Zion y Lennox Release First “Salsa-fied” Single “Desnúdate”

Zion y Lennox are stripping down for their next single…

The Puerto Rican reggaeton music duo has released their first single of the year called “Desnúdate.”

Steering away from their signature old-school reggaetón essence and catchy perreo sound, Zion y Lennox experiment with salsa music for the first time, at the helm of co-producers Sergio George and Motiff.

The duo sings about love and betrayal, but admitted that performing the urban-infused salsa track was quite challenging.

“Without a doubt, this was one of the biggest challenges in our career but we were able to interpret it with love and compassion,” Zion tells Billboard of the tropical genre that they grew up listening to and respecting. “For us, it’s more than an honor to make this song in homage to all the salseros of Puerto Rico and around the world.”

To the hard-hitting rhythms of congas and trumpets, “Desnúdate” is about a girl who leads a man on and doesn’t want anything serious. “Oh no, oh no, you entangled me in your skin/you played with me […] get undressed, don’t tell me you care for me, you love me/ I knew you were like the rest that said they loved me but I do love you,” the pair laments.

“I am super excited about everything that is coming for the tropical genre, especially in salsa with these new sounds that I am experimenting with,” expressed Motiff.

“‘Desnúdate’ is undoubtedly part of the seasoning to all the salsa that is coming this 2023!!”

Maluma Releases Second “Royalty by Maluma” Clothing Collection

Maluma has expanded his fashion brand…

The 28-year-old Colombian singer has released his second clothing collection via Macy’s, which includes matching sets for men and women.

Maluma, Quay Australia,Royalty by Maluma, the collection’s official name, is all about self-expression and embracing one’s extraordinary sense of style, says Maluma, who adds that he wanted to make sure the collection’s style and colors — which feature prints in bright mojito green, scuba blue and more — were inclusive to everyone and enhanced creativity and imagination.

“Fashion for me is a way of self-expression,” Maluma told Billboard, describing his vision in fashion. “Depending on colors and style, it can describe your mood or enhance it positively. Fashion is like music; creativity and imagination.”

The collection features prints with beach scenes, blue waves, palm trees and a Hawaiian travel stamp print representing his global mega-hit song “Hawaii,” which nabbed him his second No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart in 2020.

Although Maluma has long been a fashionista and collaborated in design before, this was his first time designing a summer collection. And it was special for him because he had the opportunity to create bathing suits for women.

“It was a completely memorable and inspiring experience. It was also important for me to share more of Colombia’s coastal side in this collection. I want to continue sharing Colombia with the world in all ways.”

Last weekend, Maluma wore his clothing line while taking over Resorts World Las Vegas for the launch of Maluma Land, a festival where he curated the artist lineup, featuring artists such as Zion & Lennox, BlessdBecky G and DJ Snake, among many others.

“The Maluma Land experience truly represented our music globally and introduced the new generation of Colombia’s urban music scene. I am proud to do what many did not do for me. I had many not believe in me or closed doors, and that’s not who I want to be,” Maluma adds explaining how he feels about being able to open doors for many new talents from Colombia.

Maluma’s summer clothing collection is now available in Macy’s department stores.

Carla Morrison Among Artists Confirmed for Season 3 of HBO’s “HBO Latino Presents: A Tiny Audience”

Carla Morrison is preparing for her Tiny moment… 

A Tiny Audience is unveiling its season 3 lineup, with the 35-year-old Mexican indie-pop singer and composer among the participating artists.

Carla MorrisonPresented by HBO Latino, the series features intimate live specials with some of Latin music’s hottest acts, including Paulina Rubio in season 2, where the artist is filmed in a live and unfiltered way, revealing a personal secret to the small audience and performing songs that are meaningful to them.

In its new season, HBO Latino Presents: A Tiny Audience will present Morrison, Danna Paola, Jessie Reyez, Justin Quiles, La India, Mike Bahia, Ximena Sariñana, Jay Wheeler, Becky G, Zion y Lennox, Robin Thicke, Manuel Medrano, Leslie Grace, Guaynaa, El Fantasma, Aleks Syntek and a tribute to Celia Cruz.

Season 3 premieres on April 22 on HBO/HBO Max in the U.S. and DirecTV/DirecTV GO in Latin America.

Gilberto Santa Rosa to Serve as NYC Puerto Rican Day Parade Grand Marshall

Gilberto Santa Rosa is set to have a grand old time at this year’s NYC Puerto Rican Day Parade.

The 54-year-old Puerto Rican singer and bandleader, known as “El Caballero de la Salsa,” will serve as the grand marshall of the annual parade on June 11.

Gilberto Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa is a Grammy and Latin Grammy winner, who has been active in the music industry for approximately forty years.

But Santa Rosa isn’t the only superstar participating in this year’s parade.

Iris Chacón, the 67-year-old showgirl who came to fame in the 1970s as “the Puerto Rican bombshell” has been named godmother of the parade.

Ozuna will appear as the parade’s Rising Star, salsa singer Ismael Rivera has been named a Puerto Rican Day ambassador, and Latin alternative duo BuscaBulla will also join the parade.

This year’s Puerto Rican Day Parade marks the 60th time that “la parada” fills Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue with tropical music and Puerto Rican pride. Previous grand marshalls include Marc Anthony and Ricky MartinCalle 13’s Rene Perez was crowned king of the parade in 2014.

Olympic gold medal gymnast Laurie Hernández, actress Lana Parrilla (Once Upon a Time) and 14-time MLB All-Star Iván Rodríguez will also participate in this year’s parade.

The event will also reference recent politics: it will honor former political prisoner Oscar López Rivera, who was pardoned by President Barack Obama in January after 35 years in federal prison, as National Freedom Hero. And this year’s parade coincides with 100 years since all Puerto Ricans were granted U.S. citizenship by a law enacted by President Woodrow Wilson.

“In this monumental year, we are showcasing our collective achievement and the legacy we have built by working in solidarity,” Puerto Rican Day Parade Board Chair Board Chair Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez said at a press conference. “And we will discuss key challenges that Puerto Rico is facing to help inform and engage our community. We also honor legendary figures and the next generation of stars that are already accomplished in their own right.”

Two music festivals preceding the parade will turn June 9-11 into a full throttle Puerto Rican party weekend.

The 2017 Soulfrito festival will feature a line-up of  “club bangers and Latin trap” that includes urban stars Farruko, Zion y Lennox , Bad Bunny, Cosculluela and Ivy Queen starts the party in Brooklyn on Friday, June 9, at the Barclays Center.

Willie Colon, Eddie Palmieri and Tito Nieves lead the incredible line-up of the 33rd New York Salsa Festival, which takes place Saturday, June 10, also at the Barclay Center. Jerry Rivera, Grupo Niche, Fruko y Sus Tesos, Tito Rojas and DLG are also among the artists scheduled to perform.

Daddy Yankee to Perform at This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards

Daddy Yankee is readying for another performance on the big stage…

The 40-year-old Puerto Rican superstar is confirmed to perform at the 2017 Billboard Latin Music Awards, taking place April 27 at the University of Miami‘s Watsco Center.

Daddy Yankee

Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi will take the stage for the worldwide television premiere of their monster hit “Despacito.” The pair recently dropped a new remix featuring Justin Bieber, and after just 24 hours on YouTube, it became the biggest musical debut on the streaming platform, surpassing 20 million worldwide views.

During Daddy Yankee’s performance, the five-time finalist will also debut a new track.

Other performers throughout the night include J BalvinNicky Jam, Gente de Zona, Zion y LennoxAlejandro Fernández and Morat.

Mexican actress Kate del Castillo, from the Netflix series Ingobernable, and Puerto Rican actor and singer Carlos Ponce will host the awards ceremony that will air live on Telemundo. Presenters include ChocQuibTownSofía ReyesOlga TañónSin BanderaJuan Luis Guerra and Ednita Nazario, among others.

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.

Zion y Lennox Add Latin Flavor to Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You”

Zion y Lennox are getting in Shape… with a Latin twist.

The Puerto Rican reggaetón duo has added some sabor to Ed Sheeran’s chart-topping track “Shape of You.”

Zion y Lennox

The remiz, which was released over the weekend, has managed to make Sheeran’s already-catchy tune even more irresistible.

The collaboration was made possible thanks to the duo’s music label Warner Music, which is also Sheeran’s label.

“We were thrilled to work on this amazing track because everything about it is beautiful. The rhythm, which is very Carribean, everything. It’s very representative of what he can do with music. We saw him last year and he had a country song, you’d never imagine it’s Ed Sheeran. For us it was great news to be able to make this happen,” Zion y Lennox previously told Billboard adding that they recorded the remix in a hotel room in Guatemala. “The result is epic.”

On the charts, Sheeran’s “Shape” tops the Billboard Hot 100 chart (dated April 1) for an eighth week. Zion y Lennox’s Latin remix joins other remixes by Major Lazer and Wale. 

Iglesias Previews New Single “Súbeme la radio”

Enrique Iglesias is turning things up…

The 41-year-old Spanish superstar is releasing his new single “Súbeme la radio” on Febrary 24.

Iglesias took to social media to preview his forthcoming song, as well as offer a behind-the-scenes look of the music video filmed in Havana, Cuba.

“Súbeme la radio” is a collaboration with hitmakers Zion y Lennox and Descemer Bueno.

“Welcome to Cuba,” Iglesias says in the video, where you can see him surrounded by fans in the colorful streets of Cuba.

The sneak peek ends with a crowd singing along to “Súbeme la radio.”

Alx Veliz to Join Nicky Jam’s Fenix Tour

Alx Veliz is ready to (Nicky) Jam

The Guatemalan Canadian signer has been added as a special guest on Nicky Jam‘s second leg of the Fenix Tour.

Alx Veliz

Veliz joins other special guests on the tour, including Zion Y Lennox, De La Ghetto and Valentino.

“I am so excited to join this mega superstar on his tour! Nicky Jam is breaking barriers in his genre and I am grateful to have the opportunity to bring my music to his fans in the States this summer,” the “Dancing Kizomba” singer said in a statement.

Veliz’s “Dancing Kizomba,” from his EP Love Has No Language, was recently certified platinum in Spain, and the Spanish-language music video has over 4 million views on YouTube.

The Toronto native will also be performing at the V Music Festival in Europe in August.

The Fenix Tour kicks off July 1 in Tampa, Florida, and will visit cities including Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix.

See the dates and cities below:
July 1 – Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
July 2 – Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA
July 7 – El Coliseum, El Paso, TX
July 8 – Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, TX
July 10 – Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
July 15 – Axis Theater, Las Vegas, NV
July 17 – The Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA
July 22 – State Farm Arena, McAllen, TX
July 24 – SAP Center, San Jose, CA
July 29 – Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, CA
July 30 – Comerica Theater, Phoenix, AZ
July 31 – Viejas Arena, San Diego, CA