On our Radar: Breakfast N Vegas, Micro TDH, Paulo Londra, and Farruko
30 April, 2019Coming off of Coachella that saw Latinos grab major headlines, and a Billboard Latin Music Week filled with reggaeton and Latin trap stars, there’s no sign that the urbano craze is letting up. In this edition of “On our Radar,” we’re sharing some newer tracks we’ve been liking as of late.
Los Angeles: Breakfast N Vegas featuring Colombia’s RioLoz, ‘Ahora Sabes’
Breakfast N Vegas are a Los Angeles-based producer duo comprised of DJ Yonny (a member of Heavyhitter DJ crew who has worked with Rihanna and Major Lazer among others) and music industry veteran producer and engineer, Curtis Austin, who has worked with The Chainsmokers.
Yonny grew up listening to music from his parents’ home country of Colombia and also jamming to the hits on the radio and early underground house music. He’s also very well known in the northern New Jersey area, where Urbano genre artists have performed long before they were staples on mainstream pop radio stations.
In this track, the producer duo enlisted help from Colombia’s RioLoz, who they urged rap in Spanish. Originally from Cali, Colombia, raised in Miami, and now in Los Angeles, RioLoz is fluent in both Spanish and English, but only ever wrote lyrics in English. Here, he spits in Spanish in the early part of the song, but then backs it up for those who don’t habla español:
“Wrote the second first in English, just in case you ni**as didn’t know.”
The duo has an album (Trapical) dropping in late May, and we hear Los Rakas are on it. Stay tuned.
Venezuela: Micro TDH, ‘Besame Sin Sentir’
Just 20 years old, Venezuela’s Micro TDH (real name Fernando Morillo) has amassed quite the following on social media by releasing singles and EPs and selling out shows independently.
Late last year, he was picked up by Big Ligas, the new-ish label founded by Colombian producer Ovy on the Drums that also boasts rising Argentine rapper Paulo Londra (see below). We expect to see more young, but talent-filled, artists to be picked up by the label, as Ovy on the Drums keeps churning out winning beats for the likes of Karol G, Londra and Anuel AA.
Micro TDH’s single “Besame Sin Sentir” is definitely hip hop, but it has a soulful element and an indie sensibility that tells us this young Venezuelan is going places. (Also check out his song “Te Vi,” a collaboration with Colombian pop stars Piso 21 for a more upbeat bop.)
Argentina: Paulo Londra, ‘Tal Vez’
At 21-years-old, Paola Londra is also on the Big Ligas roster. And earlier this month, he got super producer/DJ Steve Aoki to join him on the Lollapalooza Argentina stage.
Known for rapping/singing about themes such as being young angst, his song “Tal Vez” (also produced by Ovy on the Drums), is no different. It’s about him running into a one-night stand who didn’t want much else beyond the initial encounter. Sure, the hook is a bit sad puppy. But it’s hella catchy:
Porque tal vez lo nuestro era sólo para divertirse
Pero este tonto suele confundirse
Y e’ triste que del finde ya no he vuelto a sonreír
(Maybe it’s was just for fun
but this fool is often confused
and sad that I haven’t been able to smile this weekend)
Puerto Rico: Farruko feat. Bad Bunny, ‘La Cartera’
No stranger to success or Latin Grammy nominations, Farruko’s new album Gangalee is a bounty of collaborations. His song with Grammy winner Alicia Keys seems to be playing everywhere. The album also features Colombian star J Balvin, a remix with veteran reggeatonero Don Omar, and tracks with dancehall artists, such as Panama’s Kufu Banton and Jamaica’s Konshens.
The whole thing is an ode to ganga, and this track with Puerto Rico’s Bad Bunny is perfect for lighting one up and swaying as it features a few tempo changes and some classic riddims. The entire album is worthy of your time.
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