As we say goodbye to another wild, weird, and sometimes wonderful year, Latina reflects on the biggest musical moments of 2024 and all the brilliant work created by Latina musicians worldwide this year—and there was a lot of it.
Women like Karol G, Kali Uchis, and Young Miko continued to push the boundaries of Latin music, carrying it even more prominently into the mainstream, and we saw epic collaborations among Latinas through hits by Shakira with Cardi B, Tokischa with Nathy Peluso, and more. And these familiar faces aren’t the only stars we saw: Fresh talent emerged, too, with the rise of Colombia’s Ela Taubert, Mexico’s Yeri Mua, Cuba’s Daymé Arocena, and many more of the names on this list.
Without further ado, join Latina as we unveil the 20 best songs of 2024 by Latinas, exploring how each artist reshaped music and defined a different aspect of an extraordinary year through their work.
20. La Guru, “Perra Melancólica”
La Guru got the break of a lifetime when Karol G invited her to perform on “The Juanpis Live Show” in April. The rising Colombian artist, who’s breathed new life into traditional Latin genres with an alternative edge, sang her breakthrough hit “Perra Melancólica” alongside La Bichota. With her bewitching banger—which became an anthem about the struggle of overcoming a toxic relationship—La Guru indicates her resolve to reshape Latin music with dark emotional depth.
19. Bellakath, “Vaquero” Remix with La Dinastia, El Malilla, and El Bogueto
La Dinastia brought together the new leaders of the reggaeton Mexa movement on a remix of “Vaquero.” Bellakath, who scored the first global hit in the scene with 2022’s “Gatita,” jumped on the track with El Malilla and El Bogueto. In an otherwise all-men collaboration, Bellakath held it down for women in reggaeton Mexa, stealing the show with her fierce and flirty verses.
18. Goyo, “Cuando Te Vi”
Though Goyo is known as a core member of ChocQuibTown, she is continuing to establish herself as a solo star. Following the 2022 release of her debut album En Letra de Otro, the Colombian singer and rapper has released a string of fiery and feel-good singles. In the alluring “Cuando Te Vi,” Goyo displayed a more seductive and soulful side to La Pantera.
17. Elena Rose & Maria Becerra, “Pa’ Qué Volviste?”
After writing hits for artists like Selena Gomez, Christina Aguilera, Becky G, and Maria Becerra, Elena Rose is becoming a Latina pop star in her own right. The Venezuelan-American singer teamed up with Becerra for the cumbia-infused collaboration “Pa’ Qué Volviste?” In this girl-power anthem, both women sing about an ex attempting to enter back into their lives—and how they plan to kick him to the curb.
16. Jessie Reyez, “Just Like That” with Ari Lennox
Jessie Reyez spent the past year releasing stellar collaborations. The Colombian-Canadian star teamed up with Lil Wayne for “Ridin” and then joined forces with Big Sean on “Shut Up.” Two of the best voices in R&B today collided when Ari Lennox joined Reyez on the captivating “Just Like That.” Tossing elements of bolero into the recipe, Reyez uses imaginative and refreshing methods to blend her worlds.
15. Danna, “Platonik”
Danna made a big career move this year when she dropped her last name from her stage name. The Mexican pop star also released her most personal album “Childstar,” which included the standout “Platonik,” a sultry song in which Danna opens up about having a crush on another woman. As she reclaims her narrative, Danna’s star continues to rise as the voice of Elphaba in the Spanish-language dub of the “Wicked” movie.
14. Anitta, “Aceita”
After solidifying her mainstream crossover with 2022’s “Versions of Me,” Anitta used her platform to put a spotlight on the gritty sounds of Brazil with this year’s Funk Generation album. A standout on the LP: the empowering “Aceita,” which blends Brazilian funk with elements of EDM. Anitta is not afraid to push buttons with the song’s music video, which celebrated the traditions of her Afro-Brazilian faith Candomblé.
13. RaiNao, “Roadhead” with Tainy
After generating buzz for the past few years as an alternative voice in reggaeton, RaiNao released her debut album “Capicú” in February. The rising Puerto Rican star linked up with a pioneer of the genre for the standout track “Roadhead,” an R&B-infused reggaeton ode to hooking up in the car produced by certified hit-maker Tainy. Even better: The steamy music video celebrated LGBTQ+ romance, showing the openly queer singer getting intimate with men and women.
12. Belinda & Kenia Os, “Jackpot”
For the first time in her career, Belinda teamed up with another female Mexican artist. The Spanish-Mexican icon joined forces with Kenia Os for the dreamy “Jackpot.” After releasing corridos like “Cactus” and “300 Noches” featuring Natanael Cano, Belinda returned to pop with a refreshing house music edge. In this hypnotic collaboration, Belinda and Kenia Os sang about how being with them would be like winning big on a slot machine.
11. Becky G & Delilah, “Todo”
Becky G teamed up with a rising star in música Mexicana for the most genre-bending moment on Encuentros. The Mexican-American star enlisted Delilah, the first woman to sign on Natanael Cano’s Los CT label, for the soaring “Todo.” Becky G beautifully blended her pop spin on música Mexicana with the rock-infused sound that Delilah is bringing to the genre. Hearing these two Chicanas come together on the same song was everything.
10. Daymé Arocena, “Por Ti”
After making her mark in jazz, Daymé Arocena now aims for domination in the pop star realm. The Cuban star moved to Puerto Rico where she worked on her latest album “Alkemi” with former Calle 13 member Eduardo Cabra. Arocena masterfully melded her worlds in the Caribbean with R&B, jazz, and pop throughout the LP, especially in the commanding “Por Ti.” In 2023, she told Latina, “This is the beginning of a new moment in my career and I am doing as much as I can to make this pop.”
9. The Marías, “Lejos De Ti”
Throughout 2024, The Marías continued their seamless navigation between indie pop and Latin music while bridging those worlds within the band’s music. Their second album “Submarine” was inspired by lead singer María Zardoya and fellow founding member Josh Conway breaking up. Zardoya tapped into her Puerto Rican roots to sing in Spanish about being haunted by the memory of an ex in “Lejos De Ti,” seeing The Marías channel a difficult time into an ethereal and vulnerable gem.
8. Ela Taubert, “¿Cómo Pasó?” with Joe Jonas
Ela Taubert got a big boost in her career when Karol G invited her to open her concerts in Bogotá. After that breakthrough, the Colombian singer-songwriter gained a massive following with her breakup anthem “¿Cómo Pasó?” Joe Jonas later came out as a fan of Taubert when he joined her on a Spanglish version of the global hit. In November, she proved to be the future of Latin pop by winning Best New Artist at the 2024 Latin Grammy Awards.
7. Yeri Mua, “Traka”
Yeri Mua spent 2024 making the jump from beauty influencer to a leader of the reggaeton Mexa movement. After signing with Sony in June, the rising Mexican star hit back at her haters with the defiant “Traka.” Known for speaking her mind on social media, Mua unleashed a fierce and in-your-face anthem about her triumphs that keep people talking. And the chatter is far from stopping: In early December, TikTok revealed that she was the number-one artist globally on the platform in 2024.
6. Young Miko & Villano Antillano, “Madre”
After spending the past few years becoming a leading LGBTQ+ voice in reggaeton, Young Miko released her debut album att. in April 2024. The Puerto Rican rapper paid tribute to the Ballroom scene with “Madre,” which interpolated the house anthem “Pump Up the Jam” by Technotronic. Young Miko upped the queer and femme power of this empowering anthem with fellow Boricua Villano Antillano in the mix.
5. Tokischa & Nathy Peluso, “De Maravisha”
Two of the Latinas who are changing the game in the music joined forces. Tokischa teamed up with Nathy Peluso for the genre-bending banger “De Maravisha.” At first, Tokischa and Peluso trade hard-hitting bars about being bosses over trap beats. The women then let their hair down at the halfway point when reggaeton rhythms take over, colliding the Dominican Republic and Argentina by way of New York City in a fresh new girl-power anthem.
4. Lismar, “BZRP Music Sessions #60” with Bizarrap
Lismar made her debut this year in the biggest way possible. The rising Dominican rapper was tapped by Argentine producer Bizarrap for his “BZRP Music Sessions #60.” Lismar wrapped her versatile and fierce rap flow around Bizarrap’s trap, EDM, and Jersey club beats with ease. Her explosive bars couldn’t be contained to one song, so the duo also released the fiery “Subió La Temperatura” on the same day. Lismar’s takeover of Latin hip-hop is just getting started.
3. Shakira & Cardi B, “Puntería”
Following a heartbreaking, high-profile split in 2022, Shakira returned with a vengeance with her “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” album, proving that the “She Wolf” is back on the prowl with her single “Puntería,” a sexy and vibrant bop that saw the Colombian pop icon team up with Dominican-American rapper Cardi B Together, Shakira and Cardi hit a bullseye with their synth-pop ode to a lover that hits all the right spots.
2. Karol G, “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
After becoming the top woman in reggaeton, Karol G is also showing that she’s a Latina pop queen, with the Colombian superstar taking a detour from the genre that she’s known for in the sunny “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido.” Karol G explored merengue rhythms for the first time while singing about not giving up on romance, turning forlorn hypotheticals of what if into a certified tropical smash which reaffirmed that her success is not limited to one genre.
1. Kali Uchis, “Igual Que Un Ángel” with Peso Pluma
After making her mark in Latin music with “Telepatía” in 2020, Kali Uchis once again stuck the perfect balance between her two worlds with “Igual Que Un Ángel,” wherein the Colombian-American star sings in Spanglish about an angelic lover in the disco-infused banger. A pleasant and welcome surprise: the addition of Mexican singer Peso Pluma, whose raspy vocals add a sensual side to the song. Through this dazzling collaboration—which has played nonstop in my headphones, for the record—Uchis and Peso Pluma proved to be a dream team and, while we can’t wait to see what each does next on their own, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that these two will partner up again soon.
Lucas Villa is a freelance music contributor for Latina. His work is also featured in Rolling Stone, Billboard, Teen Vogue, the Los Angeles Times, and W Magazine.
