Urbana Ascends to The Top in 2020
Launched in the fall of 2000 by the Latin Recording Academy and born out of a want (and need) to see more widespread recognition for highly esteemed Spanish and Portuguese-speaking acts, in just two short decades, the annual Latin Grammy Awards has taken on a life of their own. Watched by several million across the globe each year, the ceremony is largely considered a veritable celebration of all things Música Latina and, of course, Salsa. Despite a few necessary changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the party isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Holding its first full-scale digital live-cast through Univision on November 19th, the Latin Grammys (immensely praised for its intended purpose but often condemned for its political rigidity) are finally coming into the future and in multiple ways. After facing fierce backlash from icons of the likes of Daddy Yankee and J Balvin, the organization is evolving and firmly placing the historic rise of Urbana* at the forefront. You can learn more about Daddy Yankee and the history of Reggaeton in Puerto Rico in our post about the Noise. Up for an astonishing 13 nominations the aforementioned Balvin, his peers Bad Bunny and Ozuna (with 8 and 9 nominations each), and Puerto Rican superstar and pioneer Anuel AA (coming in with seven nods) undoubtedly lead the pack and are guaranteed to bring in major ratings. But what about Urbana’s girls you ask?
A Smash Hit by Latin Grammys’ Host Karol G Scores Big
Released last November, Colombian newcomer Karol G, the Latin Grammys’ newest host, set charts worldwide ablaze with her fiery
duet “Tusa” featuring none other than Queens, NY-native Nicki Minaj. Bright, catchy, and made perfectly for the clubs, “Tusa” was an immediate fan-favorite amongst listeners from sea to shining sea, hitting #1 in 19 countries and going 21x platinum in addition to soaring to 1 billion views on YouTube and is a sure shoo-in for Record and Song Of The Year.
The artist that are honored include:
Artists with multiple nominations this year include Anuel AA, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Camilo, Karol G, Kany García, Josh Gudwin, Colin Leonard, Jon Leone, Richi López, Ozuna, Alejandro “Sky” Ramírez, Residente, Julio Reyes Copello, Rosalía, Marco Masis “Tainy” and Carlos Vives. Also, three new categories of Best Pop/Rock Song, Best Reggaeton Performance and Best Rap/Hip-Hop Song all received an overwhelming number of entries.
The Album Of The Year category this year is composed of a diverse group of artists, featuring some of the most accomplished and renowned trendsetters and worldwide ambassadors of Latin music across genres, including: Bad Bunny (YHLQMDLG), Camilo (Por Primera Vez), Kany García (Mesa Para Dos), J Balvin (Colores), J Balvin & Bad Bunny (Oasis), Jesse & Joy Aire (Versión Día), Natalia Lafourcade (Un Canto Por México, Vol. 1), Ricky Martin (Pausa), Fito Páez (La Conquista del Espacio), and Carlos Vives (Cumbiana). (via Grammys.com)
All in all, the 2020 Latin Grammy Awards are set to be the biggest event of the season. Will you be watching and if so, what track or album will you be rooting for? Learn more about the birthplace of Salsa in New York here.
*Urbana, or Urbano Music is a catch-all or umbrella term used to refer to various Latin musical genres such as Latin Trap, Reggaeton, Dancehall, and more.
by Kimberley Hill