Bizarre Rap: The Musical Phenomenon and Its Long-Awaited Sessions 2:34
(CNN Spanish) — Argentinian Gonzalo Julián Conde wears sportswear, sunglasses and a cap engraved with the letters BZRP and has become the most renowned Spanish-language music producer: Bizarrap.
His music sessions are a well-known format that often goes viral on social media, and the latest, #53, which he co-launched with Colombian singer Shakira, was a bombshell.
The Argentine producer’s previous sessions with artists such as Nathy Peluso, Residente and Quevedo have been a success. Who is bizarre rap and what is the secret of its success?
From cockfights in Argentina to the top of the world rankings
The haunting message of the new song by Shakira and Bizarrap 1:08
Before all of his success and fame, the 24-year-old bizarre rapper was a guy who studied marketing in college, worked for Warner Music and uploaded videos to YouTube.
His music career began with “crazy combos”, videos and mixes of cockfights in Argentina to which he added special effects.
It continued with the “remixes”, mixtures of well-known songs that can still be heard on YouTube and Spotify.
2018 brought the “BZRP Freestyle Sessions” with various rappers and ragpickers he admired and others he met at the Rooster Battles.
In 2019 he dropped out of college and devoted himself full time to his music. Since then it has topped the world charts, won various awards and, according to his production company Dale Play Records, has filled stages in Europe and Latin America.
Music sessions, a formula for success
The 5 Most Viewed Sessions of Bizarrap 1:18
Bizarrap rose to global fame in 2020 with BZRP Music Sessions #36 alongside Argentinian singer Nathy Peluso.
Other artists who have performed at the highly anticipated BZRP Music Sessions include Paulo Londra, Nicky Jam, Duki, Nicki Nicole, Villano Antillano, Residente and Shakira.
The BZRP Music Sessions are known for their distinctive style: the singer looks at the microphone from different angles and bizarre rap in the background, with his back to the camera, in front of his laptop and mixer.
The “sessions” don’t have a specific genre of music, each song is original and personalized for each artist.
The first sessions of these BZRP Music Sessions were recorded in his own room at his parents’ house in the town of Ramos Mejía, about 40 minutes from Buenos Aires. And every artist who accompanies it is a mystery until days before its premiere.
This format has led Bizarrap to four Latin Grammy nominations in 2021 and nine consecutive weeks in 2022 for his BZRP Music Sessions #52, featuring Spanish singer Quevedo, at No. 1 on Spotify, according to his production company Dale Play Records.
His BZRP Music Sessions are a global hit and the artist who will join the famed Argentinian producer with Shakira following its release will be a mystery.
Who will be next?
With information from Carolina Vásquez