NMF: From Tokischa to Nino Augustine & Zion
Welcome to New Music Friday — your weekly destination for reggaeton, dembow, Latin trap, and Caribbean sounds shaping the future of Latin urbano culture. From underground perreo to rock releases, here are the best new drops you need to hear this week.
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Tokischa’s “Lola” is the standout track on Amor y Droga — a hazy, psychedelic rock dembow that feels like a fresh lane for the Dominican perreo queen. The track’s chord progression instantly brings to mind Stuck on You by Paramore, blending emo-rock nostalgia with hypnotic dembow percussion in a way that completely works. It’s the kind of genre fusion I’d genuinely love to hear more artists experiment with. Shoutout to Tokischa’s recent Genius performance of the track too — chaotic, entertaining, and perfectly aligned with the song’s trippy energy. A fun, unexpected new direction that still feels unmistakably Tokischa.
Su Nombre is the standout track on Zion’s long-awaited The Perfect Melody II, the sequel to his iconic The Perfect Melody era that helped define melodic reggaeton in the mid-2000s. The song is harmonically perfect, balancing the vocals between Zion and J Balvin in a way that lets both artists shine individually while complementing each other effortlessly. Zion’s emotional melodies and J Balvin’s smooth delivery lock together naturally over the production, making “Su Nombre” feel timeless from the first listen. More than anything, the track feels like proof that a full Zion and J Balvin collaborative album would genuinely be a blessing to the soundscape of reggaeton.
Eladio Carrión’s Polaroid is proof that sampling can still feel exciting when it’s done with intention and creativity. Built around the iconic Maniac by Michael Sembello, the track flips the classic rock record into something sexy, sharp, and genuinely fun. Lyrically, “Polaroid” feels tailor-made for the summer — playful, clever, and packed with the kind of charisma that makes Eladio stand out in reggaeton and Latin trap. The song captures the best of Eladio: bars, innovation, sex appeal, and that constant urge to get active. If Corsa is any indication, there’s a lot to be excited about in this era, and “Polaroid” is easily one of the project’s strongest moments.
Nino Augustine continues pushing Afrobeat en Español forward with De'To, a vibrant fusion of Afrobeat and Dominican merengue that feels both natural and refreshing. The track is a feel-good, summer-ready banger that sounds exactly like its visuals — the music video captures Bronx energy perfectly, featuring some of NYC’s best DJs posted in an arcade surrounded by movement, flavor, and community. More than just a fun record, “De’To” culturally feels like a reminder of what Panamanians have long contributed to Black diasporic music and what Latin music can become when artists are given the freedom to expand while honoring those roots. Most importantly, the fusion never feels forced or gimmicky — it feels lived in, joyful, and authentic.
