New York, NY (Top40 Charts) It seems that no matter what latin music article you read, the fans are out in force in the comments, desperate to get their opinions heard whenever there's a mention of
Arcangel or Cosculluela, and desperate to let the world know that these modern rappers aren't a patch on their beloved
Don Omar or Tego Calderon. Don't even mention Daddy Yankee.
Well, while they were busy becoming bitter old men, the latin urban world changed. And that's not to say that one era is better than the other either, it's just different. And guess what: different is good. Imagine how crushingly boring it would be if
Farruko Institution sounded exactly like Gasolina or if
Maluma was little more than a
Don Omar impersonator. thank God this never happened, and the music would it be garbage.
In 2016, Latin Urban
Music is in a great place creatively. The decrepit (white) label system of old is on its knees - today's latin rappers are making music on their own terms, whether that's romantic Records recapturing the spirit of Big Boy or Jamsha taking Puerto Rico strip club dembow around the world via youtube,The following list is a handful of rappers we think have what it takes to break out in 2017. Just get over it is a new wave.
Messiah El Artista
Messiah's unique approach to trap music in Spanish caught the attention of
Latino artists dripping seniority, such as
Daddy Yankee and Nicky Jam. Messiah would soon garner himself a more conventional push in the form of a collaborative mixtape, with Power 105's DJ Flipstar titled It Was Time (Ya Era Tiempo). Meanwhile, Messiah grew increasingly popular in his native country of the Dominican Republic, without having to actually "live, breathe and make music" on the island-a source of pride for the guy who lives to set himself apart from the competition.
Tali MC
Tali MC a familiar collaborator with Messiah. the latin trap artist truly living what he preach in his music,
Arcangel praises him as one of the realest since his release from Jail earlier this year, and he has surpass all expectations and convinced that New York latin trap hasn't had anything refreshing to offer the latin urban music since calle 13 fizzled out.
Chacka (El Comentario del Barrio)
Young New York rapper El Chacka surprised the whole city this year with his released from Jail. Chacka lirical-fire flow feels very of-the-moment, but he's got more storytelling skills than the Harry Potter and Marvel comics put together. It's his open-mindedness that sets him apart from his peers - while tracks like 'Caja E Tenis' are engineered to deliver in the club, show a willingness to experiment that's a breath of fresh air.
Lokixximo
Somehow we managed to miss Lokixximo in 2016, despite the Bronx rapper releasing a solo EP album and 2 full mixtapes in 2015. We're glad to hear the rapper is working on darker material through this instagram for 2017 - the Bones affiliated rapper is the most lyrically gifted in this list, illustrating a gang-addled New York lifestyle that's tense, violent and deeply unsettling.
His pitch-black rhymes shouldn't be the biggest surprise - The Bronx has a history of solid horror-core offerings from the late Big Pun - but he balances the darkness with beats that don't sound a million miles from the Yankee Stadium. If you need a place to start, breakout freestyle "R.I.P. Feat Jay Z ' is low-key one of his best reality tracks of last year; with known producers such as Add On and NYBangerz, Lokixximo's star is set to rise swiftly in 2017.
Mozart La Para
Mozart began as an artist in Dominican Republic, since then, Mozart La Para is the first latin artist to sign with
Romeo Santos and Jay Z's Roc Nation
Latino and is on the company's roster (with J Cole,
Big Sean and
Lil Wayne ), since the Roc Nation headquarters are in New York City, this puts him in the same market as other latin rappers mentioned above, now all it'll take is a well-timed mixtape or proper full-length album in 2017 to propel him to the next level and open doors for the up and coming latin urban artists.
La Para began his career in 2002 and since has become one of the top urban artists in his home country the Dominican republic. Most recently, his singles "Aqui Nadie Toca" and "Toy Enamorao" reached the top of the Billboard Tropical Songs chart and won six Premios Soberano Awards. As well, Pueto Pa' Mi, the 2015 film based on his life broke sales records across Dominican Republic theaters.
