La Cruz is making reggaeton music for the gay community. On Thursday (June 22), the Venezuelan singer-songwriter released his sexy new single “Quítate La Ropa.”
Alfonso La Cruz, who is also known as La Cruz, was born in Caracas, Venezuela. After growing up in La Guaira, he later moved to Spain in 2015. He rose to prominence in the country when he competed on the reality TV program “Operación Triunfo” three years later. The singing competition launched the careers of Spanish artists like David Bisbal, Aitana, and Lola Índigo. The singer ended up finishing in 16th place.
With the release of his debut album Hawaira last year, La Cruz started to embrace his gay identity in music. His reggaeton bops, where he openly sang to other men, have gone viral on TikTok. La Cruz is following in the footsteps of openly gay reggaetoneros like Mexican-American singer Solomon Ray and Mexican fashionista Mancandy.
“I’m telling my experience from the deepest and most sincere [place],” he told El Colombiano. “I’m an openly gay guy who goes to the studio to write songs based on my experience, I don’t feel bad about it. I am one of the first to achieve that visibility and it fills me with pride. I hope that at some point people will see it normally. I am happy where I’m at in my career and I would like the day to come when I am not the only one.”
La Cruz’s recent singles like “Boulevard” and “Te Conocí Bailando” have been especially gay. Just in time for LGBTQ+ Pride month, he turns up the heat with “Quítate La Ropa.” In the reggaeton romp, La Cruz sings about a papi who is driving him wild. Many shirtless men are shown dancing with La Cruz in the locker room. It’s refreshing to see him being unapologetically himself while coming through with a queer-positive perreo banger.
Check out the music video for “Quítate La Ropa” below