As someone who has been a massive fan of Latin music for as long as I can remember, I feel like Karol G has been someone that I have slept on a bit. Of course, I have always been aware of her since she became popular. I mean, if you follow the Latin music scene, it is impossible not to have come across her music multiple times. For some reason, though, I never really dove into her discography. Embarrassingly, I really have only known her for features and for the song ‘Tusa’ with Nicki Minaj, which I absolutely love. From what I understand, though, Karol G has been doing it and has been extremely popular for quite a long time. Her debut, Unstoppable, came out in 2017, and she has released four more records since then. It seems like she really came into her own with the 2023 release of Mañana Será Bonito. This album is universally acclaimed and loved, having won Karol G a Grammy. Earlier this year, I had one of my buddies keep trying to get me into Karol G. As he is a bit younger than me, he grew up pretty infatuated with her(I have told him Shakira is to me as Karol G is to him). When he finally got me to start listening to Tropicoqueta a couple of months after it came out, I instantly became hooked. There is so much to love about this record. As I never wrote about or covered Tropicoqueta when it actually came out, I wanted to get my thoughts out on it before the year is over. Below, I am going to highlight some of my favorite songs from this record, then give some overall thoughts to close things out. Please let me know in the comments below how you feel about Tropicoqueta, and also comment on how you feel about it as a whole!

PAPASITO

When I was looking at the stream numbers for this album, I honestly expected ‘Papasito’ to be one of the most popular tracks. Although this one is obviously pretty well loved, I feel like it is still underrated. ‘Papasito’ is one of the slower and calmer songs on this record. This song has a Techno-Merengue sound to it. The beat has a classic Merengue sound that is so groovy and inviting. The melody also has elements of classic Merengue through the guitar riff that drives it, but it also contains synths and sound effects that give the song a modern Dance music element. ‘Papasito’ has probably my favorite vocal performance on the record from Karol G. She really demonstrates her range on this track, and the emotion she sings with is so palpable. This is one of the only songs with English lyrics, with a good portion of it not being in Spanish. ‘Papasito’ is a sweet love song where Karol G expresses her admiration for her partner. 

LATINA FOREVA

Now, it is obviously pretty funny or ironic that I am saying I love a song called ‘Latina Foreva’ as a white boy, but I can not deny a great song when I hear one. This is the first song I picked for this list that has a generally more muddy and feisty feeling to it than a lot of the rest of the album. A lot of this record is very sugary, but this one feels way darker. The instrumental for ‘Latina Foreva’ is very murky and groovy. The melody has a typical old school Reggaeton tone to it, and the beat matches. That is because it samples the iconic track ‘Oye Mi Canto’ by Nina Sky. Karol G actually gives one of her most dynamic vocal performances of the record on ‘Latina Foreva.’  She sings the chorus with a mesmerizing tone and raps the verses with authority. Lyrically, ‘Latina Foreva’ is pretty easy to pick up from the title. This is a dance floor anthem that will have clubs jumping for the foreseeable future. 

CUANDO ME MUERA TE OLVIDO

As a fan of 1990s Pop music, ‘Cuando Me Muera Te Olvido’ is a song that I was immediately drawn to. Like the previous track in this list, this track contains an awesome sample that so many people would recognize. The melody for this one is driven by a sample from George Michael’s highly celebrated track ‘Careless Whisper.’ Considering how popular the track is these days, this is a smart and intriguing sample. To be frank, ‘Cuando Me Muera Te Olvido’ pretty much feels like a Cumbia version of ‘Careless Whisper.’ The beat has an undeniable Cumbia sound that I just love. The arrangement of the melody has a Latin Techno element, which is so interesting. Karol G’s vocals on this track are just as enticing as the instrumental. She gives the song a very comfy feeling. On ‘Cuando Me Muera Te Olvido,’ she drinks the night away to forget the love that she lost. 

UN GATITO ME LLAMÒ

There are a few songs on this list that became international hits straight away. ‘Un Gatito Me Llamò’ is arguably the biggest of those songs. In fact, this was the first song from this album that I was actually introduced to, and it is the reason I knew I had to check this album out. This is a grimy and enthralling club anthem. There is not much of a melody for ‘Un Gatito Me Llamó.’ The song does have a tone to the bass drums in the background and a couple of synth sounds to sprinkle in throughout, but for the most part, the instrumental is all beat. The beat on ‘Un Gatito Me Llamò’ is fast-paced and sweaty. It is pretty much impossible not to want to dance to this track when it comes on. Karol G raps throughout ‘Un Gatito Me Llamò.’ Her flow matches the energy of the instrumental, and her sing-songy inflection makes this one an earworm. ‘Un Gatito Me Llamò’ is a braggadocious track where Karol G asserts that she knows how great she is and that she is not easy to get. 

BANDIDA ENTRENADA

Like ‘Latina Foreva’ and ‘Un Gatito Me Llamó, ‘Bandida Entrenada’ has a harsher or more gritty sound. In fact, this song feels dirtier and has an even lower sound than those aforementioned tracks. This is one of the songs that I first listened to from this album, and I have been hooked since. I especially loved Karol G’s performance of it at the NFL opening game halftime show in Brazil. The melody for this one, although dark, has a very hypnotic element to it that I love. ‘Bandida Entrenada’ has multiple drum patterns to it. At some points, the beat is fast, and at others, it is slow. ‘Bandida Entrenada’ is another song where Karol G only raps. Her flow and tone fit the feeling of the song so well and really give the track emphasis. On ‘Bandida Entrenada,’ Karol G raps about how she is a seductress who will get what she wants from the person who wants her. 

VERANO ROSA (FEAT. FEID)

As with a couple of other songs on this list, ‘Verano Rosa’ is a song that has become extremely popular this year. It is one of the biggest hits from this record, and it is easy to see why. The melody for this track is so luscious and warm. When I hear this melody, I think of a sunny day at the beach. The beat for this one has a sped-up Reggaeton tempo to it. ‘Verano Rosa’ has the kind of tempo that will get anyone dancing when it comes on. I really love the chemistry between Karol G and Feid on this one. The way they sing back and forth and play off of each other is nice; the gruffer tone that Feid sings with contrasts with Karol G so nicely. On ‘Verano Rosa,’ Karol G and Feid sing about only wanting to be with the one person they desire. Even though they have temptations coming from multiple places, they only feel right when they are partying with that one person. 

TU PERFUME

Like ‘Papasito,’ ‘Tu Perfume’ is a song that I would have expected to be a bigger hit from this record. I would say that it could end up being a sleeper hit, but enough time has passed that I do not know if this will be the case anymore. ‘Tu Perfume’ is a Reggaeton and Pop fusion that is unique and entertaining. The melody for this one kind of has an early 2000s Pop and Dance element that I love. It kind of reminds me of EuroDance artists like DJ Sammy or Cascada. The beat has Reggaeton tempo, but its faster and lighter drum pattern also leans into that retro Dance music feeling. Karol G delivers what is easily one of my favorite vocal performances on the record on ‘Tu Perfume.’ Her range an inflection makes the song feel cozy, and the flow she sings with is calming. On ‘Tu Perfume,’ Karol G sings about trying to forget her ex, but noticing them in everything she does. 

SI ANTES TE HUBIERA CONOCIDO

I had to close out this list with what is definitely my favorite song here. In fact, ‘Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido’ is also one of my favorite songs of the year in general. I know this is not necessarily a hot take; there is a reason this track is so incredibly popular. The instrumental for ‘Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido’ is so bright and fun. The piano-driven melody for this track is vibrant and luscious. The beat is slight, but it is fast and will get everyone out of their seat. Karol G’s vocals on this song are just as pleasant as the instrumental is. The way she sings the track really draws me in as a listener(similar to the feeling of the music video). Lyrically, this song has kind of an opposite feeling to the sound of it, however. Karol G sings about being in love with a friend, wishing they would consider leaving that person for her. ‘Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido’ is a song that has been on repeat for me for months, and I do not see that changing soon. 

As I kind of alluded to in the introduction, I will readily admit that I was totally asleep to this point when it comes to Karol G and her music. I always figure that there is a reason why someone is so popular; an artist has to have undeniable talent to get to her level. Now, I think it is pretty apparent from my description of the songs that I picked how I feel about this record. Ultimately, Tropicoqueta is just great. Sonically, this album tackles so many themes, genres, and influences. The album has elements of so many types and eras of Latin Pop, Reggaeton, Electronic Music, Cumbia, and more. The album is full of recognizable samples and interpolations that do such a great job of highlighting the original pieces while still making them sound original and fresh. Karol G’s vocals on this album are very cool. There are so many facets to her vocal abilities on this record. Some songs have a delicate and breathy tone, while others contain more power and emphasis. Karol G also raps on several of the songs, showing she is just as good at this as any of her peers. Lyrically, this album champions individuality and self-confidence, and feminism, while also showing an endearing and softer side to Karol G as well. I am glad that I went back to this album and reviewed it before the end of the year, because it is one of the best I have listened to in 2025. If Karol G has become the queen of Latin Pop music, Tropicoqueta is what has really cemented it.