Karol G surprises with 'Tropicoqueta': a sonic journey through Latin America

This Friday, June 20, Karol G released her fifth studio album, “Tropicoqueta,” a 20-song project that seeks to pay tribute to Latin roots music, with fusions ranging from merengue and bachata to cumbia, vallenato, and mariachi.

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The album was announced on June 9th, and its cover art and release date were revealed the following day. In the days leading up to the album, billboards were displayed in various cities, previewing the tracklist, generating excitement among fans. On social media, Karol G described her work as “a journey” in which each track offers a different universe. “It’s not an album you listen to once and understand everything… this album is a journey. Each song is a world. A different rhythm. A different feeling… And I think that’s the magic… (and the challenge too)… To fall in love again with a different song every day, literally.”

Musically, "Tropicoqueta" stands out for its diversity of genres. Merengue, bachata, cumbia, vallenato, and mariachi coexist with reggaeton. Thalía opens the album with a professional shout-out, while the production includes contributions from figures such as Pharrell Williams, Edgar Barrera, Ovy on the Drums, and Tainy.

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Highlights include the promotional singles "Si antes te había conocí," released in June 2024 as the album's introduction, and "Latina Foreva," released in May 2025. "Latina Foreva" celebrates Latin identity with a reggaeton base from the early 2000s, incorporating samples and synthesizers with cultural references. Collaborations with Truco, known for their variety of styles, include Marco Antonio Solís, Greeicy, Manu Chao, José del Tomate, Mariah Angeliq, and Eddy Lover. Each guest adds their signature and expands the album's sonic palette. Karol G has defined it as a "love letter" and an "identity manifesto" toward her own culture and roots. One of the most talked-about tracks is track number 13, now identified as "Verano Rosa," a collaboration with Feid. The song was teased with hints since 2023, when it was revealed on the album listing for “Mañana será bonito (Bichota Season)” but was removed, sparking speculation among fans. Feid, who is also Karol G’s partner, responded to the release with a message on Instagram addressed to the artist: “This is what PINK SUMMER sounds like with my beautiful Queen, the most awesome, talented, dedicated, hard-working, cute, cool, and special tropicocoqueta in the world!!! … Go listen to her album and this song in particular because TROPICOCETEICHOOOONNN PINK SUMMER MORRRRR”.

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Indeed, fans greeted the news with enthusiasm. "Verano Rosa" racked up more than 200,000 views in less than 24 hours. The lyrics portray an intense, contemporary connection, where emotion is experienced without labels: "The song speaks of a relationship lived with passion, complicity, and without pressure." For the album's visual presentation, Karol G also drew on the dramatic aesthetic of '90s soap operas. She shared a trailer with melodramatic moments and, more recently, starred in a social media mini-novela alongside Anahí, Itatí Cantoral, Ninel Conde, and Gabriela Spanic, recreating a conflictive scene with elements typical of that television style.

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