The contentious line, “a mamacita since she was 14,” coupled with other explicit references to drugs and women’s bodies, has drawn sharp criticism from various sectors of Colombian society. Despite its 35 million streams and top spot on Spotify Colombia, the song has been accused of perpetuating harmful stereotypes about the country, particularly its association with sex tourism and the exploitation of women.

The backlash has reached the highest levels of government. Culture Minister Juan David Correa condemned the song as “banal, childish,” and “inconsequential,” arguing it reinforces negative perceptions of Colombia. The director of the country’s child welfare agency echoed these concerns, linking the lyrics to the “pattern of crime” associated with sex trafficking. Lawmakers have even proposed legislation to punish artists who promote explicit lyrics.

Caught in the crossfire, Karol G, a prominent female reggaeton artist known for her empowering lyrics, apologized for the song and the lyrics were changed to “since she was 18.” She acknowledged the lyrics were “taken out of context” but took responsibility, admitting she still had “a lot to learn.” However, other artists involved, like J Balvin and Blessd, have defended the song, arguing against what they perceive as an unfair attack on the reggaeton genre.  

Defenders of reggaeton argue that the criticism is selective, pointing out that other genres, like vallenato, also contain misogynistic lyrics without facing similar scrutiny. They claim the backlash is rooted in a broader disdain for reggaeton, a genre that emerged from marginalized communities and often reflects their social realities.

The controversy has also sparked a debate about cultural representation. Medellín, a city that has become a reggaeton hub, is also grappling with its reputation for drugs and sex tourism. Some argue that reggaeton is an integral part of Medellín’s culture and should be viewed within that context. Andrea Sañudo, a Medellín resident, argued that the criticism is “hypocritical” and ignores the realities of the communities from which the music originates.

The “+57” controversy has become a microcosm of larger tensions surrounding artistic expression, social responsibility, and cultural representation. While some see the lyrics as harmful and exploitative, others view them as a reflection of the genre’s raw, unfiltered origins. As the debate rages on, it raises crucial questions about the role of music in shaping cultural narratives and the delicate balance between artistic freedom and social impact.

In recent years, reggaeton has become practically synonymous with Colombia. The country has infused its own sounds and a unique flow into the genre, establishing itself as a hub for reggaeton’s global expansion. Colombian urban artists like J Balvin, Maluma, KAROL G, and Feid have become international stars, helping drive the popularity of Colombian reggaeton around the world. According to Spotify data, beyond its home turf, the genre is most consumed in Mexico, the U.S., Spain, Chile, and Argentina.

Today, more than 350 million user-generated playlists globally on Spotify include at least one song by a Colombian reggaeton artist. The success of the genre has paved the way for emerging talent to embrace these rhythms and start building a new legacy, broadening the spectrum of urban music, experimenting with new sounds, and gaining recognition as the next wave of Colombian artists to watch.

These rising stars plan to follow in the footsteps of the genre’s greatest artists, topping charts around the world. Here are five Colombian artists from the new generation who should be on your radar.

Juan Duque

Born in Marinilla, Antioquia, Juan Duque launched his music career in 2018 and has been steadily raising his profile ever since. On Spotify, the artist has seen a 245% increase in worldwide streams in the last 12 months, having amassed his largest audiences in Colombia, Mexico, the U.S., Spain, and Peru.

His top song on the platform is “Maria” with 17.9 million streams, followed by “Juan Duque Hotline: Cobuz & Bustta” (10.3 million), “+ Chimbita” (5.9 million), and “Maria – Remix” featuring reggaeton star Ryan Castro (5.1 million).

Pirlo

Currently sitting at 4.4 million monthly Spotify listeners, Pirlo is one of the members of the “Cali Cartel,” a collective of urban artists from Cali, one of Colombia’s most important cities. In the last year, the artist’s song streams on Spotify have increased by 657% worldwide and 543% in Colombia, where he has his largest audience, followed by the U.S., Mexico, Spain, and Chile.

He has also teamed up with artists like Feid and Blessd, further boosting his reach. “CUAL ES ESA,” a collaboration with Feid, is Pirlo’s top song with 62.4 million streams, followed by “Ziploc (Blessd Version)” with the Paisa artist Blessd, which has racked up 33.8 million streams.

El Clooy

Carlos Alberto Valoyes Rentería, known by his stage name, El Clooy, is a young, versatile urban artist from Antioquia. Growing up, he was influenced by genres like R&B and hip-hop, as well as artists like Chris Brown and Justin Bieber, though he cites Puerto Rican artist Arcángel as his biggest inspiration.

On Spotify, El Clooy currently has over 366,000 monthly listeners. He has seen a nearly 20% increase in streams in Colombia in the last year, with his top song “Ganas” surpassing 8.7 million streams.

Esteban Rojas

Also known as “La Nue,” Esteban Rojas is another member of the “Cali Cartel.” As a performer-improviser-rapper-singer with over 1.8 million monthly Spotify listeners, the Cali native has emerged as an artist to watch. 

The artist’s song streams on Spotify have increased by an impressive 2,400% worldwide and 2,246% in Colombia. His top song is “Todos Mienten,” a collaboration with Soley that has racked up 12.6 million streams, followed by “Bulevar” with 10.8 million streams.

Soley

Soley is a singer-songwriter whose vocal versatility and discipline have earned her recognition across various genres, with songs like “3:33” and “Respira” racking up 4.2 million and 1.4 million streams, respectively.

Born in Armenia, the young Colombian artist currently has over 427,000 monthly Spotify listeners, and she was one of the openers for Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito Fest in Medellín last December. Her audience is largely based in Colombia, Spain, the U.S., Mexico, and Peru.

Stream our Made in Colombia playlist to discover more of the country’s hottest artists.