After tilting toward urbano, regional Mexican music has gone full hip-hop thanks to Snoop Dogg’s surprise collaboration “Que Maldición” with Banda MS. The Long Beach native and Sinaloa’s mega-selling group came together for the rap banda anthem you didn’t know you needed.
Snoop confirmed late last year that he was in the studio with Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga. “Que Maldición” is finally here with the Doggfather and Banda MS longing for a lover when they’re away.
Snoop’s signature flow seamlessly works its way around the group’s full-band brass dotted with light hip-hop beats. Snoop rides for his lady in Spanglish, calling himself “tu perrito loyal.” Banda MS singer Alan Ramírez drives that devotion home on the heartache-filled chorus. “It’s a curse to miss you,” he laments in Spanish. Out of the strange Anglo-Latinx collaborations we’ve seen, this one feels the most organic and it bumps while bridging two cultures.
“We’re about to change the musical direction of the world with Latin music, R&B and a touch of hip-hop,” Snoop says in a statement. “It’s something very special for this Cinco de Mayo. ¡Ándale!”
Snoop and Banda MS also premiered an animated music video. “Que Maldición” marks a new partnership between Banda MS’ label Lizos Music and Sony Music Latin. Snoop’s love for banda music is no secret. On Instragram, he’s been seen playing songs by Banda MS and another LBC legend, the late Jenni Rivera. Snoop Dogg is always invited to the carne asada.