We learned Cardi B, Ozuna, and Selena Gomez were teaming up with French producer DJ Snake thanks to a series of Instagram posts that surfaced last month, when the four were shooting the visuals for their first collab. Now, the much-anticipated result is here.
“Taki Taki” is a blast of reggaetón and EDM, following in the footsteps of DJ Snake’s better-known singles “Turn Down For What” and “Lean On.” The Spanglish track features Ozuna’s inimitable reggaetón delivery followed by Cardi B’s tough-talk bars, while Selena Gomez – a newbie of the urbano world – injects the track with the breathy melodies she’s known for. While Gomez is a Mexican-American singer, this song is a rare Spanish-language moment for the pop star.
While 2018 seems to be the year of unlikely collabs – let’s not forget Will Smith and Marc Anthony have also teamed up with trap king Bad Bunny – this one came as no surprise. The mashup of EDM and reggaetón is the kind of moneymaking global hit that we’ve come to expect after “Despacito” rose to the top of the Billboard charts last year. And “Taki Taki,” which is included on DJ Snake’s upcoming album, is proof that urbano’s mainstream moment has become an opportunity for the whole world to cash in on.
This is the first time that both Ozuna and Cardi B join Selena Gomez on a track. Ozuna and Cardi B have been longtime friends and collaborators, though, releasing the single “La Modelo” last year. Gomez hasn’t released new music since 2015, while DJ Snake’s last album dropped in 2016.
The video for “Taki Taki”– shot in Los Angeles – is yet to come, but visuals from the shoot have already surfaced with the crew sporting a red wardrobe. DJ Snake’s new album has yet to be announced.
Listen to the full track below.
Update, 9/28/2018, 12:45 p.m.: A previous version of this post stated that “Taki Taki” was Selena Gomez’s first time singing in Spanish. She previously sang in Spanish on “A Year Without Rain” in 2010.