Peso Pluma Redefines Mexican Regional Music
Mexican artist Peso Pluma has conquered the Latin music scene with a distinct sound, redefining Mexican regional music. His unique blend of traditional norteño elements with rap beats and other styles has caught the attention of some of the biggest stars in Latin pop music, pushing the boundaries of Latin music further toward the future.
The 23 year-old artist, real name Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija, has achieved success unmatched by any other in the regional Mexican music scene. He recently unseated Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny as the most-searched artist on YouTube, and his songs “PRC” with Natanael Cano and “Ella Baila Sola” with Eslabón Armado have become major hits, staying on Billboard’s 200 Latin Hot Songs chart for weeks. The success of Featherweight’s music proves that there is a growing appetite for experimentation in Latin music, as the genre increasingly stands out on the world stage.
Featherweight’s story is just as original as his music. In an interview with CNN, he described how music was his form of therapy during his teenage years. Despite his success, the artist maintains an unassuming presence; despite being the “greatest exponent” of Mexican regional music, he shuns the usual “Texan hat” and “colorful jackets”, instead going about life in the more urban style of a rapper or singer.
His meteoric rise can be attributed to the power of the Internet and the increasing accessibility of platforms like YouTube and TikTok. His song “El Belicón” became a viral hit on TikTok, and his YouTube channel now boasts close to two million subscribers.
Featherweight’s career is testament to the power of music to bridge divides. By breaking traditional schemes and prejudices related to regional Mexican music, he has allowed a generation of fans to experience something old in a whole new way. The success of his experiment proves that listeners yearn for new music from the Latin genre, a genre that is quickly rising on the world stage.