Latin global musical sensation Bad Bunny has greatly raised his profile since last year with a performance at the Super Bowl, three successful consecutive albums in the middle of the pandemic, and a recent appearance at a major wrestling event. Next in line: Saturday Night Live.

The Puerto Rican rapper is set to perform as SNL’s musical guest this Saturday, his first time on the legendary late-night live sketch comedy and variety show.

That honor is well earned. El Conejo Malo’s latest album El Último Tour del Mundo debuted #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, the first all-Spanish-language album ever to top the popular list. Also, the 26-year-old artist is currently nominated for two Grammy Awards, in the best pop duo/group performance category for Un Dia (One Day) along with J Balvin, Dua Lipa, and Tainy, and in best Latin pop or urban album for YHLQMDLG, which stands for “Yo hago lo que me da la gana,” that loosely translates into “I do what I want.”

MUSIC FROM THE PANDEMIC
YHLQMDLG was the first of three albums released by Bad Bunny during the pandemic, a challenging time for many artists facing lockdown. A studio album, YHLQMDLG was dropped in late February, just a few days after the Boricua artist joined pop sensations Shakira and Jenniffer Lopez and fellow rapper J Balvin for last year’s Super Bowl’s half-time concert. YHLQMDLG reached #2 on Billboard, the highest-ranked Spanish-language album at the time.

In May, El Conejo Malo released another album, Las Que No Iban a Salir (Those Who Weren’t Going Out), debuting at #7, followed by El Último Tour del Mundo de Mundo in late October. He is the first and only artist to place three consecutive albums in the top 10 of Billboard 200 in one single year.

In addition to his Superbowl’s appearance, Bad Bunny’s speedy road to SNL’s Saturday performance has also included stops at other popular shows, such as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Late Show With James Corden. 

A FAN OF WRESTLING
In late January, the chart-topping singer/songwriter was featured at WWE’s annual Royal Rumble, where he performed his single Booker T. The rapper is reportedly a fan of wrestling. 

His musical accomplishments led the trade publication Variety to honor Bad Bunny with its second annual Achievement in International Music Award. In addition to collaborations with Latin stars such as Ozuna, Farruko, Residente, and Daddy Yankee, El Conejo Malo has worked with Cardi B and Drake.

Bad Bunny is also exploring acting. Soon, Bad Bunny will be seen in an episodic series. He is set to appear on the popular series Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico, starring Scoot McNairy (Fargo), Diego Luna (Amores Perros), and José María Yazpik (Mr. Pig). 

There is no doubt that El Conejo Malo has come a long way really quickly. He burst into the spotlight just five years ago. 

Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Bad Bunny’s career started out as an independent, unsigned singer on SoundCloud. He would upload his music while working at a supermarket and studying at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo. His rising popularity on the cloud caught the attention of a record label. His first hit was Soy Peor. Stardom arrived after he collaborated with Grammy Award winner Cardi B and Drake on the hits I Like It and Mia, number one and three, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100.

His debut album X 100pre in 2018 won the Latin Grammy for Best Urban Music Album. He later joined with fellow rapper J Balvin for to record Oasis, an album that produced hits like Qué Pretendes and La Canción and earned him three Billboard Music Awards and a Grammy Award nomination.

Bad Bunny has won more than 52 awards, including two Latin Grammy Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, an MTV Video Music Award, two American Music Awards, and six Premios Lo Nuestro, among others. 

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Celebrating a birthday today is rapper, singer, songwriter, and philanthropist Armando Christian Pérez AKA PitBull.  He was born in Miami on January 15, 1981, and began his career recording reggaeton, Latin hip hop, and crunk music, eventually rebranding himself as a pop artist. Now he has been immortalized with a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood.

Pitbull has sold over 7.5 million studio albums and over 100 million singles worldwide.  As of May 2020, he has over 15 billion views on YouTube. He was ranked by Billboard as the 45th Top Artist of the 2010s and the 24th Top Latin Artist of the 2010s. As of May 2019, Pitbull had won 35 Billboard Latin Music Awards and has received Grammy Awards, Latin Grammy Awards, Nickelodeon, Premio Lo Nuestro, IHeart Radio Award among many others.

Pitbull’s Planet Pit album is the most commercially successful album to date, according to Wikipedia.

The immensity of his work is breathtaking having released music in both Spanish and English throughout his career.  He has performed to support causes bringing awareness to issues like Global Warming, Feeding America, COVID 19, Hurricane Maria, and others.  He has performed alongside and/or collaborated with some of the most well-known recording artists and celebrities around the world including Britany Spears, John Travolta Blake Shelton, Jennifer Lopez,  Priyanka Chopra, Flo Rida, Jessica Mauboy, Belinda, Jason Derulo, and Gloria Estefan, Janet Jackson, Pharrell Williams, Christina Aguilera, Cypress Hill, Paulina Rubio, and so many more

He is determined to help the Latino community. Pitbull’s social impact focus for the last decade has been closing the poverty gap through educational initiatives. During Hurricane Maria, Pitbull used his private plane to bring cancer patients from Puerto Rico to the mainland United States for treatment.

Pitbull also donated all proceeds from song sales, streaming, and views to Feeding America and the Anthony Robbins Foundation from the single titled I Believe That We Will Win (World Anthem) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On December 31, 2020, Pitbull performed for a crowd of first responders in Times Square adhering to the COVID-19 pandemic guideline for the famous New Year’s Eve celebration.

— Latin Heat News Service

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Having sold an estimated 60 million records worldwide, Juan Gabriel is considered one of the greatest Mexican composers of all time and among the most beloved Spanish language artists known the world over.  His early hits, No Tengo Dinero (1971, focused on his humble beginnings and thrust him into the limelight making him a folklore type of hero. 

Juan Gabriel received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002 and in 2009, the singer was honored as the Latin Recording Academy’s Person of the Year.

Billboard listed Gabriel, in their list of the 30 most influential Latino artists in history.  He received three Latin Grammys Awards after his death.

Some of Gabriel’s famous award-winning songs include Abrazame Muy Fuerte, Te Sigo Amando, El Destino (a duet with Rocio Durcal), Yo No Se Que Me Paso, No Tengo Dinero, and Amor Eterno is perhaps his most famous, an homage to his mother. 

His album Recuerdos is said to be the best-selling album of all time in Mexico, having sold over eight million copies.

Juanga, as he was affectionately called by his adoring fans performed in prestigious venues worldwide and in the U.S. In Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay, and in Los Angeles, at the Universal Amphitheater, the Rose Bowl, and The Forum. Nationwide and globally, Gabriel performed at the largest and most famous venues. 

Juan Gabriel was a generous philanthropist donating to orphanages and children’s homes, and their families. He especially doted on single mothers struggling to raise their children.

Featured Photo: Facebook

— Latin Heat News Service

The post Happy Birthday Juan Gabriel! first appeared on .

This week I’d like to introduce you to Herencia de Patrones. The clique, from Sacramento, California. This group has been on the come-up, debuting twice on the Billboard charts with their projects, Sorry For The Wait, Pa Las Vibras, and a Premios Juventud nomination for their smash song, Cosas de la Clica. 

The norteño-urban group comprises lead-singer Jay Dee, bass players Omar Ruiz, Raúl Valencia, and Uziel Pantoja. These men have distinguished their sound by taking their love of corridos and incorporating elements of this new wave of trap music. Implementing their youthfulness and utilizing it to separate their sound, has had tons of success in places like Los Angeles, Sacramento, Houston, and cities across Mexico, where fans openly accept innovation.  

Herencia de Patrones are in the earliest moments of their breakthrough, as they continue to release music and build up their fanbase. Staying true to their influences and adapting to the industry will be a challenge, but overall achievable. Their latest EP, Sorry For The Wait and latest single, Chendo featuring Triple L, and LEGADO 7 is available on all streaming platforms.

For more on Herencia de Patrones, follow them across all social media: 

Instagram: @herenciadepatronesoficial 

Twitter: @JayDee_HP @_Omar_HP @Raulvalencia_hp

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