Villano Antillano had the form of summer time most rising artists would promote their souls for: In June, the rising Puerto Rican rapper made her BZRP Music Classes premiere with a livid freestyle that went viral and blew individuals’s minds, garnering a cool 155 million views. A month later, she was introduced onstage by the world’s largest artist himself, Unhealthy Bunny, throughout his televised Un Verano Sin Ti live performance in Puerto Rico earlier than tens of hundreds of attendees and viewers. A Jean Paul Gautier-sponsored journey to São Paulo, Vogue Spain travelog in Madrid, and parade of collabs to maintain the embers scorching all rounded out a banner yr for her. Now, for the grand finale, she’s launched her extremely anticipated debut album, La Sustancia X.
Your entire LP is a victory lap — and a well-earned one for the Puerto Rican artist, who’s been a distinguished and proud trans voice in a traditionally misogynistic and homophobic style. She was met with resistance when she began making music just a few years in the past, although some artists, like Ñejo and Unhealthy Bunny, have been fast to see her brilliance. She continued to guess on herself, snagging collabs with fellow up and comers, like Tommy Blanco, Younger Miko, and RaiNao. She’s discovered a sound that’s solely her personal, and longtime listeners, plus new followers who found her via her BZRP session, will discover each side of who she is well-represented via the LP’s 11 brash and uninhibited songs.
The lead single “Cáscara de Coco” is an instance of the self-possessed lyrical whirlwind she’s turn into identified for, whereas “Yo Tengo Un Novio” is a boastful pop-rap observe that celebrates the primal magic of being worshiped by your companion. The second half of the album is loaded with a number of the mission’s greatest choices, beginning with the rollickin’ “Puesta,” which options Cuban artist La Dame Blanche, who tag-teams verses with Villano over a post-grunge beat. “Hedonismo” is sure to turn into a catwalk staple as she vamps, “I’m hédonique, you’re hédonique, they’re hédonique, we’re all hédonique.” On the penultimate observe, “Nena Mala,” Villano rallies lovelorn followers who is likely to be going through heartbreak and deception and reminds them of their price, encouraging them to muster up the energy to get again up with extra braveness. “Poli” closes out the album with its tongue-in-cheek (and cheeks) ode to each polyamory and monogamy. “I might by no means consider depriving you, of all the great issues we typically really feel with different individuals,” Villano sasses, her smirk virtually audible over the subdued dance beat.
However Sustancia X’s most emotional —and strongest— observe is “Mujer.” Villano and the singer-songwriter iLe mull over the ability of their music and the way in which it’s given them company that the world doesn’t all the time grant them: “I management my pen, I management my brush, I’m in command of my very own dawn,” Villano sings within the refrain. Their songs are a approach to combat again in opposition to their aggressors, and the message on “Mujer” is amplified with audio of a rally the place the names of Puerto Rican LGBTQ+ victims of violence are learn aloud in remembrance: Mónica Carazo, Alexa Negrón Luciano, Penélope Díaz Ramírez, Serena Angelique Velázquez, Layla Pelaez, and Yampi Méndez Arocho.
Villano has all the time been an artist with one thing to say. Since she got here onto the scene, she’s been placing her foot down and shutting down haters together with her wit and appeal. The entire time, she’s been her genuine, sex-positive cuir self, irrespective of what number of eyes are upon her. In La Sustancia X, she makes it clear why she’s endeared herself to the plenty, bringing out each aspect of herself. She ties all of it along with a bow of plain rap prowess, displaying the world why she’s a star who received’t let something maintain her again.
