ChocQuibTown Releases New Single “Bitcoin”

ChocQuibTown is having a bit(coin) of fun…

The Colombian group, composed of Goyo, Tostao and Slow, has released their new single “Bitcoin.”

ChocQuibTownCo-written by the group, Gerald Jiménez, Edgar Barrera, Jael Andrés Correa and Juan Diego Medina, the lyrics hold a very mature reflection after a breakup.

“I’m only rising, I look like a bitcoin and you’re calling me like a loser,” chants Goyo. “You never gave me importance, now respect the distance.”

Produced by Slow himself, “Bitcoin” is a catchy urban pop single with the group’s rhythmic melodies at the root.

Goyo recently embarked on her solo career but made it very clear that ChocQuibTown was not separating. This single is evidence of that promise.

Gloria “Goyo” Martínez Launches Solo Career with New Dembow-Infused Single “Na Na Na”

Gloria “Goyo” Martínez is saying na (na na) to going it alone…

The Afro-Colombian singer/rapper, who co-founded the Colombian hip-hop group ChocQuibTown 20 years ago, has officially marked the beginning of a solo career by releasing her new single “Na Na Na.”

Gloria “Goyo” Martínez The dembow-infused, club-ready track is a perfect introduction to what Goyo’s project as a soloist is all about: female empowerment.

“With ChocQuibTown I could also sing about empowering women — but to say it alone and in my own words, it just has a different impact,” she tells Billboard. “Writing on my own has allowed me to reflect, analyze and really think about what I want to say,”

Launching her own career doesn’t mean she’s leaving the trio, which also includes her brother Slow and her husband Tostao. The trio are still very much committed to ChocQuibTown and, are even set to release a new single in April.

But having her very own independent project is something Goyo has been planning for quite some time.

“We’ve always considered ourselves a group where we can also respect each other’s individuality. For example, Slow likes the production side more and is often producing for other artists. I wanted to invite our fans to my world and give them the opportunity to know the woman behind Goyo.”

Timing was everything Goyo explains, and she’d have to find the right song to aunch her solo career. After many studio sessions searching for the song, inspiration came when she sat with Rauw Alejandro‘s go-to producer, Mr. Nais Gai, artist Fuego and her brother Slow during a writing camp at her favorite studio House of Hits in Miami.

“When we all come together, because we’re Afro, we always say that Wakanda is in the house. That day, they were showing me some beats and I suggested instead we start from scratch. So we brought in some instruments and built a structure. My brother stopped by and created a melody and it was pure magic,” she says. “I wrote the song’s first verse on the spot. The end result is a song that I love and I believe many women will adopt as their own anthem.”

Going solo coincides with the release of her upcoming album and HBO documentary, En Letra de Otro, where she re-imagines classics like Shakira‘s “Antologia,” Tego Calderón‘s “Pa’ Que Retozen” and Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong‘s “Summertime.”

“The creative process for this project was easy in a sense — because I just had to revisit my roots and remember those days when I used to stay up to watch Shakira videos. Or during the pandemic, my vocal coach asked me to sing “Summertime,” and it really had a huge impact on me — because it was around the time when George Floyd was killed,” Goyo explains. “Recording this album pretty much trained me, and gave me an idea of what working alone would be like.”

For now, fans can listen to Goyo’s new single “Na Na Na.”

En Letra de Otro is out DSPs and on HBO March 4, with additional projects (as a solo artist and with ChocQuibTown) to be announced later this year.

“I’m ready to explore a new side of me and reach new ears. Sometimes, you just have to what your heart tells you to do.”

Sony Pictures Television Developing Drama Series Inspired by ChocQuibTown That Explores What It Means to Be Afro-Latino

It looks like art will be imitating ChocQuibTown’s life…

Sony Pictures Television Latin America is developing Somos Los Prietos, a new drama series based on the Colombian hip-hop group, consisting of rapper CarlosTostaoValencia, singer/rapper GloriaGoyoMartínez and rapper/producer Miguel SlowMartínez.

ChocQuibTown

The series will examine racism in Latin America and explore what it means to be Afro-Latino.

The new series, which was announced during the American Black Film Festival, is set in Condoto, a town on Colombia’s Pacific coast.

Somos Los Prietos follows a group of adolescent friends of Afro-Latin descent as they struggle with the challenges of poverty and racism and seek to avoid the recruitment efforts of local armed commandos while trying to form a band and take part in a festival organized by their favorite group, ChocQuibTown. Along the way they confront their family, friends, underhanded racism, violence and their own fears to finally define their identity and find their place in the world.

It marks the first cross-company collaboration – referred to internally as “One Sony” – between Sony Pictures Television’s international production arm and Sony Music Latin, which counts the Latin Grammy-winning Afro-Colombian trio among its roster of artists.

Brazil Unveils Statue of Pele to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of 1970 World Cup Win

Pele’s likeness will live on forever…

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has unveiled a statue of the 79-year-old futbol living legend at its headquarters, the first of a series of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the team’s third World Cup triumph.

Pele

Pele, who will be 80 in October and finds it difficult to walk, wasn’t present at the ceremony in the CBF’s museum but had been given a preview of the statue, which he declared “perfect.”

JairzinhoClodoaldo and Brito were among members of the 1970 team present at the ceremony along with Brazil coach Tite.

Pele Statue

The 1970 Brazil side, led by Pele and featuring names like GersonTostaoRivelinoand Carlos Alberto, is known as one of the greatest teams of all time. They won all seven of their matches in Mexico that June, culminating with a 4-1 over Italy in the final at the Aztec stadium.

The statue of Pele, dressed in the strip worn by the 1970 team, bears a close resemblance to the former Santos and New York Cosmosstriker.

Many of Pele’s recent appearances have been in a wheelchair as his health has slowly deteriorated.

His son Edinho said in an interview in February that the Brazil legend is depressed over his poor health and reluctant to leave the house because he cannot walk unaided.

Ozuna to Conduct First-Ever World/U.S. Tour

Ozuna is hitting the road…

The 24-year-old Puerto Rican singer/songwriter, a rising Latin trap star, will conduct in his first-ever world/U.S. tour.

Ozuna

The chart-topping artist’s Odisea World Tour will kick off the North American-leg of the trek May 26 in Atlanta, Georgia and will be making stops in other major cities including Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and New York.

Tickets for Ozuna’s tour, titled after his forthcoming debut album, go on sale Friday (April 21). For the complete list of tour dates and ticket information, click here.

Ozuna is a finalist at the Billboard Latin Music Awards in the new artist of the year category, along with CNCOCrecer Germán and Ulíces Chaidez y Sus Plebes.

The “Dile que tu me quieres” hitmaker will also be a panelist at this year’s Billboard Latin Music Conference in the “Pop + Urban = The Perfect Marriage.” The panel includes other superstars like WisinReikSilvestre Dangond and ChocQuibTown‘s Tostao.

Wisin to Take Part in Pop + Urban-Themed Panel at Billboard Latin Music Conference

Wisin is ready for the perfect marriage

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican rapper/singer, whose real name is Juan Luis Morera Luna, will appear at this year’s Billboard Latin Music Conference.

Wisin

Wisin will take part in the panel discussion “Pop + Urban = The Perfect Marriage” alongside Mexican pop trio Reik, trap rising sensation Ozuna, Colombian vallenato singer Silvestre Dangond and ChocQuibTown‘s Tostao.

The discussion, focused on urban/reggaetón/pop fusions dominating the Billboard charts, will be moderated by iHeart Radio‘s Enrique Santos.

The Pop + Urban panel will take place April 25 at the Ritz Carlton in Miami Beach.

Other superstar-packed panels to be held at the conference include Socializing Maluma, Iconic Singer/Songwriter Q&A with Residente, and the Legends Q&A featuring Miguel Bosé.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards are the culmination of the Billboard Latin Music Conference, taking place April 24-27 at the Ritz Carlton Miami Beach.

 

To register, visit BillboardLatinConference.com.

ChocQuibTown Signs Management Deal with La Industria

ChocQuibTown is under new management…

The Latin Grammy-winning Colombian group has signed a management deal with La Industria, according to Billboard.

ChocQuibTown

The trio, comprised of Gloria MartínezGoyo,” Mike Martínez “Slow” and Carlos ValenciaTostao, joins the Industria family led by Juan Diego Medina, who manages Nicky Jam, Saga White Black and Valentino.

ChocQuibTown’s 2015 album El Mismo reached the No. 5 spot on Billboard‘s Latin Rhythm Albums chart.

Last summer, the Grammy-nominated group scored their first No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Songs chart with their single “Desde el día en que te fuiste” (chart dated August 6, 2016).

ChocQuibTown’s “De donde vengo yo” will be the official song for ESPN Deportes‘ 2017 World Baseball Classic coverage.

ChocQuibTown’s “De donde vengo yo” Featured in ESPN Deportes’ 2017 World Baseball Classic Coverage

ChocQuibTown may be sporting new fans soon…

ESPN Deportes is featuring the Latin Grammy-winning Colombian hip-hop group’s prideful, feel-good song “De donde vengo yo” for their 2017 World Baseball Classic coverage.

ChocQuibTown

ChocQuibTown, comprised of Carlos “Tostao” Valencia, his wife Gloria “Goyo” Martínez and Gloria’s brother Miguel “Slow” Martínez, took to social media to share news of their participation along with a video featuring the Latin teams that are playing in the tournament.

“Let’s experience the 2017 WBC to the beat of ‘De donde vengo yo,'” ChocQuibTown posted on Facebook.

The international tournament, with games taking place in major cities including Tokyo, Miami, Seoul and Los Angeles, will kick off March 6.