Latin Artist on the Rise

Cris MJ’s love for reggaetón was instilled in him by his mother and father. “I didn’t watch cartoons rising up, I watched reggaeton music movies,” he tells Billboard — admitting that when he was eight years outdated, he would imitate city artists at his college expertise reveals. 

Impressed by old-school reggaetón acts, reminiscent of Daddy Yankee, Jory and Ñengo Circulate, in addition to American Lure artists Travis Scott, Drake and Lil Child, the rising Chilean artist determined to show himself how you can make music.

His first creations had been music movies recorded on his iPhone and songs uploaded by himself on DistroKid— ”it was troublesome for a reggaetón artist to get help right here,” he explains, particularly in his hometown of La Serena (positioned on the coast of Chile). Nonetheless, he supposed to make a reputation for himself by importing Spanish covers of a few of his favourite English rap and entice songs on social media.

At one level of his profession, Cris — who has spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Scorching Latin Songs chart along with his FloyyMenor-assisted “Gata Solely” — fell right into a despair, and virtually give up music. He explains that he didn’t imagine in his venture due to adverse feedback he heard on the streets. 

However his leap of religion arrived in 2020, when he moved to the capital of Santiago, and unleashed his first official single referred to as “Como Tú Ninguna,” a catchy urban-mambo that regionally put him on the map. “I like doing all types of music, however total with futuristic beats or beats that I can vibe with,” he says. 

The track that in the end opened all doorways for him, nonetheless, arrived in 2022: “Una Noche en Medellín” — a hard-hitting perreo that highlights the colourful Colombian nightlife. After going viral on TikTok, it landed on Karol G’s radar, who later jumped on the remix, invited fellow Colombian Ryan Castro to affix in, and even included it on her Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season) album. 

The highly effective collaboration — which Karol & Cris first carried out collectively on the 2023 Viña del Mar—earned the Chilean act his first Scorching 100 entry, when it debuted at No. 68 final yr in August.

Now, following his debut albums Welcome to My World (2022) and Partyson (2023), Cris continues to herald the Chilean reggaetón motion with “Gata Solely.” Just like “Medellín,” the infectious reggaetón observe — about going after a pretty lady — skyrocketed on the charts after constructing virality on social media. 

The seven-week No. 1 on Scorching Latin Songs marks the primary time any Chilean artist has entered the highest 10 since La Ley and Ednita Nazario’s “Tu Sabes Bien” peaked at No. 8 in 1999. Previous to that, it was Myriam Hernández’s “Huele a Peligro,” which peaked at No. 5 in 1998. 

“For us, this is essential. It’s a satisfaction for all Latinos to be on that chart,” Cris stated to Billboard in a earlier interview. “In reality, earlier than we launched the track, I knew it was going to be a worldwide hit. I’m proud as a result of it’s not solely serving to my profession, but additionally the considered one of my colleagues.” 

Cris is presently making the rounds along with his newest observe “Si No Es Contigo.” Beneath, study extra about this month’s Latin Artist on the Rise.

Title: Christopher Andrés Álvarez García

Age: 22

Really useful Track: “Una Noche en Medellín”

What’s Subsequent?: Following an in depth tour in Mexico, the Chilean artist is headed to Europe, the place he’ll spend practically two months touring. He additionally plans on releasing new music, together with a collaboration with Junior H and Bryant Myers.

Greatest accomplishment: Cris MJ says his largest profession accomplishment thus far has been to have the ability to purchase his automotive and personal a house in Santiago. Along with making historical past on the Billboard charts, he’s additionally nominated on the 2024 Warmth Latin Music Awards (Premios Warmth).