Tropicoqueta: Karol Gs Journey Through the Soul of Latin Music

Karol G's latest album, 'Tropicoqueta', released on June 20th, is a genre-spanning ode to Latin culture that stems from a profound epiphany during her record-breaking world tour, Mañana Será Bonito. The Colombian superstar realized during a packed arena in Europe, surrounded by the warmth of fans who reflected her roots, that her next album would not be about chasing broader fame or crossing over into English-language music. Instead, it would celebrate the soul of everything that makes them feel at home.

The 20-track opus is inspired by the sounds and stories of Latin music icons who shaped her passion for artistry. "This album is an homage to all those Latin music genres I grew up listening to," she says, listing music heroines like Rocío Dúrcal, La India, Amanda Miguel, Myriam Hernández, Elenita Vargas, Thalia, and Selena Quintanilla among her childhood inspirations.

Produced by Edgar Barrera, Pharrell Williams, Ovy on the Drums, Tainy, Karol G and more, 'Tropicoqueta' takes listeners across a musical map of Latin America, weaving together Colombian vallenato, Argentinian cumbia villera, Cuban mambo, Dominican dembow and regional Mexican music, with live instrumentation at its core. "I'm super Colombian, I love Colombia, but more than feeling Colombian, I feel super Latina, like I'm from everywhere," she says. "When I go to Chile, I don't know why, but I feel like I'm from there. And if I go to Peru, people make me feel like I'm from there too."

The album is a journey to every place; a little nod of gratitude for when she travels around the world. Below are five essential tracks from Karol G's fifth studio album, 'Tropicoqueta'.

1. "Ivonny Bonita" - This song is inspired by a difficult time in Karol G's life when she was going through a tough situation and feeling very disappointed in herself. She remembers being in the Bahamas with her friends and hearing a Wizkid song with the line "Ivonny, my baby." The name sounded powerful and mystical to her, and she adopted the name as an alter ego. The song is a message she always wanted women to get from everything she does.
2. "Latina Foreva" - This song celebrates the energy and fun attitude of Latinas. Karol G considers herself a little outrageous but thinks it's part of their energy: they are happy, joyful and always have a fun attitude. The video was shot in a snowy mountain at minus 11 degrees Celsius, but it feels like they were at a beach. Latinas bring the heat and warmth everywhere they go.
3. "Coleccionando Heridas" with Marco Antonio Solís - This song is about the old-fashioned way of loving and the little details that matter. Karol G is a romantic and feels like people nowadays love differently - everything is a bit more fleeting and people have less emotional responsibility. She says she was born to collect wounds and is always ready to love no matter what happens.
4. "Ese Hombre es Malo" - This song is inspired by a call from Edgar Barrera where he was laughing as if he had been told the joke of his life. He had just been told that his wife had left him because he had women in every port. The song has 57 musicians and a mix between mariachi and a symphony and was recorded in Guadalajara. It’s one of the strongest songs on the album because of how it was created.