Bizarrap and Shakira: the success formula of the most listened-to Argentinian artist in the world, who caused a sensation with his new song performed by the Colombian artist.
photo credit, Getty Images
She often wears the same outfit: dark glasses, a hat that covers her forehead, tracksuits, and sometimes black nail polish. It seems that Bizarrap wants to stay out of the spotlight, although this may just be a marketing strategy, given the global fame he enjoys.
What is undeniable is that the 24-year-old producer and DJ was the most listened-to Argentinian in the world on the Spotify platform in 2022 (he reached the 49th position globally) and became a benchmark in terms of urban music.
His story is similar to the story of many other trap, hip-hop and reggaeton artists: a neighborhood “kid” who learned to make music on his own and with his own resources, who was first ignored by the press and is now adored by many.
And while it reads like a rehash of autobiography, it certainly doesn’t take away from his accomplishments. He has high profile collaborations and figures.
He has more than 16 million subscribers on YouTube, songs with Residente, Nathy Peluso, Nicky Jam and Nicky Nicole and some of his videos with more than 300 million views.
What’s unusual is that he doesn’t sing, he just tracks. However, his name resonates as much as that of his colleagues.
Last July, his song “Quedate” with Spanish rapper Quevedo became the song of the summer in many Spanish-speaking countries, as far away as Portugal and Spain, Italy, Uruguay and Paraguay.
It also peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s World 200 Songs chart upon its release and became the seventh most streamed song worldwide on Spotify in 2022.
photo credit, TWITTER/BIZARRAP
Shakira’s message to Pique
Today, the Argentinian is making waves again with Colombian Shakira’s much-anticipated song that was released on Wednesday.
In the lyrics of the song, Shakira makes a direct reference to her relationship with ex-footballer Gerard Pique, who she broke up with a few months ago after he allegedly cheated on her.
“Sorry, I’m already on another plane, I’m not coming back here, I don’t want any more disappointment. You’re such a champion and when I needed you, you gave your worst version,” Shakira sings.
“It’s a good man’s name, not what it looks like. He has a good name, obviously, like you. For boys like you. I raised you and that’s why you’re with a girl like you,” he continues.
He also touches on the court case that the artist is facing in Spain on charges of tax evasion: “You left me like my mother-in-law’s neighbor, at the door with a debt to the press and the state treasury.”
And in another piece, the artist seems to remember one of his old and popular songs: “Loba”.
“A monster like me is not for boys like you,” he said. And he adds: “Women don’t cry anymore, women accuse.”
With the creative ingenuity of Bizarrap, everyone is expecting the song to be a hit. Above all, thanks to the “winning formula” developed by the “bonaerense”, as those from the province of Buenos Aires are called.
BZRP Sessions
Born Gonzalo Julián Conde in the small town of Ramos Mejía, he first posted videos on YouTube about freestyle battles, a fast-growing improvised rap competition in his country, other parts of Latin America and Spain.
But then in 2018, in a studio at his home, Biza began making beats and collaborating with freestyle rappers in what he calls the BZRP Freestyle Session, as he’s also known. The virality of these productions led him to a new idea: the BZRP Music Session.
The approach is simple: he composes the music and invites an artist to write the lyrics. The videos, while well thought out, are made without much production behind them.
“At first I was editing rap battle videos. But when I started the sessions, the views increased. And with Nikki Nicole’s session, everything exploded: it was the most played video in Argentina. J looked at Spotify’s top 200 and there were 11 of my songs. I I did a little research and there was no precedent. That’s when I said, ‘Okay, this is it, I have to dedicate myself to this full time,'” several told El País newspaper. months ago.
He told us that the sessions are carried out in full cooperation. First, he talks to the artist, listens to his interests and current musical offerings, and recommends what kind of song to make: electronic, rap or something moving with dembow.
photo credit, Getty Images
“I like to work at the same time as the artist comes to the studio. I don’t prepare the beat in advance. I prefer to talk, see where it is. Then I give my opinion and say, ‘I think you should do these kinds of songs,'” he told Forbes magazine about the creative process. .
He also attributes the success of his songs to improvisation. And the fact is that the lyrics of the song change until the last minute.
According to him, the song was written in one night with Kevedo. Session 51 with Puerto Rico’s Villano Antillano, one of his most streamed songs on Spotify with over 180 million views, was mostly written during the recording session.
Producers as artists
Bizarrap is known for more than his musical talent. In November 2020, Billboard magazine, which dedicated a cover to him, recognized him as a marketing genius.
The mystique he creates with his image, the collaborations that enrich his every venture, and the way he uses social networks where he spends a lot of time waiting for his videos are part of his success.
He himself admitted this in an interview with the publication.
“Bizarrap” is a brand as a concept. Marketing is conceptually the way to reach and listen to more people. I had a year left to finish my degree, but as I saw my path in music developing, I decided to take a break and apply what I knew to my project,” he explained.
photo credit, Getty Images
As he said, he studied marketing and actually worked with the Warner production company for two years.
But the press also criticized him for conceptualizing a new category of “artists” who, unlike pop and rock, are the brains behind the hits, especially urban producers, who are as popular as singers. often unknown.
“Bizarrap is the first of a new breed of artists in Argentine popular music. He is a loose figure until the star producer Biza decided that his voice and face would remain a mystery, but his work in the teams would take center stage and establish himself as the main author,” Clarín, who appeared a few weeks ago said in an article.
In turn, he claims that – although it may seem contradictory – fame stems from his shyness.
“I like to put the artist first, even his name comes before my name. I don’t know, as a producer, I feel like I can put the artist first and still maintain my own importance. I think that’s something that comes from my shyness. , of my personality,” Forbes said.
