Rauw Alejandro

Despacito was first released by Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi in 2017 and became the number one streamed track in just 6 months. The single a mix of pop music and reggaeton did not only bring attention to reggaeton but it also attracted attention to Latin music more generally. In 2015, there were only two predominantly Spanish-language songs in Billboard's Top 100 and in 2016 there were four. During the height of Despacito's popularity, however 19 mostly Spanish songs made it onto the Top 100 as well, and by 2020 there were 41 such songs. Justin Bieber's bilingual version of Despacito was released in the year. In the following year, a number of popular artists began working with reggaeton performers. Drake collaborated with Bad Bunny on MIA (2018) as well as Madonna collaborated with Maluma on Medellin. Reggaeton's most prominent performers have criticized the shift to popular music coming into 2020. Yet a new group, Rauw alejandro, was looking to change things up. He often included elements from different genres as well as electronic dance.