People’s Choice Awards: The Musicians Nominated For Latin Artist of 2021, Including Bad Bunny and Maluma
The People’s Choice Awards is a unique awards show in that viewers, rather than industry insiders, have a say in who is honored with an award. Musicians including Bad Bunny, Maluma, and J Balvin are up for Latin Artist of 2021, and each nominee brings something different to the table.
Anuel AA
Anuel AA announced in late 2020 that he was retiring from music, but instead, he spent 2021 recording and releasing new music. He released his collaborative album Los Dioses with fellow Puerto Rican star Ozuna at the top of the year, and he released his fourth album Las Leyendas Nunca Mueren (Legends Never Die) on his birthday in November.
Bad Bunny
Despite much of the music industry being shuttered in 2020, Bad Bunny still found time to release not one, not two, but three albums. He hasn’t slowed down at all in 2021, releasing hit singles such as “Yonaguni” and even making his acting debut on Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico.
Becky G
Becky G rose to fame “singing in the shower,” and she released her debut album Mala Santa in 2019. In 2021, she continued to release one-off singles including “Fulanito” with El Alfa and “Ram Pam Pam” with Natti Natasha; both singles were certified three-times and four-times Latin platinum, respectively. She even collaborated with the one and only Christina Aguilera — along with Argentine singers Nathy Peluso and Nicki Nicole — for the song “Pa Mis Muchachas,” the lead single off Aguilera’s upcoming Spanish album.
Daddy Yankee
Daddy Yankee helped reggaeton go mainstream over a decade ago with hit songs such as “Gasolina” and “Rompe.” In 2021, his single “Problema” was certified two-times Latin platinum, and he’s continued to tease his highly-anticipated album El Disco Duro, which would be his first in nearly a decade.
J Balvin
J Balvin once looked up to Daddy Yankee, and now the Colombian reggaeton star has achieved worldwide recognition just like Yankee. Balvin was busy as usual in 2021, releasing his personal album José and even releasing a new song to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Pokémon.
Karol G
Karol G released her third album KG0516 in March 2021, which was preceded by hit singles including “Bichota” and her Nicki Minaj collab “Tusa.”
Maluma
Maluma surprise-released his fifth album Papi Juancho in 2020, which included the smash song “Hawái,” his highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart to date. He kicked off 2021 with an EP titled #7DJ (7 Días en Jamaica) (Seven Days in Jamaica), complete with music videos for each track. In early 2022, he’ll be starring alongside Jennifer Lopez in the new rom-com Marry Me; he also worked with J. Lo on the movie’s soundtrack.
Natti Natasha
Dominican singer Natti Natasha has had a busy 2021. She became engaged to her longtime manager in early 2021, and gave birth to their child, a daughter named Vida, in May. In September, she released her sophomore album Nattividad, which contained collaborations with the likes of Becky G and Prince Royce. In November, she debuted her six-part docuseries Everybody Loves Natti on Prime Video.
