Earlier this year, 24-year-old singer/songwriter Peso Pluma made history when the song "Ella Baila Sola," a collaboration with California group Eslabón Armado, became an international hit, and the first música mexicana track to enter the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100.
2023 has been nothing short of epic for the artist born Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija in Zapopan, Jalisco. He also released high-profile collaborations with pop star Becky G, Argentine producer Bizarrap and dembow pioneer El Alfa. Peso Pluma is currently one of the most streamed Latin artists in the world, and he continues this streak with GÉNESIS — his highly anticipated third studio outing.
GÉNESIS drops June 22 on Pluma's brand new label, Double P Records. Here are five takeaways from an album that brings the novel genre of corridos tumbados a few steps closer to the mainstream.
His Rebellious New Sound Is Mexican To The Core
Much has been written about the disruptive energy of corridos tumbados — the youthful, 2020’s movement that brought a breath of fresh air and plenty of irreverence to música mexicana by fusing it with a hip-hop sensibility and elements of trap and reggaetón. Older fans of traditional artists like Los Tigres del Norte and Banda El Recodo have reacted with the same kind of angry condemnation that the punk revolution evoked in classic rock adepts during the late ‘70s.
But even though Peso Pluma belongs next to Natanael Cano and Eslabón Armado on the corridos tumbados forefront, his music is still faithful to the warmth and melodic immediacy of Mexican tradition. From the rousing "CARNAL" — a collaboration with Cano – to the wistful majesty of "LAGUNAS" with Jasiel Nuñe, the songs on GÉNESIS overflow with the kind of soulful trombone riffs, sophisticated bass accents and complex requinto lines that have defined banda and norteño for decades.
He Has An Organic Connection With Urbano Music
A few weeks before the release of GÉNESIS, Peso Pluma shocked the Latin music establishment by becoming the first música mexicana artist to guest on a Music Session by Argentina’s producing wunderkind Bizarrap. Even though the track emphasized the singer’s trademark style — relegating Bizarrap’s cinematic EDM aesthetic to the backdrop — the single demonstrated how comfortable Peso Pluma feels outside his genre of choice.
One of the new album’s strongest cuts is "77," a seamless duet with Eladio Carrión, the influential American rapper of Puerto Rican origin. Unlike the Bizarrap session, here the trombone and syncopated string instruments blend deeply with Carrión’s low-key, confident flow.
To The Young Generation Of Mexican Stars, Collaboration Is Key
The música mexicana genre is gregarious by nature, and having like-minded artists guesting on albums — particularly concert recordings — is nothing new. But Peso Pluma takes this notion to the next level, mirroring the hip-hop concept that the glow of a record can be measured by the amount of high-caliber collaborations in it.
GÉNESIS portrays Peso Pluma’s generation as a nomadic family, climbing the ladder to chart success in coordinate steps. "SU CASA" boasts a high-energy duet with corridos star Luis R. Conriquez, and the languid "LUNA" features 22 year-old sensation Junior H.
There's Nothing Random About Peso Pluma’s Massive Popularity
Doble P’s infectious smile throughout Bizarrap’s YouTube session says it all: there is not an ounce of arrogance or self-importance his demeanor. The artist has captured the attention of the entire world without sacrificing his cultural identity or personhood.
Currently the most streamed artist in Mexico, Peso Pluma is more than just a charismatic performer. The 14 tracks on GÉNESIS reveal him as a thoughtful composer whose intriguing melodies and slice-of-life lyrics will still resonate for years to come.
Corridos Tumbados Are Here To Stay
From the atmospheric opening cut "Rosa Pastel" — complete with a quirky visual shot in Amsterdam — to the brass-heavy lament of "Bye," GÉNESIS showcases corridos tumbados as a less volatile, more polished genre. Peso Pluma’s instinctive connection to the essence of Mexican music and its artistic values suggests that his current moment of glory may well be the beginning of a long lasting career.
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