LATIN GRAMMY PREVIEW: THE NEW CLASS AND HIT COLLABS

Feid, Young Miko, Xavi, Myke Towers

THE NEW CLASS

The elevation of Feid, who has become one of the most consistent hitmakers, makes him a Latin Grammy contender in every major category. Ferxxo dropped two albums in the eligibility period: FERXXOCALIPSIS and Mor, No Le Temas a la Obscuridad. While the former is more of a mixtape, it contains “Luna” f/ATL Jacob and “Classy 101” f/Young Miko, Feid’s most recent smashes. “Luna” in particular was a game-changing song for Feid, establishing a new dimension of emotional reggaeton.

Myke Towers is another heavyweight who has achieved newfound commercial success in the last year. Global #1 “LALA” missed the Latin Grammy cutoff as a single but is part of LVEU: VIVE LA TUYA… NO LA MIA, which is eligible. Towers subsequently released two strong contenders, “La Falda” and Adivino” f/Bad Bunny, joining the shortlist of Latin rappers capable of crossing over.

Other newcomers who should earn their first Latin Grammy noms and become contenders in the Best New Artist race are Xavi and Young Miko. Xavi is the only Latin artist to land a Spotify #1 in 2024. The Mexican American singer-songwriter did so with “La Diabla,” which could also score big nods in song categories.

FloyyMenor, Ela Taubert, Dei V, Blessd

One X factor is Chilean upstart FloyyMenor, who has the biggest Latin track of 2024 with “Gata Only” f/Cris MJ. Closing in on a billion streams, the song has been an immovable object on Spotify's global Top 25. The 18-year-old singer, songwriter and producer tapped vets Ozuna and Anitta for the track’s remix for good measure.

Colombian pop breakout Ela Taubert could also make some noise in Best New Artist and beyond. Hot off viral single “Cómo Pasó?” and a stadium-sized opening slot for KAROL G in Bogota, Taubert is ascending at the right time.

Another Colombian artist, Blessd, made waves with multiple projects, including SI SABE, which featured all-star collabs with Feid and Peso Pluma. Blessd also dropped the late-breaking "Mirame" f/Ovy on the Drums, which reached Spotify's global Top 50 this summer.

Puerto Rican tastemakers Dei V and Álvaro Díaz could also be in line for their first Latin Grammy nods behind artistic leaps with recent albums ¿Quién es Dei V? and SAYONARA, respectively.

Maluma & León, Bad Gyal, Tainy

MAJOR COLLABS

One of the hot trends in Latin music that has benefited virtually every artist of note is collaboration. Música Mexicana successfully collided with pop on “QLONA” (KAROL G & Peso Pluma) and “Según Quién” from Maluma & Carín León. Other giants, like Feid & Young Miko’s “Classy 101,” Peso Pluma & Anitta’s “BELLAKEO” and Bad Gyal’s “Chulo pt.2” f/Tokischa & Young Miko could score multiple nods as well. “Chulo pt.2” is not only a reggaeton banger but a female-empowerment anthem in a male-dominated genre.

Super-producer Tainy made the most of collaboration with his acclaimed debut full-length, DATA. The album, which arrived a year ago at the top of the eligibility period, features an all-star supporting cast of nearly every reggaeton hitmaker. DATA enters the competition with a stellar pedigree, as it was one of the three nominees for Best Urban Music Album at the Grammys, alongside long-players by peers KAROL G and Rauw Alejandro.