Paulo Londra is the next Argentinian rap superstar, and he's signalled his intentions to go global. This has never been more evident than with his latest track Party, a joint effort between Paulo and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. Party is the culmination of what's been a huge year for Paulo, featuring on Ed Sheeran's No.6. Collaborations, releasing his debut album, Homerun, as well as dominating not only Latin American music charts, but all across the world. With 16 million monthly listeners on Spotify, seven million Instagram followers, and topping charts in Argentina, Mexico, Spain and more, Paulo knows how to make a huge hit, and Party proves it.
The track with A Boogie is arguably Paulo's crowning achievement this far, with the pair's flows sounding more infectious than ever. Rather than sounding tired, the pair elevate each other, and it's clear that they had one hell of a fun time making the track.
Talking about the collaboration, Paulo is overjoyed with the result, saying, “To have A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie on board makes me very happy. He gives the track an incredible touch and flow" while A Boogie Wit Da Hoddie added, “I was mad excited when I got the call from Paulo Londra. I’ve been a big fan for a minute and I’m glad to be a part of this song.”
Paulo's origins aren't what you think, however, as he was inspired to begin rapping by Eminem, and actually picked up battle rapping. Speaking to Billboard, he outlined what set him apart, even in the early days, saying, “[My lyrics] made me stand out in rap battles,” he says. “I tried to leave aggressiveness to the side and win with other things, be it sound or fluidity. Some people criticized me, but I liked to do things differently.” He added to this in conversation with Tidal, saying, "Yes, I always liked music. I recognize that my first strong closeness was clearly with the battles, not with music and songs. But from the battles one could appreciate many lyrics, artists who also implemented song in their battles, and there I began to know everything and know other bands. That’s how it came about."
This positivity comes through in his music, and is something that he focuses on conveying. Speaking to Billboard Argentina about one of his biggest hits, Adan y Eva, Paulo said "I want to put subjects that many people do not include. Almost nobody sings that he is happy. They say 'I'm bad now' and things like that. I do not know if it's because it sells more; what do I know? It makes me want to do what nobody does."
He also described how he felt upon its release, saying, "I had, most of all, anxiety and a lot of excitement for Adan y Eva. I liked what I created there. I had to get it out! Obviously, I am always surprised by how people receive the songs. They think and critique. I love seeing the video reactions. That makes me very happy. The numbers on the charts make me happy too. I get anxious to go to the street and see the reaction of the people.
He was first noticed for his song, Relax, which he described the making of to Billboard, saying, "It was born for a competition. I was not busking anymore. It was a recording at the CBArte studio in Córdoba with Biblio El Nagual. I remember that I was terribly excited with the music, as always, improvising, and I said to myself: "Why don't we try it?"
"There, I wrote something. I searched for a beat on YouTube [Patience by the Dutchman Teun de Kruif, better known as Tantu Beats], I recorded it, and the first thing I did was show it to friends like Alan, who is now my DJ and accompanies me everywhere. He said yes, I had to get it out, it was good. I had to cheer up. If it gave me pleasure to make music, let it go, I did not have to be ashamed of what I liked to do. That's how it went."
There's no telling what the future holds for Paulo, given his already impressive discography, he might just became rap's next superstar. Whatever happens, he's a force to be reckoned with, and someone that's as positive when writing a song as he is anywhere else. He's on the path to stardom, and he might just become rap's nicest artist while he's at it.
