Boza

Fusing elements of urbano and reggaeton with Panama’s own canela, Panamanian vocalist Boza (formerly El Boza) spins melodically charged tales of push-and-pull romance, urban life, and hedonistic pursuits. After signing to Sony in 2019, the singer and rapper made his full-length debut with 2020′s Más Negro Que Rojo, which spawned the hit anthem “Hecha Pa’ Mi.” By the time he issued Bucle, his 2022 sophomore long-player, his singles and collaborations regularly appeared on the charts. 2023′s Sin Sol, his third long-player, charted at streaming in four countries. Born and raised in Panama City, rapper and singer/songwriter Boza (born Humberto Ceballos Boza) proved a natural entertainer from a young age, using an old refrigerator as a makeshift stage from which to sing to his childhood friends. His first steps toward a musical career came at the age of 17 — he debuted with 2014′s “Canelas” — though it was a feature on Yemil’s “Bandolera” (2015) that exposed the young musician to major audiences for the first time. Among a relentless string of subsequent singles, Boza found increasing success, landing local hits with the troubled balladry of “Desahogo,” the swaggering street rap of “El Muñeco,” and the acoustic lamentation of “Al Igual Que Tu.” After a relatively quiet 2017, the musician landed his biggest hits to date with “Ratas y Ratones” and “Lollipop” (2018), extending his reach across Latin America with party-primed sonics and a skating set of flows. Finding a natural synthesis between his ballads and his raps, Boza’s more melodically driven style proved a success on his debut EP Sonrisas Tristes before manifesting in full on his 2020 debut Más Negro Que Rojo. “Hecha Pa’ Mi,” the album’s first track, proved a potent breakout hit; it racked up hundreds of millions of streams and the summery anthem landed in Top 15 spots on streaming charts in Spain, Colombia, Perú, and, of course, Panama. In 2021, his single “Ella” went to number three at home, topped the beat charts in Venezuela, and was certified platinum. Later that year, a remix featuring guests Lenny Tavarez, Lunay, and Juhn and Beéle also attained that certification. In April 2022, Boza appeared in duet with Ozuna on the latter’s chart smash “Apretaito,” and in May on Leslie Grace’s “Como la Primera Vez.” Further, he issued the charting Que Prefieres and Booty Puty EPs in September and December, respectively. Boza started 2023 with a duet appearance on Milly’s “Kiwi,” and in April enlisted Dalex for his own “Volar.” In early June, Boza appeared with Faster on the slippery jazz trap of “Ayauasca,” and recruited Kenia OS for his own song, “Ocean.” Along with the Beéle-assisted hit “Qué Prefieres?,” “Ocean” anchored the full-length Sin Sol, released later that month. Boza’s third long-player was inspired by his travels throughout Europe and ran the gamut from shimmering electronica to guitar-based songs bearing a strong reggaeton influence. ~ David Crone