Spanish futbolista Gerard Piqué aka #beardgoals, the mother of two is ready to shimmy back on stage and she’s got the abs to prove it.

Becky G: Clapback Queen

Even though the political climate got cold, Becky G kept it Mexico-style hot with her anthem of pride “We Are Mexico”. The snippet-style track echoed the diligence of life and labor for Latinos in the U.S. This isn’t the first time the singer/songwriter wore her raza on her sleeve and we hope it won’t be the last.

Fat Joe Is All The Way Up…

Perhaps one of the best stories of the year was the triumphant return of the anthem maker himself Fat Joe, who re-teamed with Remy Ma and French Montana to drop All The Way Up. It was the joint booming from all the cars over the summer, with plenty a hip-hop artist wanting to get in on the remix action. None other than Hova himself Jay-Z lent an assist. Good to see Joey Crack back on the scene in the biggest of ways. Keep ’em coming Joe.