Lito Kirino

Latin rapper Lito Kirino built a devoted fan base by frequently posting solid tracks online, growing from independent song uploads and videos to a record deal with Sony Music. Rapping and singing almost entirely in Spanish, Kirino adapted his own take on both brooding trap beats and more pop-minded songs, beginning with a 2015 EP called Love & Passion. He continued with a steady stream of new music, including multiple mixtapes and one-off singles. Some standouts included a take on Childish Gambino's 2018 hit "This Is America" (remixed as "This Is Dominican Republic") as well as original tracks like "Karma" and "777," moody and slow-moving trap songs whose videos both accrued streams in the millions. Lito Kirino was born in the Dominican Republic and relocated to New York. His rap career began around 2014 when he would upload his songs to SoundCloud and other online platforms. From there, things began taking shape with the release of early mixtapes like Morfina and Love & Passion. Though he would often move between styles, Kirino's most popular and enduring songs were his darker rap tracks. He issued new music constantly, with highlights coming in the form of breakthrough 2106 single "Somo Lo Fuerte (All the Way Up)," "Lean," a trippy 2017 collaborative track with Amenazzy and Bad Bunny, as well as mixtapes like 2016's Coronamos and 2018's Love & Passion, Vol. 3. ~ Fred Thomas