It’s the most wonderful time of the year, which means you might have procrastinated on buying gifts and now the mall is probably too crowded to go shopping anyway. But never fear: If you need to get something for a music fan on your list, we’ve got you. We pored through tons of music releases, merch, custom shops, and independent boutiques to find stuff that shows you care—and, more importantly, that you support a loved one’s playlist choices.
From Juan Gabriel necklaces for your “Querida” to Celia Cruz phone cases that will make your family want to yell “Azucar,” here are some items that everyone, from la tia to your cool prima, will appreciate.
Celia Cruz Phone Case
This year, news surfaced that the iconic Celia Cruz would get a new musical and an English-language television series. But if you want to give someone a little extra azucar so they can honor the Queen of Salsa on a daily basis (as she rightfully deserves), consider these Celia iPhone cases with a design made by Able Ferro.
Price: $21.50
Shop here.
Juan Gabriel Pendant Necklaces
After Juanga didn’t rise from the dead in a dramatic puff of purple smoke like we all prayed for, we were this close to cancelling Krima — but then we found these pendants from San Diego’s Chispita’s Co. Thanks to their creativity, you can keep El Divo de Juárez close to your heart, where he belongs.
Price: $8.50
Shop here.
ALN Black T-Shirt
Besides being a powerhouse vocalist and future children’s book author, Love & Hip Hop’s breakout star Amara La Negra also runs a clothing line called ALN that is all about self-empowerment. Her designs—like this one, inspired by her iconic afro—celebrate the beauty of Afro-Latinidad.
Price: $25
Shop here.
Paradox Effects Pedals
Have a musician friend who wants to get weird? Paradox Effects, a Tijuana-based company that has been around since 2013, has you covered with these picture-perfect effects pedals that combine great acoustics and visually stunning designs.
Price: $95-$210
Shop here.
Rap Dad: A Story of Family and the Subculture That Shaped a Generation
Musician-turned-journalist Juan Vidal wrote a touching memoir that debuted this year and provided a nuanced portrait of fatherhood in today’s world. In the book, Vidal, who is a first-generation American born to Colombian parents, examines the culture of hip-hop and analyzes how the genre shaped his identity and ideas around parenting.
Price: $16.50
Shop here.
Enamel Pins
Think of these three as Los Tres Reyes Magos of reggaeton, and what could be better than using their faces to spread holiday cheer to the masses? Plus, the enamel pin set is basically a way to immortalize this “X” performance forever, and that snaky trumpet line starts playing in our heads every time we look at these.
Price: $23
Shop here.
Bad Bunny/Ozuna Tote
Make someone feel seen with one of the most poetic tote bags ever made. This slice of brilliance comes from The Gen Co, a Washington shop that also carries mugs, T-shirts, pins, and stickers and seems to specialize in perfectly understanding Bad Bunny/Ozuna stans.
Price: $14.50
Shop here.
Hard-Mod Handmade Custom Synths
Electronic producer Jadir Zárate not only makes his own music; he builds his own synths, too. Since 2009, he’s been running Hard Mod, an independent synthesizer brand that deals in handcrafted modular format pieces, which you can order on request.
Price: Dependent on project
Shop here.
Remixing Reggaeton: The Cultural Politics of Race in Puerto Rico
Give the gift of enlightenment with Petra R. Rivera-Rideau’s brilliant study of how racial dynamics have played a massive role in reggaeton. The professor takes readers through the history of the genre and examines how the music that came out of the black diaspora transformed into a global phenomenon.
Price: $23.95
Shop here.
Los Tigres Del Norte Vinyl
Between backing Beto O’Rourke at a huge rally and following Johnny Cash’s cowboy-booted footsteps to play Folsom State Prison, Los Tigres Del Norte had a jam-packed 2018—and somehow, they still found time to release a limited edition of their groundbreaking album Jefe de Jefes on vinyl. Pick up the 1997 norteño treasure and prepare to blast “El Mojado Acaudalado” all year round.
Price: $33.24
Shop here.
Cardi B Nail Decals
The meme of the century had to have been Cardi’s “mi mama dice” baby picture, and the Los Angeles nail shop Cha Cha Covers has done the world a favor by turning them into decals that Bardi Gang members will want to get their hands on (or vice versa). The set of 15 works on all surfaces, and they’re designed to last a while under a top coat, which means baby Cardi can sass you for weeks.
Price: $6
Shop here.
Fantasy Easy Living Fleece
We tried (and failed) to think of a good Cuco pun, so we’ll leave just you with this fleece from his streetwear line Fantasy’s Easy Living. The shop opened back at the beginning of 2018 and comes with tons of Cuco-approved sweatshirts and hoodies.
Price: $60
Shop here.