Becky G Doesn’t Want Just a Hit Song—She Wants a Moment in History

I think “Sin Pijama” and “Ram Pam Pam” really showed that we only shine brighter if we come together, and that was my intention. You know, a lot of people told me not to do the song with anyone. I had “Sin Pijama” in my phone recorded, ready to go for over a year before I sent it to Natti to get on it and it is because a lot of people didn’t believe in the song and said, “If you think it’s such a hit, then why would you want to share it?” I said, “Because hit songs happen every day, and I don’t want a hit song. I want a moment in history, and I think this is it.” And we were right.

It’s that gut instinct that I had. When we did our first pass of “Sin Pijama” together and they yelled “cut,” we were jumping up and down so giddy. We hugged each other and were shaking because we’re like, “This is it, something is big here.” We felt like it was going to be a game changer.

Even if I’m saying no to something, it’s important to express the why to whoever is bringing the opportunity my way. Knowing that my voice is worthy of being heard in those spaces, and I don’t want to just be the pretty face of a show. I want to also be an executive producer, and I want to have a say in the meetings when it comes down to what topics we’re going to be talking about, and who we’re going to be hiring and empowering in some of those power positions. I can give Treslúce as a great example as well. It’s a female-forward-driven company. Although we have some men that are a part of the team, they are full feminists and are all about empowering us. It’s really about having the conversations and saying, “Hey, why is it that this doesn’t feel right? Why is it that I’m the Latina face of something, but everyone that is not me is not Latinx or not representative of these topics or these communities that we’re going to be trying to connect with?” It’s important to be a reflection of your audience, and you can’t fake that. Especially nowadays—we’re too smart to be able to see something and consume it without feeling like it’s a little performative. My responsibility is to call people out on it behind closed doors too.

“Mala Santa”

The lead single off Becky G’s debut album of the same name, “Mala Santa” set the tone for the rising star’s reggaeton-forward music with lyrics that contain double meanings and emphasize a woman’s right to express her own sexuality.