The origins of Latin American music can be traced back to the Spanish and Portuguese conquest of the Americas in the 16th century. Notable pioneers who introduced Latin music to the United States mainstream include Xavier Cugar and Tito Puente. Today, Latin music continues to play a huge role in global pop culture with artists like Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, Karol G and Shakira leading the way. According to Karol G, “This is a movement. They don’t even know what we are saying but they vibe with the music. That is special, I love that.”
Singer Bad Bunny, who collaborated with Karol G on the song “Ahora me Llama,” is reaching many across the world with his music. Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio) is the first Latin artist to top the Billboard 100 charts. "Un Verani Sin Ti" is one of 22 songs on the Hot 100, a record among Latin music acts. Born in Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny uses his music to bring attention to social and political issues such as the impact of the blackouts after Hurricane Maria (“El Apagon”) as well the civil unrest in Puerto Rico (“Afilando Los Cuchillos”).
Emilio Estefan is known for his 19 Grammy Awards as a Cuban American musician and producer. Beyond his musical prowess, Estefan, along with superstar wife Gloria Estefan, owns a number of successful businesses and has an estimated worth of over $700 million dollars. Estefan’s latest venture is Latin Ignition. Estefan, along with Consuelo Vanderbilt, joined forces to highlight Latino designers from around the world and ignite a broader appreciation of Latin style and fashion. This year’s show “Latin Ignition - The Magic of Art” was on the first day of New York Fashion Week and took place at the Guggenheim Museum.
Actress Jessica Alba went beyond the silver screen to create one of the most successful businesses in the past decade. Alba is founder of The Honest Company and Honest Beauty - companies that offer more than 100 products for babies, personal care and cleaning. She is also the author of the New York Times best selling book The Honest Life, a practical guide for parents to create a secure and healthy lifestyle for families. Alba serves as Chief Creative Officer at the Honest Company - worth over $1 billion dollars - and is involved with a variety of charities.