Trap en español’s surge over the past half decade has ushered in a new era of superstars and sounds from Latin America. Over the same five years, Atlanta trio Migos has notched chart-topping hit after chart-topping hit, pushing a sound from their hometown’s grittiest corners into the pop music lexicon.
Today, those two worlds collide with the release of the remix to Karol G and Bad Bunny’s “Ahora Me Llama.” While the original has amassed over 360 million views on YouTube and has proven lucrative for the Colombian and Puerto Rican artists respectively, the Quavo remix serves as a testament to both the international appeal of Migos and the newfound dominance of trap en español. Over a decade after G-Unit hopped on the remix to “Rompe” and Three Six Mafia laid down bars on “Chulin Culin Chunfly,” it’s abundantly clear that the U.S. rap world once again has its eyes on Latin America.
“Call my phone I don’t answer,” Quavo repeats in the opening lines, reminding us that flexing on an ex is a universal pursuit and a language understood by all. “All in your feelings singing the same song/I had you in the fame, now your fame gone,” he rhymes, evoking the ultimate fantasy for anyone who’s ever rapped in the mirror or imagined a life of fame and fortune.
Quavo is quite possibly the most sought-after feature in the hip-hop world, and his verse here is presumably a product of some industry maneuvering, not to mention the resurgence of Anglo artists collaborating with Latino stars we’ve seen this year. Even though some Quavo guest verses are hit-or-miss, the feature is a savvy move for all three parties, as Migos taps into the Spanish-speaking market and Bad Bunny and Karol G angle for a Hot 100 hit. With pictures of Offset in the studio with chart-topping girlfriend Cardi B and Ozuna hitting the Internet this week, it’s clear the Migos are finding friends in the Spanish-speaking world.