LOS ANGELES -- It's been a big year for música Mexicana. Corridos tumbados are still dominating the global charts, with a handful of established stars leading the charge -- among them Fuerza Regida, Peso Pluma, Tito Double P, Junior H and genre newcomer Netón Vega.
But amid this flurry of new releases, you might have missed an album or two worthy of recognition. Here are five música Mexicana records you should check out.
Chino Pacas has staked his claim to the spotlight following the release of his sophomore album, "Cristian," which came out last month. At just 18 years old, he's amassed over 17 million monthly Spotify listeners, largely due to his uniquely gritty vocals that pair well with the genre's thunderous instrumentation.
Now with "Cristian," Chino Pacas looks to stand out among other corridos tumbados stars by exploring a range of sounds, including traditional banda rhythms in " No Es Un Juego" (ft. Banda Otro Pedo) and the hip-hop-infused " GTO" (ft. Santa Fe Klan). (The latter's music video is filmed in some iconic Boyle Heights locations, including Mexican deli Los Cinco Puntos and El Mercado's Virgin Mary shrine.) Pacas also picks up the pace with his rendition of Tropicalísimo Apache's 1993 song "Ojitos Mentirosos," a song currently trending on TikTok; Pacas' version has risen considerably on Mexico's Top 50 chart on Spotify.