What’s the Meaning of Tiraera?: Arcángel, Anuel, Bad Bunny & More
We review the term and some of the most epic examples
«Tiraera» is an inherent term in urban music and an art form within it. It’s a term we often see when two rappers, trap artists, or reggaeton singers exchange indirect or direct rhymes, attacking each other on a personal level, as we recently witnessed with Arcángel and Anuel AA.
After an interview where the performer of «Tu No Vive Así» mentioned that his relationship with Anuel was not the best, the reggaeton artist did not hesitate to provoke him through social media. «SOLDOUT concert in #WashingtonDc and you, @arcangel, waiting for Bad Bunny to feature you in a song or invite you to a concert to revive your career 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ and you patiently waiting, s*cking up to him in every interview 😂😂😂😂 relax, he’ll take you to the dealer soon 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 your album came out, and no one noticed 🤦🏻♂️ they put that on hold only when you arrive so you don’t feel bad 😩😩😫😫😫😫,» he said, to which Arcángel quickly responded in the comments with «FN8,» a song where he confronted his public enemy.
This is what we call «tiraera,» yes, but what is its real meaning?
«Tiraera» Meaning
According to the Dictionary of Americanisms, the word «tiraera,» correctly written as «tiradera,» has various meanings (from a slingshot in Cuba to the handle of furniture in Ecuador), but in this case, we refer to its meaning popularized in various Spanish-speaking countries such as Puerto Rico and Colombia, although it is recognized internationally. In this way, the mentioned organization defines «tiradera» as «ridicule with which someone is teased.»
In a complementary manner, the iconic internet Urban Dictionary (which we have all consulted at some point) places it as a diss track, the equivalent of beef in hip-hop. In the urban genre, «tiraera» is as old as war. Remember that reggaeton itself emerged between Panama and Puerto Rico in different contexts of conflict, just like other genres and sub-genres linked to hip-hop. That explains why hostility is a present element in most songs.
The Epic Reggaeton «Tiraeras»
Arcángel made history this week by starring in a new diss track, a new «tiraera,» but many artists continue to expand this list within reggaeton, trap, or, in general, Latin urban music. Anuel AA has been involved in several controversies for this, such as the one he starred in, repeatedly attacking his ex-partner, Karol G, and her current commitment to rapper Feid.
It’s not the only «diss» in which Karol has been involved this year, as Bad Bunny also dedicated some rhymes to her in his latest album «Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana.» Well, actually, «el conejo malo» distributed for her and for half of the scene, including Shakira and J Balvin.
Apparently, Bad Bunny might have used «bichota» (a term that Karol has undoubtedly embraced) as a veiled attack on the Colombian artist in his song «Vuelve Candy B,» where he sings: «Ey, vengo de PR, de donde son las verdaderas bichota’ Qué casualidad, los que se hacen más calle siempre salen chota’» (Ey, I come from PR, where the real ‘bichotas’ are. What a coincidence, those who act tougher always end up being fake).
His comments towards the co-author of «Oasis» are not far behind, as Benito also dedicates some harsh words to Balvin. «Ustede’ me han visto, siempre ando con los mismo’ / Mientras ustedes son amigos de to’ el mundo como Balvin» (You’ve seen me, I’m always with the same ones / While you’re friends with everyone like Balvin), sings the Puerto Rican artist. These words surprised his audience and even the artist himself, who, during an Instagram live, revealed that he didn’t understand the situation.
And «tiraera» has been released since the early days of Don Omar and Daddy Yankee, but undoubtedly one of the protagonists of this noble art in the scene has been Residente, who has also taken care not to leave anyone unattended. The Puerto Rican has officially declared his enmities with several disses towards J Balvin, Cosculluela, Tempo, Tek One, and NK Profeta, among others, through his BZRP Music Session with Bizarrap and his recent «Bajo y Batería.»
The list of «tiraeras» is endless and not only occurs between artists (a clear example has been practically all the songs that Shakira has released this year and the messages they contain), and we could make an infinite list. Now, what is your favorite?