Urban Artists’ Origins: Nicki Nicole, TINI, Duki, María Becerra, Tiago PZK & Emilia

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In today’s music scene, we often hear about successful artists, but it’s important to remember that even the most well-known artists started from the bottom. What’s certain is that their talent, dedication, and perseverance paved their path to the recognition they enjoy today. Let’s take a closer look at some Argentine artists who’ve made a significant impact in urban music.

Nicki Nicole

Born as Nicole Denise Cucco on August 25, 2000, in Rosario, Argentina, Nicki Nicole burst onto the music scene in April 2019, when she was just 18 years old. Her debut song, «Wapo Traketero,» made waves for its fresh take on the trap genre and caught the attention of the artistic community.

Since then, Nicki has become one of the most promising emerging artists, collaborating with notable figures such as Bizarrap, Peso Pluma, Young Miko, Rels B, and many others, solidifying her status as a rising star in the music industry.

TINI

Martina Stoessel, better known as TINI, was born on March 21, 1997, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her journey in the world of entertainment began at a tender age when she was just 10 years old, taking on a supporting role in the popular Argentine children’s series «Patito Feo.» However, her breakthrough moment arrived with the Disney Channel Latin America series «Violetta» in May 2012.

In 2016, a significant turning point came in Tini’s music career when she signed with Hollywood Records and released her debut album, simply titled Tini. This album not only dominated the charts in Argentina but also achieved a remarkable top 10 position in numerous European countries.

Fast forward to 2018, and she unveiled her second album, «Quiero Volver,» which fused Latin pop and urban music elements, featuring tracks in both Spanish and English. Her collaboration with Karol G on the song «Princesa» not only got substantial attention but also secured her a spot on several music charts in the United States. Tini’s career continued to soar, solidifying her position as a highly successful artist, with a string of hit singles including tracks like «Cupido,» «Me Enteré,» «Miénteme,» «La Triple T,» and many more.

Duki 

Mauro Ezequiel Lombardo Quiroga, known artistically as Duki, was born on June 24, 1996, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is recognized as a pioneer and a significant contributor to the rise of trap music in Latin America. He has firmly established himself as one of the most influential figures in the world of urban music.

His journey in the rap scene began in 2013 when he won his first battle at Madero Free. This marked the start of his impressive career. He went on to participate in various competitions, such as Unión de Zonas, Las Vegas Freestyle, and Refugio, earning recognition for his remarkable talent.

By 2016, Duki had become a prominent contender in El Quinto Escalón, a platform that played a crucial role in catapulting his fame. In November 2016, he released «No vendo trap» on the same platform, and it quickly became a sensation, amassing over one million views within just a week. Soon after, he collaborated with Klave on «Txdx Violeta,» another track that enjoyed widespread popularity in the music scene.

María Becerra 

María de los Ángeles Becerra, known as María Becerra, is currently one of the most prominent artists not only in her home country of Argentina but also in the broader Latin music scene. However, her journey to musical success had rather modest beginnings.

Becerra was born on February 12, 2000, in Quilmes, Argentina, and her path to fame began in 2015 when she started posting videos on Facebook. One of these videos, a parody monologue, gained a million views within a few hours, which was a turning point in her career. Encouraged by this, she launched her own YouTube channel, where she shared various forms of entertainment content.

Her initial success led to the release of her EP titled 222 in 2019, featuring three songs that explored the urban pop genre. Shortly thereafter, still in 2019, she filmed her first music video for the song «High.» Following this, she began collaborating with other artists, including a remix of «High» with Tini Stoessel and Lola Índigo in 2020, further solidifying her presence in the music industry.

Tiago PZK 

Tiago Uriel Pacheco Lezcano, who is known by his stage name Tiago PZK, was born on August 3, 2001, in Monte Grande, Argentina. The «PZK» in his name is a nod to his freestyle team, Pateando Zonas Crew, back in Argentina. Tiago’s journey is quite inspiring; he started his path from rather modest beginnings, facing financial difficulties. However, he had unwavering support from his mother, who encouraged him to pursue his dreams.

As he has shared in interviews, Tiago began his career by rapping with groups and performing on the streets, gradually building a reputation for himself among the local crowd. His breakthrough moment came when he made it to El Quinto Escalón. While his videos were already gaining popularity, the crucial point in his career came with the release of the song «Sola,» a touching tribute to his mother’s experiences. This song became a massive hit, propelling his artistic journey to new heights.

     Rap became my way of expressing myself and dealing with the tough situations at home, where there was gender violence. It provided an outlet for me to release my emotions.”

Emilia 

María Emilia Mernes Rueda, known simply as Emilia, was born on October 29, 1996, in Nogoyá, Argentina. Her path to fame began in 2012 when she won a contest organized by a popular youth brand, which led to her face becoming well-known through various advertising campaigns. In 2016, Emilia started her journey towards a university degree. However, her life took an unexpected turn when she heard that Fernando Vázquez, the leader of the Uruguayan band Rombai, was in search of a vocalist, and she was chosen for the role.

By 2018, she had a starring role in the Disney Channel series Entrelazados. During the same year, Emilia made a significant decision to leave Rombai and pursue a solo career. It was in 2019 when she released her first single, «Recalienta,» marking the beginning of her exploration into genres like reggaeton and urban music.