Trueno talks about the viral hit “Real Gangsta Love” and politically charged lyrics

Trueno is taking Latin rap to the top. The Argentinian phenomenon is conquering the world with his viral hit “Real Gangsta Love” and his El Último Baile World Tour. In an interview with Remezcla, Trueno talks about how he pays tribute to hip hop with his new album and how he doesn’t mince his words with his songs.

“There are some very impressive rappers in Latin America,” says Trueno. “I think rap is good all over the world. I’m happy to be another person who contributes to the culture and does his part.”

Hip-hop runs through Trueno’s veins. He was born Mateo Palacios Corazzina in La Boca, Buenos Aires, to MC Peligro, a pioneer of the Argentine rap scene. Trueno grew up in the 2000s and cites rappers of the era such as Enimem, 50 Cent and Dr. Dre as his inspirations. He also listened to the music of Kase.O, Nach, CanserberoVico C and Tego Calderon.

“My father introduced me to hip-hop and I learned about the movement and the values ​​of this culture,” Trueno recalls. “I thank him with all my heart. We continue to share this experience on stage and in the studio as if it were still day one.”

Trueno worked his way up through freestyle battles in the Argentine and Latin American rap scene. He later collaborated with Bizarrap on one of his first BZRP Music Sessions in 2019. Three years later, Trueno released his second album, Good day, where he targeted social injustice, corruption and economic equality in Latin America. Last December, one of his freestyles went viral in which he seemed to call Argentina’s far-right President Javier Milei (“I don’t believe in lions wearing wigs,” he rapped in Spanish).

“Rap is a means of expression and our way of showing ourselves to the world,” he says. “When you know you have that opportunity, you try to say everything you think – the good, the bad, what bothers you and what you enjoy. Rap ​​is a celebration, it’s fun, it represents unity, but it’s also a form of protest that reflects our reality.”

In May, Trueno released his third album, The last Baile. As hip-hop approaches its 50th anniversary, each song on the LP reflects a different era of rap music. Not only does he use retro beats in songs like “Tranky Funky” and “Ohh Baby,” Trueno also looks to the future of the genre with Afrobeats in “Real Gangsta Love.” The boastful serenade reached the top 20 on Spotify’s Global Songs chart.

Rap is a means of expression and our way of showing ourselves to the world. When you know you have that opportunity, you try to say everything you think – the good, the bad, what bothers you and what you enjoy.

“It was a complete surprise for me,” he says of the song’s success. “In my songs, I try to be as transparent as possible. I have many sides to myself that I want to show and that I may not have known before. I’m getting to know myself, growing and maturing, and that creates different lyrics, styles and feelings.”

Trueno has since collaborated with acts such as Gorillaz, Cypress HillBig One and Maria Becerra for the recently released “Cuando Te Vi.” In August, his El Último Baile World Tour will hit the U.S., stopping in Los Angeles, Miami, New York City and San Francisco’s Outside Lands, among others. Trueno has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

“(The last Baile) is a tribute to everything hip-hop is all about and I want to thank the culture by showing what I’ve learned from it,” he says. “I will always represent my country’s flag and rap wherever I go.”