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One of the leading Puerto Rican pop stars of his generation, singer and songwriter Rauw Alejandro is known for his smooth tenor singing voice and genre-crossing reggaeton style that mixes Latin pop, R&B, hip-hop, and throwback sounds. After releasing his acclaimed debut mixtape, Punto de Equilibrio, in late 2016, he became a featured collaborator alongside Ozuna, Lunay, and Lyanno on "Luz Apaga," and with Lyanno, Alex Rose, Cazzu, and Lenny Tavárez on "Toda Remix." These and other collaborations resulted in Alejandro being nominated in four categories for Puerto Rico's Tu Musica Urban Awards in 2019. They also paved the way for his debut studio album, 2020's Afrodisíaco, which hit number two on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart. In June 2021, Alejandro topped the Latin charts with Vice Versa, which incorporated electro, drum'n'bass, neo-disco, and mainstream pop into his brand of reggaeton. Following the 2022 EP Trap Cake, Vol. 2., Alejandro again reached the Top Ten of the Latin charts with his third full-length, Saturno. RR, a collaboration with Rosalía, appeared in 2023 ahead of its companion album, Playa Saturno. Referencing a classic Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe album, he delivered Cosa Nuestra in 2024.

Born Raúl Alejandro Ocasio Ruiz, he was raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. When he was a child, his family moved (temporarily) to the United States before returning to the island. His first passion was soccer, a sport he practiced seriously while studying at the Maria Auxiliadora School. Music was another hobby, but he never considered it as a career until his football playing was cut short by an injury during adolescence. As therapy to assuage his disappointment, he applied himself to music and began posting tracks to SoundCloud. Given his parents' love of music (his dad is a guitar player), he was influenced early on by Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, and later by Ricky Martin, Daddy Yankee, and Chris Brown. As he learned to sing and write songs, he put his talent for dancing to work on local stages and in videos, meeting numerous musicians, producers, and dancers. He quickly developed a reputation as a triple-threat talent.

Alejandro was signed to the Under Music Group label, which nurtured his writing and singing talent. The label began issuing his singles in June 2016, including "No Me Siento Igual" (featuring Joyce Santana) and "Días Así," and "Se Tú" (featuring Lyanno and Sousa). Alejandro's debut mixtape, Punto de Equilibrio, appeared at the end of the year, and he toured Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the Southeastern United States. He was prolific and issued 14 singles and videos between 2016 and late 2017, not including guest appearances. The singer drew attention from trade and fan magazines across the Latin music spectrum, as well as Anglo industry weeklies. Between his own singles -- the streaming chart hits "Mi Llamada" (featuring Lyanno, Alex Rose, and Lenny Tavárez), "T.T.I.," and "Dale" (featuring Sousa and Mr. Naisgai) -- and his guest spots with Rafa Pabön ("Tarde") and Alex Rose ("Toda"), he appeared on no less than seven singles. He was featured on Ozuna's "Luz Apaga," which peaked at 26 on the Hot Latin Songs chart and even spent a week at number three on the Latin Digital Song Sales.

Alejandro kicked off 2019 with the collaborations "Miénteme (Remix)" with Sousa, Cazzu, Lyanno, and Álvaro Díaz, followed by "Es Normal" with Javiielo, Lunay, Lyanno, and Sousa. He also delivered an EP, Trap Cake, Vol. 1, as well as the non-album duet hit "Que Le Dé" with Nicky Jam, which placed in the Top Ten on almost all the Latin streaming charts. In February he appeared on the club hit "Mírame" with Nio García and Lenny Tavárez. Alejandro toured Latin America and the United States in the winter and spring, and later that fall released the single "Fantasias," which saw him collaborating with Puerto Rican singer and songwriter Farruko. The non-album track "Algo Mágico" arrived in July 2020. That summer, he also issued the live album Concierto Virtual en Tiempos de COVID-19 Desde el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, which peaked at number ten on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. In November 2020, he released his Grammy-nominated debut studio album, Afrodisíaco, which included guest appearances by J Balvin, Sech, Anuel AA, and others.

In February 2021, Alejandro appeared as Selena Gomez's duet partner on the Hot 100 hit "Baila Conmigo," which also topped the Hot Latin Songs chart. In June he released Vice Versa. Refusing to be pigeonholed, he worked with a slew of producers including Tainy and Mr. Naisgai (Luis J. Gonzalez) on a collection of originals that juxtaposed his fluid brand of urbano reggaeton with neo-disco, electro, drum'n'bass, funky breaks, and more, to jarring effect. The set entered the Top 200 at number 17 and the Top Latin Album charts at number one a week after its release. Its single "Todo de Ti" spent five weeks in the Hot 100. It also spawned the Top Five Latin hit "Desesperados" with Chencho Corleone. The singer's second EP, Trap Cake, Vol. 2, appeared in February 2022, hitting number six on the Latin chart.

In November 2022, Alejandro issued the 18-track full-length Saturno. Co-produced under the alias El Zorro with longtime friend Kenobi and Mr. Naisgai, and in select places, major influences El Playero and Tainy, the set juxtaposed reggaeton and trap with funk, throwback hip-hop, pop, and retro new wave. Among his collaborators on the date were Baby Rasta, El Playero, and Arcángel. The release entered the Billboard 200 at number 25, and landed at number two on the Top Latin Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums charts. It also spawned several Top 30 Latin singles, including "Lejos del Cielo" and "Panties y Brasieres" (with Daddy Yankee). RR, a collaborative EP with Rosalía, arrived in March 2023 and featured the Top Ten Latin hit "Beso." He then paired with Bizarrap for the song "Rauw Alejandro: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 56" as well as "Baby Hello." The latter single heralded the singer's Saturno spin-off album Playa Saturno, which reached number four on the Top Latin Albums chart and cracked the Top 30 of the Billboard 200.

Alejandro again hit the upper echelon of the Latin songs chart in April 2024 with the non-album track "Santa," with Rvssian and Ayra Starr. However, it was the arrival of his disco-infused single "Touching the Sky" a month later that heralded his fifth studio album, Cosa Nuestra. A reference to the classic 1969 Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe album of the same name, Cosa Nuestra, or "Our Thing," once again found Alejandro balancing his salsa and reggaeton roots with forays into electronic dance music, trap, R&B, and Latin pop. Along with production from El Zorro, Dímelo Ninow, Kenobi, and others, it featured guest spots from Pharrell Williams, Bad Bunny, Feid, and more. It reached number six on the Billboard 200 and topped the Latin Albums charts. ~ Thom Jurek & Matt Collar

Anuel AA is a Puerto Rican MC whose thoroughly urban music seamlessly melds reggaeton and trap. He is one of the Boricua rappers who spearheaded the Latin trap movement. His uncompromising lyrics heavily detail sex ("Sola"), drugs ("Ayer"), and murder ("Nunca Sapo"). While his songs (and those of other Latin trap stars) are too risqué to be played on the radio, he quickly gained millions of followers through posting videos online and an intensely active social media presence -- mostly while in prison. According to many, Anuel AA is the true king of Latin trap since many other genre stars rose to prominence during his absence. His first three post-incarceration studio albums -- 2020's Emmanuel and 2021's Los Dioses (with Ozuna), and Las Leyendas Nunca Mueren -- all hit number one on the Top Latin Albums chart. 2022's LLMN2 debuted at number two and placed four tracks on the Latin singles charts. His 2023 collaboration with Mambo Kingz and DJ Luian, "Mejor Que Yo," was also a Top 20 Latin hit The single "Tacos Gucci" appeared in 2024.

Born Emmanuel Santiago Gazmey, his father, José Gazmey, was the vice-president of the A&R department of Sony Music Entertainment's Puerto Rican division. After Anuel AA began posting songs online in 2010, they racked up thousands of hits from around the world. With assistance from Ñengo Flow, Ozuna, Arcángel, and others, his gritty, bouncy sound and aggressive lyric attack gained popularity via millions of views for his early singles and remixes, and came to the attention of Rick Ross, who signed him to the Latin division of Maybach Music Group. Anuel AA released a well-received mixtape in February 2016.

He was arrested on charges of gun possession when various firearms and ammunition were discovered in the trunk of a car in which he was a passenger, resulting in the #FreeAnuel hashtag campaign among his international fan base. Nevertheless, his management continued uploading songs from his vault while he was incarcerated. He even managed to record new material behind bars. "Yesterday 2" featured collaborations from J Balvin, Nicky Jam, and Cosculluela. Anuel AA continued recording while inside; however, he often sang through phones during calls. His videos resonated with fans and racked up over 500 million views. Numerous songs featuring his voice appeared with some regularity. Ozuna labeled him a guest on "Bebé," the hit single from his successful 2017 album Odisea -- which spent 32 consecutive weeks comfortably atop Billboard's Top Latin Albums. Released in December 2016, a remix of Anuel AA's own "Sola" had noteworthy guests such as Daddy Yankee and Wisin participating. Other singles sporting Anuel verses included Arcángel's "Rojo," Farruko's "Liberace," and Ñengo Flow's "47." Some earned RIAA Latin certifications. Anuel AA received a platinum certification for the single "Ayer," produced by DJ Nelson.

Anuel AA, who spent no less than 90 days in solitary confinement, surprised the music world by releasing the full-length album Real Hasta La Muerte to streaming and digital platforms in 2018. It debuted at number 51 on the Billboard 200 and claimed the top spot on Top Latin Albums, taking Odisea down a peg. The Ozuna-assisted party anthem "Brindemos" appeared at number 48 on Hot Latin Songs before an actual video was released. After being awarded the Billboard Latin Music Award for New Artist of the Year in 2019, Anuel AA issued a barrage of tracks off his 2020 album Emmanuel, including the Karol G collaborations "Secreto" and "China," the latter of which also included Daddy Yankee. New tracks continued to leak out into 2020, and in May of that year Anuel AA appeared alongside Nicki Minaj on a remix of Black Jonas Point's song "La Bebe." Other collaborators on the full-length included Travis Barker (on a Spanish cover of Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry"), Karol G, Tego Calderon, Bad Bunny, Farruko, Lil Wayne, Zion, and more. The 22-track Emmanuel entered the Top 200 at number eight and was eventually certified six times platinum (Latin).

In January 2021, Anuel AA released Los Dioses, a collaborative album with Ozuna. It became his third set to top Billboard's Latin Albums chart. Later in the year, "Location" (with Karol G) and "Los de Siempre" (with Chris Jedi) appeared. In November, he issued Las Leyendas Nunca Mueren. It debuted at number one on the Hot Latin Albums chart and began its run on the Top 200 at number 29. He followed it with a completely sold-out, eight-month tour.

In March 2022, the reggaetonero was back. He issued the single "Si Tu Me Busca," in collaboration with rapper/girlfriend Yailin la Mas Viral. It peaked at number 12 on Latin Digital Songs and charted in eight countries. May's "¿Qué Nos Pasó?" hit in over a dozen. In June, he and Yailin la Mas Viral surprised fans with a wedding announcement.

July's "La Llevo Al Cielo" (ft. Ñengo Flow) charted in more than 20 countries including the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Anuel AA followed with the video single "Malo," with collaborative help from Randy and Zion. It registered more than 14 million views during its first week. In early July, he canceled his long-planned U.S. tour in order to "recharge his batteries" and finish his fourth album.

LLNM2 appeared in December 2022. Originally purposed as an EP titled Me Fui de Gira, the completed project comprised a whopping 33 tracks and was a sequel to the previous year's Las Leyendas Nunca Mueren. The collaboration-rich set offered more than 15 guests -- David Guetta, DaBaby, and Bryant Myers among them -- entered Top Latin Albums chart at number two. Four of its tracks likewise made appearances on the Hot Latin Songs list including "La Máquina," with Jowell & Randy, De la Ghetto, and Yailin La Mas Viral, as well as "Sufro," with Kodak Black and Nengo Flow. The full-length also placed at 30 in the all-genre Top 200. In 2023, he scored more Top 20 Latin hits joining forces with Mambo Kingz and DJ Luian for both "Más Rica Que Ayer" and "Mejor Que Yo." The team also released "Baby" with Quavo. Anuel made guest appearances on singles by acts including Nio Garcia and Marshmello, and released solo songs such as "Glock, Glock, Glock." In 2024, he appeared on Jennifer Lopez's "Rebound," and released the track "Tacos Gucci." ~ Paul Simpson & Thom Jurek

Natti Natasha (born Natalia Alexandra Gutiérrez) is a chart-topping reggaeton, urban, and Latin pop singer, producer, and collaborator. Her singles have consistently reached the upper rungs of the Latin pop charts across the Americas and in Spain. Natasha's first recorded appearance with mentor Don Omar netted the number one single "Dutty Love" in 2012. All About Me, her debut solo album, won airplay across the Caribbean. She spent several years with Omar while expanding her role as a collaborator with other artists. Natasha has appeared on nearly 100 charting singles and released over a dozen more under her own name including 2017's "Criminal" (featuring Ozuna), "Amantes de una Noche" (featuring Bad Bunny), and 2019's "Quién Sabe." Her second long-player, 2019's Iluminatti, peaked at number three. In 2020, Natasha was a featured collaborator/songwriter on no less than 15 charting singles including the smash "Despacio" with Nicky Jam, Myke Towers, and Manuel Turizo. The Prince Royce-assisted "Antes Que Salga el Sol" and the Becky G collaboration "Ram Pam Pam" anchored her second album, Nattividad (2021). She scored a major hit with 2022's "Mayor Que Usted" (with Daddy Yankee and Wisin & Yandel), and continued releasing solo singles such as 2023's "La Falta Que Me Haces."

Natasha was born in Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic. Singing in church as a small child, she mightily impressed her mother, who enrolled her at the School of Fine Arts of Santiago at the age of eight. At 14, Natasha started recording songs as a hobby. She began to participate in all the musical events and competitions that took place in Santiago and eventually formed the group D'style with friends. During one of their regional tours, she met Linkon, a producer and A&R scout for Don Omar's Orfanato Music Group. She began recording songs for a project he was working on, and eventually ended up in New York City to work with him in his own studio. Toward the end of recording one day, Omar walked into the studio and was so impressed he asked Linkon to call Natasha later in the day to schedule a meeting. She had no idea it was with Don Omar. From that day on, he became her mentor and has guided her career. She signed to Orfanato Music Group's Pina label, and her 2012 duet single with Omar, "Dutty Love," hit number one on virtually every Latin dance and pop chart in the Americas. Though her debut full-length, All About Me (issued later in the year), didn't do as well, her collaborations kept her in the spotlight and served to mature her performances. She duetted with Farruko on "Crazy in Love," which also landed in the Top Five and raised her profile -- to the complete delight of Farruko.

Along with touring and opening for Don Omar and other stars, Natasha was featured by name on Farruko's number five single "Perdido en Tus Ojos" in 2015. The exposure she received as a result of its video was unprecedented: It rang up 150 million views. Natasha became an in-demand collaborator. She worked with Ozuna on 2017's "Criminal," which landed in the Top Five, and its video topped a billion views. The same year, she worked with Daddy Yankee on the single and video for "Otra Cosa," which racked up 56 million views. In January 2018, she headlined the single "Amantes de Una Noche" featuring Latin trap star Bad Bunny. Its video charted 95 million views during the three weeks following its release and provided significant exposure as the pre-release for her sophomore effort, 2019's Iluminatti. Buoyed by the single "Quién Sabe," the LP debuted at number three on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. Also that year, she appeared on the song "Runaway" with Sebastián Yatra, Daddy Yankee, and the Jonas Brothers, and "Instagram" with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike.

More non-album tracks followed in 2020, including "Despacio" with Nicky Jam, Manuel Turizo, and Myke Towers and "Que Mal Te Fue," the latter of which hit 18 on Billboard's Top Latin Songs chart. In 2021, a pair of Top 20 hits -- "Antes Que Salga el Sol" with Prince Royce and "Ram Pam Pam" with Becky G -- anchored her second album, 2021's Nattividad. The record itself peaked at number 14 on the U.S. Latin chart. Her success continued into 2022 with singles like "Wow BB" with El Alfa and Chimbala and the chart-topping "Mayor Que Usted" with Daddy Yankee and Wisin & Yandel. "Lokita" (with María Becerra) and "To' Esto Es Tuyo" rounded out the year. In 2023, she released "Algarete" and "La Falta Que Me Haces." ~ Thom Jurek

Farruko is a best-selling reggaeton and Latin pop singer/rapper from Puerto Rico. Since delivering his Latin Grammy-nominated 2010 debut album, El Talento del Bloque, he has released more than 160 singles solo or in collaboration with a who's-who of Latin pop superstars, including Pitbull, Daddy Yankee, Natti Natasha, Karol G, and Bad Bunny. His videos have registered hundreds of millions of views (2016's "Chillax" featuring Ky-Mani Marley garnered more than 750 million on its own). Equipped with a smooth high baritone voice, he is equally adept at singing reggaeton, merengue, bachata, pop, Latin dance, and reggae. His third album, Farruko Presenta: Los Menores, was his first to crack the Top Five, while 2015's Visionary reached number one. Two years later, his single "Krippy Kush" and its remix featuring Ocasio, Rvssian, Nicki Minaj, and 21 Savage peaked inside the Top Ten twice, propelling his smash TrapXficante album to number three. 2019's Gangalee topped the Latin streaming list and went to number two at Top Latin Albums; it remained on the chart for two years. Following his soundtrack to the 2019 HBO docuseries En Letra de Otro, Farruko again topped the Latin Albums chart with 2021's La 167, featuring the hit "Pepas." The EP Cvrbon Vrmor (C_DE: G_D.O.N.) arrived in 2024.

Farruko's given name is Carlos Efren Reyes, and he was born in Bayamón in 1991. At the age of 16, he began to post songs under his stage name to MySpace. His first single, "Sexo Fuera del Planeta," gained him thousands of followers, and from there he explored the potential of other social media networks. Due to his massive success on the Internet, he came to the attention of Puerto Rican radio and music industry executives, who enlisted his vocal talents for other artists.

Farruko's debut album, El Talento del Bloque, appeared when he was 18. It was released by Siente Music and distributed by Universal. Most of its 13 songs were self-penned. The set became an almost-instant hit, and several singles followed from it. Some of the record's highlights included collaborative tunes such as "Su Hija Me Gusta" with José Feliciano, "Ella No Es Fácil" with Cosculluela, and "Traime a Tu Amiga" with Arcángel and Julio Voltio. Farruko also issued the non-album smash "Pa' Romper la Discoteca" with Daddy Yankee and Yomo. In 2012, he released his sophomore effort, TMPR: The Most Powerful Rookie. Its first smash single was "Feel the Rhythm" ("Siente el Ritmo"), though it was one of five. As a whole, the set demonstrated that Farruko was as comfortable in electro and pop circles as he was in reggaeton; it was nominated for a Latin Grammy.

After touring throughout Latin America and the United States and establishing large fan bases in locales such as Venezuela and Colombia, Farruko returned to recording in 2014. Farruko Presenta Los Menores was released in late October of that year. A week after its release, it topped the Latin Albums chart. Among the notable collaborations are "Salgo" with Arcángel, Ñengo Flow, D. Ozi, and Genio y Kelmitt; "Bebe Conmigo" with J Balvin; and "Interesada" with Luigi 21+. He won the Premios Juventud for the song "6 AM" with J Balvin and Latin Grammy Awards for Best Urban Performance and Best Urban Song in 2015. In February of that year, he released "Lejos de Aquí," a remix with Yandel. In June, he was Alejandra Guzmán's surprise duet partner on her first urban single, "Adios." In July, he issued the pre-release track "Sunset" (featuring Shaggy and Nicky Jam), which garnered the top spot on various Latin airplay charts. In August, Farruko issued The Ones, a compilation of his charting singles and collaborations; it was a teaser for his next studio effort, Visionary, which appeared in late October. Pre-order excitement for the album propelled it to debut at number one on several Latin album charts; it remained there for several weeks after release. In 2017, he returned with his sixth studio album, TrapXficante. As its title suggested, the artist put his money on the fusion of reggaeton and urban pop with the second generation of Latin trap; the latter he considered still in its infancy, making some commercial inroads but still far from its future force as the face of commercial mainstream Latinx pop -- despite its outlaw ties. He openly desired being the face of that future, and drew on a host of new-generation Latin trap artists as collaborators including Frank Miami, Sharo Torres, Rome, Mambo Kingz, DJ Luian, Maffio, Lil Geniuz, Bad Bunny, and Ladkani. The album was issued in September as Farruko undertook the U.S. leg of his global TrapXficante tour.

In the years that followed, he hopped onto a slew of singles and remixes with the likes of J Balvin, Pedro Capó, Nicky Jam, Zion & Lennox, and Alicia Keys. In the midst of this activity, Farruko was arrested in Puerto Rico in April 2018, which put him under house arrest. During that time, he recorded another album, his eighth overall, titled Gangalee. The set was issued in April 2019 and featured guests Anuel AA, Bad Bunny, and others. Later that year, he released En Letra de Otro, the soundtrack to the HBO Latino documentary-style music series special of the same name. Between its release and 2021, Farruko issued or collaborated on more than 50 singles. Several placed inside the Top Five, including "Krippy Kush," 2020's "La Toxica," and 2021's EDM- and guaracha-infused "Pepas," the latter of which appeared on the singer's full-length La 167. Also that year, he contributed the track "Rápido" to the F9: The Fast Saga soundtrack before releasing his contemplative 2022 single "Nazareno." A year later, he joined Marshmello for "Esta Vida," and he returned in 2024 with "Carbon Vrmor," the title track to his EP Cvrbon Vrmor (C_DE: G_D.O.N.). ~ Thom Jurek

Lunay (aka Jefnier Osorio) is a Puerto Rican rapper and Latin trap singer whose charting collaborations with artists such as Daddy Yankee, Anuel AA, Bad Bunny, and Zion & Lennox resulted in him scoring his own recording contract. In 2019 he issued no less than ten singles under his own name and another half-dozen collaborations, as well as his debut album, Épico. Possessed of a slightly grainy baritone with a smooth delivery, his singles "A Solas," its remix "Legale," and "Soltera" (featuring producers Chris Jeday and Gaby Music) registered on streaming charts across the U.S. and the Caribbean, while his videos have garnered close to a billion views. Lunay returned in 2021 with his follow-up album, El Niño.

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, Épico. 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." He returned in May of the following year with his second album, El Niño, which reached number 17 on the Latin Albums chart. A standalone single, "787," arrived later in 2021. ~ Thom Jurek