They don’t call her ‘La más pegá’ for nothing. The catalan artist Bad Gyal is one of those artists who should never be missing from a party night. She’s the kind of diva capable of lifting spirits and changing the atmosphere with just a few seconds of one of her songs. She has always been clear that she wants to take the sounds of Jamaica as far as she can, and thanks to her effort and consistency in her work, Alba has built a figure that’s hard to surpass.
Many consider her the «Queen of Dancehall,» and she has gradually earned that title. The artist has expanded her music beyond her borders in 2023, collaborating with some of the biggest sensations in Latin Music, like Anitta, Young Miko or Tokischa, among others. And remember that when she comes to the US she’s sold out in NYC.
But now Bad Gyal has filled her career with more brilliance than ever with «La Joia,» her first studio album that was released on Friday, January 26, marking a before and after in her career. In an era where the release of an album is a moment in danger of extinction, the Spanish artist has once again followed her musical instinct and, after a long and arduous period of work, has presented the project that supports the crown of her new version. «La Joia» has everything except outdated sounds, music to forget, and lyrics loaded with patriarchy.
There are 15 songs that define the new musical era of the Jamaican at heart. In them, we hear a variety of sounds, such as reggaeton, touches of reggae, and dancehall, always keeping this traditional genre of Jamaican popular music in mind.
‘Brillo’, Gurl
The listening experience of «La Joia» cannot start with a clearer message. Lots of ‘bling bling’ and the sound of shiny stones rubbing against each other. Bad Gyal is clear that she will continue with her shiny aesthetic, dominated by gold and silver, making her a jewel that few can reach. Discretion has never been a characteristic element of her style, which has undoubtedly become a key element that has captivated many of her fans.
Jamaica and Perreo
As our protagonist has stated on more than one occasion, her trip to Jamaica has been a turning point in her career. The sounds of dancehall and reggae inspired her from the beginning, and that is something she has brought to this new project. Songs like «La Que No Se Mueva» with Tommy Lee Sparta and «Perdió Este Culo» highlight her passion for the traditional music of this Caribbean country. Bad Gyal does not forget the rhythms that have led her to success and on which she has found a foundation to share her art.
We also hear reggaeton, as is the case with «Chulo pt.2.» We cannot ignore her collaboration with none other than Ñengo Flow, one of the genre’s biggest exponents. A song that shows that music transcends generations, and what really matters is the passion for this art. How long will it take for «Bad Boy» to become a dance floor hit?
Bye Bye to the ‘Bad Boys’
Bad Gyal always boasts of writing her own songs, and unfortunately, this is a practice in danger of extinction. She writes what she feels at that moment and expresses it with melodies that end up becoming the soundtrack for thousands and thousands of people. In «La Joia,» she delights us with lyrics loaded with empowerment and farewells to the ‘bad boys.’ A message of resentment that we had already heard in songs like «Zorra» and that adds a dose of security, confidence, and self-love. In «La Joia,» we hear this in songs like «Chulo pt.2,» «Bad Boy,» and «Perdió Este Culo,» among others.
We also hear lyrics that reference her position as an empowered woman who enjoys the luxuries, power, and fortune of feeling more valuable than anyone else. «Platinum records, don’t know where to put them; It’s the coolest thing, they pay me to move it; Head-top, I know how to do it. […] I sound wherever I am; Because I have the flow; I always bring something fresh, no TBT; If it doesn’t move, lie down; Original bars, I didn’t steal them, I bring what’s real,» say some verses from «Sin Carné.»
In short, Bad Gyal’s «La Joia» is a burst of Jamaica, self-love, and a lot of Flow2024.
Original article by Laura Coca on LOS40.com
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