Rauw Alejandro made an unforgettable debut at the 40th MTV VMAs on Wednesday (September 11), dazzling with a performance rich in cultural homage and electricity, channeling vintage Broadway glitz and glitz West Side Story.
Dressed in an outfit reminiscent of late 60s New York with a hint of pachuco style, the Puerto Rican superstar kicked things off with “Touching the Sky,” enhanced with a dubstep tone. His smooth execution kept all eyes glued to the stage.
The show then transitioned to feature a troupe of Caribbean drummers and dancers dressed in traditional white attire, their songs filling the air as Rauw performed a more stripped-down rendition of “Diluvio” from his 2023 album. Playa Saturno. Infused with plenty of folk flair, this part of the mix culminated in a thrilling dance. “Puerto Rico en la casa“, he proclaimed.
Alternating scenes once again under red neon lights with the words “Cosa Nuestra” – the title of his upcoming album – Rauw walked off stage, ever so slyly rocking a white tank top that showed off his tattoos and began to hide the words to “Déjame Entrar”, his latest Afrobeats-tinged single. THE West Side StorThe atmosphere really came to life as the performers danced across large sets imitating New York's iconic buildings, turning his segment into a thrilling spectacle.
“Mi gente Latina, esta es cosa nuestra“, he stated. (“My Latins, that's our thing.”)
Earlier on the red carpet, Rauw shared information about his upcoming album, sharing, “Cosa Nuestra [features] roots from the island, a mix of Caribbean with New York inspo. It's Puerto Rican culture from way back.” The album harks back to Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe's genre-defining 1969 salsa album Fania All Stars.
“Touching the Sky” was nominated for three VMAs: Best Latin, Best Cinematography and Best Choreography.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/rauw-alejandro-touching-the-sky-dejame-entrar-diluvio-vmas-2024-1235773420/