2020 is coming to its end (think God, right?), but even though the year got on our nerves it gave us time to explore new music, and artists were able to focus on creating dope tunes for us.
This year was extremely good for Latin artists who took over mainstream charts and rose to superstars in all genres.
Below, we listed the 5 Latin HipHop artists you need to follow in 2020!
¡vamos!
1- Noriel
Noriel is a reggaeton singer and rapper who burst onto the Puerto Rican scene as part of the duo Kenxiel & Noriel with the 2014 charting single “Miedo a Morir” featuring Johnny Stone. Since then he’s become a nearly ubiquitous guest and collaborator on singles by his peers, including Juhn, Riko, Santana the Golden Boy, Darkiel, Bryant Myers, and others. In 2016 he began issuing a slew of digital singles, including “La Llamada” (featuring Brytiago), “Fanatico del Full” (featuring Baby Rasta, Darrel, and Nengo Flow), and his Sony debut (and digital hit) “Diablita” (featuring Anuel AA and Baby Rasta). The full-length, Trap Capos II, followed in 2018 and hit the Top Ten of the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.
2- Lunay
Born in Puerto Rico in 2000, Lunay was far more interested in soccer than music as a young teen, but he caught the bug at 15. A year later, he was creating freestyle raps and uploading them to his Facebook and SoundCloud pages. He rehearsed by improvising in front of his soccer teammates. Several of his audio clips went viral and his soulful, innovative freestyle delivery caught the attention of producers Chris Jeday and Gaby Music, who signed him to a production deal. They connected him with prominent talents in trap and reggaeton.
Throughout 2018, he seldom left the studio except for the occasional live appearance. By the spring of 2019, he was all over the charts on his own and as a collaborator. “A Solas” and its remix were nominated for National Song of the Year and Remix of the Year at the first edition of the Latin Urban Music Awards, in Puerto Rico. His follow-up, “Soltera,” landed at number 73 on the Hot 100, while its remix hit 28 on the Emerging Artists chart. He toured Europe during the early summer of 2019 and performed at the year’s Premios Juventud Awards, winning one for Best New Artist. In late October, just 14 months into his career, he issued his debut long-player, Epico. Lunay enlisted a slew of guests for various tracks including “Mi Favorita” with Wisin y Yandel, “La Cama” with Myke Towers, Aventura” with Anuel AA and Ozuna, and the “Soltera” remix featuring Daddy Yankee and Bad Bunny. Throughout the front half of 2020, Lunay delivered a succession of EPs including Noche de Travesuras, Si Te Dejas LLevar, and Esta de Moda and later collaborated with Haze and Jhay Cortez on the single “Prendemos.”
3- YSY A
YSY A is an important name in the current Latin hip-hop movement. The 21-year-old gave birth to a whole new scene in Argentina and is responsible for creating El Quinto Escalón, the biggest park freestyle competition in the country.
As an artist, YSY A is aggressive and disruptive. He has a raw and crispy voice, like a rabid dog’s bark, making for a powerful delivery. YSY’s innovative nature finds him selecting the most daring beats to rap over, like on the hit “Vamo a Darle,” where he flows over a house instrumental, displaying his eagerness to innovate his craft. This has helped YSY A become one of the most unique rappers in all of Latin trap.
4- FG Figueroa
FG Figueroa is an independent artist & songwriter out of South Florida originally from Puerto Rico. The influences from the US and his travels abroad to other countries have impacted the way he writes music, giving it a universal sound. Throughout his life, he has been influenced by Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Sade, Usher, Hector Lavoe, Marc Anthony, Eminem, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Linkin Park, Don Omar, Daddy Yankee, Arcangel, and many more. He has incorporated R&B, Pop, Salsa, Hip-Hop, Rap and Reggaeton to create a unique sound which captivates the soul through storytelling and energy, utilizing his voice as an instrument. His album, “The Prelude” embodies his unique sonic signature creating an audio experience that transitions seamlessly from one track to the next, ending in a declaration to the world that this is just “the introduction to something more important.”
5- Lary Over
Lary Over is a Latin Trap artist born in the cradle of urban music, Puerto Rico. From the start of the Trap movement in the island, and as it spread across Latin America and the US, the artist positioned himself as one of the pillars and founders of this underground genre that today generates millions for the industry. In just under 2 years, the young composer has created a global movement based on a solid fan base, his unique style, and staying true to his personality.
Lary Over showed an inclination for music from an early age, participating as any aspiring singer in the school musical functions. The childhood influences of being raised solely by his mother in an urban neighborhood that at times lacked safety and resources shaped his artistic point of view, and it also helped him remain grounded and focused on his goals.