Karol G | |
Number of songs: 11 | Total weeks on charts: 503
Appearing in a total number of: 45 charts | Total period running: 1098 days
Appearing in a total number of: 45 charts | Total period running: 1098 days
Biography
During her childhood, Giraldo Karol Valentina Naranjo participated in the talent show The X Factor. She furthered her studies at Calasanz in MedellÃn, and studied music at the University of Antioquia before moving to New York to pursue a musical career. In 2006, she began using the stage name Karol G.
In 2013, she collaborated with Puerto Rican singer Nicky Jam and released the song, "Amor De Dos" which became very popular in Colombia and has reached over 90 million views on YouTube.
In 2014, she collaborated with fellow Colombian reggaeton and Latin trap singer Andy Rivera and released the song, "Mañana" which now has over 90 million views on YouTube. She also released a song called, "Ricos Besos" but was not as successful.
In 2015, she released her own adaption of the song "Mil Horas" by Argentinian rock band Los Abuelos de la Nada called, "Ya No Te Creo" which had moderate success in Colombia. A while later, she collaborated with American reggaeton singer De La Ghetto to release the song, "Te Lo Quiero Hacer". In March 2016, she released the song, "Casi Nada" and in April of the same year she released the song, "Muñeco De Lego".
In 2017, her collaborative single with Bad Bunny titled "Ahora Me Llama" was released which has become popular and quickly gained over 600 million views on YouTube. A while later in the same year, she released the song, "A Ella" which became popular in Colombia. Later in the year she collaborated with fellow Colombian reggeaton and Latin trap singer Kevin Roldán and released the song, "Eres mi Todo". Also during the year, she joined the talent show, Pequeños Gigantes USA, as a team captain and a judge alongside Prince Royce, Luis Coronel and Bianca MarroquÃn. Speaking about the gender gap in urban music, Giraldo said in Spanish: "Women should be given more space in urban music. The genre has evolved a lot both on the musical level and in the lyrics that are now not so hardcore. It's a good opportunity now for us". She appeared as an opening act on the 2017 Premios Juventud awards.
On 6 April 2018, Karol G collaborated with Argentine singer and songwriter Tini on the song "Princesa", from Tini's second studio album Quiero Volver.
In May 2018, she released "Mi Cama" (My Bed), which became a commercial success. This was followed by "Culpables" (Guilty Ones), featuring Puerto Rican rapper (and eventual partner) Anuel AA. "Culpables" peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, and a remix of "Mi Cama", featuring her early collaborators J Balvin and Nicky Jam, peaked at #6 on the same chart.
In January 2019, the singer released the single "Secreto" (Secret) with Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA; the song's accompanying music video confirmed the rumored romantic relationship between the two artists. The single reached #68 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the US Hot Latin Songs charts. The song was inspired by the period of time in which Anuel AA and Karol G were dating but had not yet publicly discussed their relationship. The video's "power couple" aesthetic garnered comparisons to Beyoncé and Jay-Z, as well as Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. Karol released the album Ocean on May 3, 2019. The album was inspired by a moment of peace and relaxation she experienced at the beach on the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife; she traveled to the beaches of the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as Saint Martin, to draw further inspiration for the album. Elias Leight of Rolling Stone reviewed the album by stating, "The power of Ocean is somewhat diminished by the fact that a third of these songs are already out" but opined that "the remaining tracks are impressively varied".
In July 2019, Karol G collaborated with Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Ozuna and J Balvin for the song "China". The song samples, and is based on, singer Shaggy's 2000 hit, "It Wasn't Me". "China" debuted at #2 on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart on the issue dated 3 August 2019, and topped both the Latin Digital Songs and Latin Streaming Songs charts with 1,000 downloads sold and 14.1 million streams. "China" was included on the Rolling Stone list of the 10 Best Latin Music Videos of July. Karol G premiered the song on American television on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on 10 January 2020. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart on 23 November 2019 and stayed on the chart for 25 weeks. Karol G released "Tusa", the first single from her album KG0516, on 7 November 2019. Tusa, a reggaeton song featuring Nicki Minaj, became a commercial success, eventually being nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 21st Annual Latin Grammy Awards.
In April 2020, Karol G released the single and video for "Follow" with Anuel AA, recording its entirety while in quarantine in Miami due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also collaborated with the Jonas Brothers on the "flirtatious" song "X" which first appeared in the end credits of the group's documentary film Happiness Continues. Karol G and the Jonas Brothers filmed the song's accompanying music video on their iPhones, using the combined footage as a "clever way to get around the obvious challenge of trying to film a music video during the COVID-19 crisis". In October, "Bichota" was released as the album's official lead single, becoming viral online.
On 17 March 2021, Karol G announced the release of her upcoming album as well as its release date and cover art through a half-minute video. The tracklist was announced on 22 March, and on 26 March, KG0516 was released. Karol G released "Sejodioto" on 21 September 2021. The song became a commercial success and was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. In October 2021, Karol G teamed up with Smirnoff for their "Sabor for the People" campaign. As part of the deal, her Bichota Tour was presented by Smirnoff.
On 14 February 2022, Karol G and Crocs announced a partnership by unveiling two different shoe silhouettes. In April 2022, "Provenza" was released as the lead single of the then unannounced album, Mañana Será Bonito, becoming viral online. The title refers to a neighborhood of Medellín called Provenza. In August 2022 Karol G released "Gatúbela" alongside Puerto Rican rapper Maldy from Reggaeton duo Plan B. The song features a beat characteristic of old-school, 2000s reggaetón, with a dembow rhythm. Its music video was initially banned online in certain countries for being sexually provocative, though it was later made available as no actual nudity is seen. The video also takes some inspiration from older horror movies (as her prowling cat-woman character can be seen covered in blood at the end), and is the first to show off Karol G's dyed red hair.
On 19 February 2023, Karol G was among the headlining artists at the famous Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Viña del Mar/Valparaíso, Chile, where she performed a live-streamed show for over 15,000 fans. On 24 February, Karol G's album Mañana Será Bonito was released, alongside the collaboration "TQG" with Shakira. The album peaked at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first-ever Spanish-language album by a female artist to debut at No. 1, while the collaboration achieved her highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at seven. The project garnered seven nominations at the 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, winning three awards, including Album of the Year and Best Urban Music Album, while "TQG" won for Best Urban Fusion/Performance. At the upcoming 66th Annual Grammy Awards the album received a nomination for Best Música Urbana Album.
In June 2023, Karol G signed with Interscope Records. On 2 June 2023 Karol G released "Watati", a promotional single from Barbie the Album which featured the Panamanian reggaeton artist Aldo Ranks. The music video was released on 15 June 2023. Karol G released a song called "S91" on 13 July 2023, along with a music video directed by Pedro Artola. On 11 August 2023 Karol G released a companion mixtape to Mañana Será Bonito, called Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season). It includes lead single "S91" and a second single titled "Mi Ex Tenía Razón" released on the same day as its parent mixtape. The album includes collaborations with Peso Pluma, Kali Uchis, and Tiësto, among others.
In 2024, she appeared in a recurring role in the Netflix miniseries Griselda, starring Sofía Vergara.
Karol G's music has been described as predominantly Reggaeton and Latin Urban, with some Latin trap influences. However, she has experimented with a variety of other genres in her work. Her album Ocean features a wide range of stylistic experimentation. She collaborated with Brazilian duo Simone & Simaria on the Spanish/Portuguese song "La Vida Continuó", which contains influences from the genre of sertanejo. Karol G cites the global appeal of singers Rihanna, Beyoncé, Selena Quintanilla and Shakira as major influences in her work and the level of global recognition she hopes to achieve, with Rihanna being a "dream" collaboration. Karol G has a tattoo of portraits of Rihanna and Quintanilla, along with her own face, on her right forearm. Additional influences include Daddy Yankee, Maluma, Rosalía, Gloria Trevi, Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, Ivy Queen, Anahí, Thalía, Spice Girls, Jerry Rivera, Bee Gees, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Ecleen Luzmila Caraballo of Rolling Stone describes Karol G's style of dress as "feminine and sexy, yet sporty and tomboyish — but never [cutesy]". Gary Suarez of Vice notes that in her music videos, "she exudes a sex positivity that reflects a powerful diva image front and center, rather than the eye candy tropes often found in urbano visuals." Karol G has a large LGBT following, and the singer expressed admiration for her gay fans by explaining, "I love people who can go out into the world and be fearless...That's something I admire very much from that community. They have a beautiful energy." She declined to record "Sin Pijama" with Becky G, which would become a collaboration with Natti Natasha and be a hit, because of a lyric about smoking marijuana in the song. Karol G, who does not smoke marijuana, felt that the song did not represent her true lifestyle. For her album Ocean, Karol G moved away from the polished image of the Unstoppable album cover, with the artist explaining, "I did the picture with no makeup, super natural. Because that's the way I want people to listen to my music now."
In 2020, Karol G's tweet about her dog's "perfect" color and citing it as an example of white and black looking beautiful together sparked controversy. She later admitted to have acted in "an ignorant way" at a time when Black Lives Matter had gripped America in 2020. Karol G also admitted to have "lost a lot of opportunities" in her interview with The Guardian.
Karol G met Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA in August 2018 on the set of the music video for their song "Culpables", a month after his release from prison. In January 2019, the couple confirmed their relationship. On 25 April 2019, Karol G confirmed engagement to the rapper by appearing at the Billboard Latin Music Awards wearing a diamond wedding ring. On 20 April 2021, Anuel AA confirmed that he and Karol G had ended their relationship and engagement. As of early 2023, Karol G's relationship with Colombian musician Feid was confirmed after they attended the Billboard Women in Music 2024 event together.
On 29 February 2024, Karol G, en route in her Gulfstream IV from Hollywood Burbank Airport to El Salvador International Airport for her Mañana Será Bonito Tour, made an emergency landing at Van Nuys Airport due to a report from the pilot of smoke in the cockpit. All 16 passengers onboard the plane were evacuated safely with no injuries.
Discography:
Unstoppable (2017)
Ocean (2019)
KG0516 (2021)
Mañana Será Bonito (2023)
Sources: Wikipedia, Top40-Charts.com Editorial team
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