Del Mundo Jamz: Afro Latine artists that you should be listening to

From hip-hop to Latin jazz, these musicians intertwine cultural pride and artistry.

Sofia Joseph, La DePaulia Editor-in-Chief

February 16, 2026

Afro Latine artists have largely shaped music genres like reggaeton, pop and rap. This Black History Month, celebrate the musicians that continue to change the game while embracing their heritage.

Del Mundo Jamz: Afro Latine artists that you should be listening to

“I Like It” by Cardi B

“I Like It” is one of my favorite songs by rapper Cardi B. Colombian singer J Balvin and Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny join Cardi B on the track to form a trio. The 2018 song incorporates and features a sampled replay of Pete Rodriguez’s 1967 song “I Like it Like That.” It became a summer smash, landing the top spot on the Billboard Top 100 list in July 2018. For a song performed in both Spanish and English to reach that point in popularity in the U.S. overjoyed Cardi B, according to a Billboard article.

Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Merlenis Almanzar, is of Trinidadian and Dominican descent and has been outspoken about her cultural pride since the start of her music career. She frequently explains that Latine people are not a monolith and that her Black ancestry should not be erased.

"What a Bam Bam" by Amara la Negra

Amara La Negra is a Dominican American singer and reality television star. Born Dana Danelys De Los Santos, she is outspoken about her Afro Latina identity. In an interview with the Recording Academy’s “On Location” series host Charlie Travers, Santos talks about how, as a child, she was treated differently than other Latine children because of her features, leading her to continue to speak on the topic as an adult. Her stage name translates to “love the Black woman” in English.

She records music in both Spanish and English, and it is usually infused with R&B, hip-hop and Caribbean elements. Her 2021 song “What a Bam Bam” is one of her most popular tracks, with over 5 million streams on Spotify. It samples Jamaican artist Sister Nancy’s 1982 reggae song “Bam Bam” to create an energetic Latin pop and Dembow fusion.

“De Donde Vengo Yo” by ChocQuibTown

ChocQuibTown is a Colombian hip-hop trio. They are known for blending hip-hop with Afro Latin jazz in their music. Its group members include Carlos “Tostao” Valencia, Gloria “Goyo” Martínez and Miguel “Slow” Martínez.

They appeared in NPR’s Tiny Desk Meets AFROPUNK showcase in 2021 which featured artists in the Afro Latin or Afro Caribbean genres who honor their homes and heritage through music. The group won a Latin Grammy award for Best Alternative Song for “De Donde Vengo Yo” in 2010. In 2015, they won another Latin Grammy in the Best Tropical Fusion Album category for their album “El Mismo.”

Their song “De Donde Vengo Yo” highlights inequality, resilience and cultural pride.

The beginning of the song goes like this: “De donde vengo yo (Where I come from) / La cosa no es fácil, pero siempre igual sobrevivimos (It’s not easy but we always survive) / Vengo yo (I come) / De tanto luchar siempre con la nuestra nos salimos (From always fighting with our own, we get away) / Vengo yo (I come) / Y aquí se habla mal, pero todo está mucho mejor (And here there is bad talk, but everything is much better).”

"Taboo" by Don Omar

Puerto Rican artist Don Omar is known for hits “Danza Kuduro,” “Dile” and “Salió El Sol,” among others. His 2011 song “Taboo” quickly became one of my favorites when I was young for its energetic beats and catchy hook. It readapts “Llorando se fue,” a song by Bolivian band Los Kjarkas.

“Llorando se fue” has been sampled in many other popular songs, including Jennifer Lopez’s “On the Floor” and “Pam Pam” by Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel. “Llorando se fue” also influenced “Lambada,” a 1989 song by French Brazilian group Kaoma. “Lambada” topped charts in Europe and helped popularize the Lambada dance style in the early 1990s.

Don Omar, whose real name is William Omar Landrón Rivera, recently took to Instagram to thank Bad Bunny for uplifting Puerto Rican culture and the Latine community as a whole during his recent Super Bowl halftime show. He also shared a message about his Puerto Rican identity and pride while endorsing Kamala Harris for president in 2024.

About the Contributor

Sofia Joseph, La DePaulia Editor-in-Chief

Sofia is in her final year at DePaul studying journalism. She began writing for The DePaulia last year, forming a passion for reporting local news. She can’t wait to continue learning more about the people of Chicago and sharing their stories. Contact Sofia: [email protected]