What did Anuel AA reveal at Billboard Latin Music Week?
Puerto Rican trap and reggaeton star Anuel AA made headlines on Tuesday, October 20, when he took over Billboard Latin Music Week for an exclusive Superstar Q&A and Premiere Party, using the platform to announce not one but two forthcoming albums. Moderated by Billboard‘s co-chief content officer Leila Cobo over the course of a 45-minute conversation, the session offered fans and industry observers a rare, candid look at where the artist has been — and where he is heading. Both projects are expected to arrive before the end of the year, with the first, RHLM 2, slated for a November release.
What is RHLM 2, and why has it taken four years?
RHLM 2 is the direct sequel to Anuel AA’s 2018 debut studio album Real Hasta La Muerte, and it will mark his first full-length release in four years. The artist was candid about the reasons for the extended gap, describing a deliberate choice to step back from the relentless pace of the music industry in order to prioritize his family and personal life. “I’ve been in this business for 10 or 11 years now, and I wanted to spend more time with my children and my family — living life while continuing to work,” he explained. Far from a creative retreat, he framed the hiatus as a period of grounding, one that has fed directly back into the new record’s emotional core.
Describing the album’s artistic intent, Anuel was emphatic about its roots. “I created this album from my heart and soul — it’s the kind of music I’ve made since the very beginning of my career,” he said. “It’s about my roots, blending trap with reggaeton; it’s a return to my origins and a continuation of RHLM.” The project appears designed to re-establish the sonic identity that first brought him to prominence, rather than chasing whatever direction the market has moved in during his absence.
What songs did he preview from RHLM 2?
Anuel teased four tracks from the upcoming album during the event, each offering a distinct window into the record’s range. “Ya Perdió la Fe” is a melancholy reggaeton song rooted in personal heartbreak, which the artist described as the kind of track listeners reach for when a relationship simply runs its course. “Se tocó el totico con mi glock” leans firmly into trap territory, a street-oriented track that Anuel called one of his personal favourites on the record, noting that while the decision to include it was difficult, the writing came naturally. A third song, potentially titled “Red Flag” and produced by Ovy on the Drums, takes a more commercial, pop-inflected reggaeton approach — positioned explicitly as the spiritual successor to his earlier hit “Ella Quiere Beber.” The fourth previewed track, “Sexo No Más”, features emerging artist De La Rose, whom Anuel singled out as his favourite among the new generation of female performers, praising the track’s “very exotic vibe.”
What is the all-corridos album, and why is he making it?
Perhaps the more surprising announcement was the corridos project — a full album composed entirely in the corridos genre, which Anuel described as a heartfelt gift to Mexico. His enthusiasm for the style was unambiguous and personal. “I love corridos music — I fell in love with it 100%. I hardly ever listen to reggaeton or trap music, I’m all about corridos,” he said, adding that what draws him to the genre is its rawness and the vocal discipline it demands. “Most of them don’t use auto-tune; they sing a cappella, and they’re damn good. I really like the process.” The project was conceived during a difficult period in his life, which he spent in Mexico, lending the record a particular emotional weight.
He previewed one track from the corridos album, “Los Veo”, produced by Alex Torres, described as an up-and-coming Mexican producer. The song, like the project as a whole, is framed as an act of genuine cultural engagement rather than a genre experiment for commercial gain — a distinction Anuel appeared keen to draw. Whether the corridos community and its established audience will receive the album in that spirit remains to be seen, but the announcement signals a meaningful broadening of his artistic ambitions.
How does this fit into the broader Billboard Latin Music Awards picture?
The announcements came in the context of a busy week for Latin music, with the 2026 Billboard Latin Music Awards set to broadcast live on October 22 via Telemundo and Peacock from the James L. Knight Center in Downtown Miami, hosted by Carmen Villalobos and Javier Poza. Anuel AA himself enters the awards cycle as a two-time finalist. The awards landscape this year is dominated by Peso Pluma, who leads all finalists with 17 entries, including Artist of the Year and Top Latin Album of the Year for DINASTÍA with Tito Double P, as well as Regional Mexican Artist of the Year. He is followed by Tito Double P with 15 nominations, Fuerza Regida with 12, Karol G with nine, Prince Royce with eight, and Bad Bunny with seven.
On the honours side, the ceremony will recognize several artists for career achievement: Cristian Castro will receive the Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award, Fuerza Regida the Billboard Vanguard Award, Rosalía the Hall of Fame Award, and the legendary Rubén Blades the Billboard Icon Award. The broadcast will also be available on Universo, the Telemundo app, and across Latin America and the Caribbean via Telemundo Internacional — reflecting the genuinely hemispheric scope of an industry that continues to grow in cultural reach and commercial weight.
