Bellakath

The queen of Mexican reggaetón, singer, rapper and record producer Bellakath went stratospheric in 2022 following the viral success of her steel drum-sampling single “Gatita”. But instead of pursuing beats and vernacular that echoed the genre's Caribbean roots, the proud Mexico City native has clung to a campy lo-fi sound called cumbiatón, hybridising perreo and cumbia sonidera with uproarious gusto. Born in 1997, Bellakath is the slinky alter-ego of Hilda Katherine Huerta Diaz, a multifaceted entrepreneur, law school graduate and former contestant on reality dating show Enamorándonos. She became a local happy-hour favourite in 2020 with cheeky cumbiatón odes to micheladas and her neighbourhood of Agrícola Oriental, later entering the club circuit with thumping forays into guaracha. Following her breakthrough with “Gatita”, Bellakath began working on her full-length debut, Kittyponeo, again striking gold with the explicit and infinitely memed “Reggaeton Champagne”, alongside fellow Mexican provocateur Dani Flow, and paying homage to one of reggaetón's true OGs, Don Chezina, with “Kitty Culea”.