KG0516 by KAROL G
KG0516 is the third studio album by Colombian singer Karol G, released on March 25, 2021, by Universal Music Latin Entertainment. Consisting of sixteen tracks, the album was preceded by the commercially successful and Latin Grammy-nominated single "Tusa" with Nicki Minaj, "Ay, Dios Mio!", "Bichota", and "Location" which features vocals by Anuel AA and J Balvin. It also includes guest appearances by Mariah Angeliq, Camilo, Nathy Peluso, Ozuna, Yandar & Yostin, Juanka, Brray, Ludacris, Emilee, Wisin & Yandel, Nicky Jam, Ivy Queen, Zion and Alberto Stylee. Background The title KG0516 references a combination of digits, dates, and initials, recalling the moment Karol G and her parents signed her first major contract under her stage name. “My parents signed a contract on my behalf on May 16th, 2006 and that was the first time that my name as ‘Karol G’ was written”. On November 7, 2019, Karol G released "Tusa" with American artist Nicki Minaj, which received immediate commercial success. Following this, the singer stated she was ready to embark on a world tour, but due to the varying international lockdowns (as safety against COVID-19, these plans were momentarily postponed after just one show. On July 6, 2020 Karol G released "Ay, Dios Mio!" as the second single from the album and "Bichota" was later released on October 23, 2020 as the third single. Both singles were also received with immediate success. The following year, on February 12, 2021, "Location" (featuring Anuel AA and J. Balvin) was released as the last single prior to the album’s release. On March 16, 2021, Karol G announced via a half-minute video the release date of the album alongside its title, while the cover art, which was photographed by David LaChapelle, was released the next day. The tracklist was revealed the following week, revealing guest appearances from Mariah Angeliq, Camilo, Nathy Peluso, Ozuna , Yandar & Yostin, Juanka, Brray, Ludacris, Emilee, Wisin & Yandel, Nicky Jam, Ivy Queen, Zion and Alberto Stylee. The album was released on March 25, 2021, alongside the release of "El Makinon" (featuring Mariah Angeliq), as the fifth single from the album. "El Barco" would follow up shortly as the sixth single from the album. The regional Mexican corrido, "200 Copas" was released as the final single from the album. AllMusic Thom Jurek from AllMusic praised Giraldo’s ability to blend in multiple genres, stating, “KG0516 establishes Karol G as a visionary; she pushes hard at urbano's boundaries, blending them into the pop multiverse, only to bring the album's many dimensions to heel under reggaeton's dominance.”
“I always say ‘Tusa’ changed my life,” KAROL G tells Apple Music. “I will always be grateful to this song and Nicki Minaj.” After outdoing herself with that outstanding 2019 international smash hit, the Colombian star transcends expectations on her new album as she bends contemporary pop music to her will. As previewed via her popular singles “Ay, DiOs Mío!” and “LOCATION”, she continues to astound as one of modern music’s biggest stars, Latin or otherwise. Her commitment to performing in Spanish speaks to how far global artistry such as hers has come since the so-called crossover days. “This has made a huge impact culturally,” she says, “and it makes us so proud that we can sing in Spanish and still reach a massive audience.”<br /> Though the album’s title explicitly refers to the date in 2006 when her parents signed her first record contract, itself a subtle nod to her endurance and longevity as an artist, she considers <i>KG0516</i> to be about much more than just a particular moment in time. “I wanted to take my fans on a flight through my musical journey,” she explains. “Each song takes you to a different place.” <br /> Indeed, the diversity of sound on <i>KG0516</i> goes further than that of its fairly eclectic predecessor <i>OCEAN</i>, building on that multi-genre affair’s strength by expanding her sonic palette. She dives head first into the contemporary corridos scene with “200 COPAS”, embraces reggae vibrations on the empowering “BICHOTA” and brings it back to a summertime R&B classic with the bilingual “BEAUTIFUL BOY”. Befitting her superstar status, she’s curated an impressive set of features, from Latin power players Anuel AA and J Balvin to hip-hop legend Ludacris. She makes room for rising star Nathy Peluso on the popwise “GATO MALO” and goes toe to toe with no less than Ozuna on the ethereal “ODISEA”. Perhaps the most notable of these guests is the inimitable reggaetonera Ivy Queen, who features prominently on the stacked album closer “LEYENDAS” alongside Nicky Jam and Wisin & Yandel. “She opened the path for future female artists like me in the culture,” Karol says. “She proved that we are not limited, and we can be just as successful as the men.” In turn, she lifts up a young woman from the next generation, Miami sensation Mariah Angeliq, for the thumping “EL MAKINÓN”.
