Over the past year, the Latin music industry has transitioned from a singles-driven market to an album-focused world, with new and established artists creating cohesive sets. The Latin Grammy for album of the year has historically prioritized bold concepts and artistry over popularity in deciding the winner, and while legacy acts have historically dominated the category, recent honorees like Rosalía tend to return for encores. And the triumph of Karol G in 2023 with her commercial blockbuster, Mañana Será Bonitocan now allow wildly popular albums to take the ultimate artistic prize.
Come September 17, 10 candidates will be announced — here are five of the most likely.
Young Miko, att. (The Wave Music Group)
In the world of reggaetón, Miko is an outlier: blonde, petite and openly gay. For a genre steeped in machismo, it's a remarkable flip of the script. The album balances her party-girl persona with rap lyrics that aren't afraid to put others in their place with effectively eloquent punchlines, having fun without ever getting pointless. Plus, Miko has good taste on her part, tapping Jowell & Randy for a touch of old-school reggaetón.
Fonseca, Tropical (Sony Latin)
of Fonseca Tropical is a labor of love, designed to elevate the art of tropical music with its rich palette. The Colombian singer-songwriter debuted his new work with last year's “Si Tu Me Quieres,” which won Best Tropical Song at the Latin Grammys bachata star Juan Luis Guerra sings Fonseca's brand with pop Vallenato. That accordion sound is the foundation of an album full of stirring moments, but Fonseca also expands: He collaborates with Gilberto Santa Rosa and Chucho Valdés on a beautiful Cuban bolero, with Alex Cuba on a contemporary song and with Colombian salsa stalwarts Grupo Niche. to a jazz-tinged salsa, all brought together by his ability to make fans swoon with music designed for the dance floor.
Kani Garcia, Garthia (5020 Entries)
García has been nominated twice in this category, but the third time may be the charm with an album that expands and redefines the scope of the traditional Latin singer-songwriter. Her work has twice won Best Singer-Songwriter album and her songwriter qualities shine again in her melodic lines and eloquent yet colloquial lyrics. The autobiographical opener “García,” for example, is a master class in storytelling in less than three minutes. But García also deviates, venturing into Mexican musical territory with Eden Muñoz, Christian Nodal and Carín León on three riveting tracks. “We're constantly evolving and as an artist, I love that I can bring whatever I'm going through into every album I make,” she previously said. Advertising sign.
Peso Pluma, Exodus (Double P Records)
Peso Pluma continued its successful campaign with Exodushis second number one album on the Billboard 200. But unlike its predecessor, Genesiswhich won this year's Grammy for Best Regional Mexican album, Exodus is a double album that highlights the two sides of Peso. The first side is full of Mexican music with many collaborations with artists of his generation, including Junior H, Tito Double P and Luis R Conríquez. The second side is dedicated to urban and pop, with bilingual collaborations with Quavo and Rich the Kid. While multi-genre exploration is a mainstay of Latin music today, it's rarely been in these two directions, much less with this success. Yet Genesis is also eligible for this award given its release date, Advertising signHis bet is on the younger, more adventurous Exodus. It's worth noting that Peso was not nominated in any category at the 2023 Latin Grammys, an omission that may be rectified this time around.
Shakira, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (Sony Latin)
At 47, Shakira refused to be scorned in silence by releasing her comeback album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, following a cheating scandal and public split from Gerard Pique. Instead of dipping into the long haul, Shakira takes a draw, famously declaring that she makes her own money on “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” which won Song of the Year at the 2023 Latin Grammys. The album is filled with lyrics that serve as social media fodder, but it's also smart and artistic, placing a wickedly funny song like “Puntería” with Cardi B next to such painfully vulnerable tracks as “Acróstico” and “Ultima”. Backed by an impressive line-up of collaborators that also includes Karol G, Rauw Alejandro and regional Mexican groups Grupo Frontera and Fuerza Regida, Shakira has managed to stay relevant and return to the top on her own terms. If she wins, it would be her second album of the year trophy, following her 2006 triumph with Fijación Oral, Vol. 1.
This story will appear in the July 20, 2024 issue Advertising sign.
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