Casper Magico

Casper Magico is a Puerto Rican singer and rapper, and a popular exponent of reggaeton’s Trap Latino movement. A protégé of Anuel AA — with whom he sang for a time — he gained immediate attention in February 2017 with the single “No Me Hables de Amor” featuring Anuel AA. Its video racked up more than two million views. (Magico returned the favor and became his public spokesperson while he was incarcerated, and Anuel AA offered Magico recording advice via letters from jail.) The track also placed in the Top Ten on the Latin charts of various streaming services. The single “Te Perdí” (featuring Kendo Kaponi) was issued around the same time, but didn’t do nearly as well. The June follow-up, “Cuentale” (also with Anuel AA), rectified that and took him back up the charts.
Magico’s biographical details are deliberately shrouded in mystery. His given name is Julio Cruz García, and he grew up running the streets before finding salvation in music. After his breakthrough single, Magico began posting virtually every track he recorded to YouTube, and never scored less than 140,000 views. His hit single “Por Dinero” appeared in March, followed by a remix with Kendo Kaponi, Miky Woodz, and Noriel. In December, his “Te Boté” collaboration with Nio Garcia and Darell inspired a pair of remixes in the new year: the Te Bote: Electrónica Remixes EP and a proper remix single that included collaborators Bad Bunny, Nicky Jam, and Ozuna. The latter was a smash. It stormed the Latin urban and pop charts while its video racked up 300,000 views during its first three weeks. The track ultimately reached number one on the charts in 11 countries and well inside the Top 40 in the U.S.
In May 2018, Magico was a noted collaborator on the remix of Darell’s single “Blanco Yo Negro,” alongside Ele a el Dominio, Jamby el Favo, John Jay, and producer Sinfonico. That same month, his “Te Boté” remix topped the Hot Latin Songs chart. Though Magico issued another half-dozen singles that year, none approached the success of “Te Boté (Remix).” 2019 proved different. His “No Te Veo (Remix)” with Anuel AA reached the Top 30 in Spain and the Top 40 in the Dominican Republic while placing inside the Hot 100 in the U.S. “Mírame” (remix featuring Garcia, Rauw Alejandro, Lenny Tavárez, Myke Towers, Darell) landed inside the Top 20 in 15 countries. “La Jeepeta” (featuring Anuel AA, Myke Towers, Brray, and Juanka), went to number four.
All three tunes, as well as the “Te Boté” remix, ended up on Now or Never, the collaborative debut album by Garcia and Magico in late July. The set’s 18 tracks included guest appearances from Arcángel and De La Ghetto on “No Se Te Dio,” Jowell & Randy on “Farandula,” and Darell on “Llame Pa Verte,” among others. The record entered the Top Latin Albums chart at number five in early August, number four the Latin Rhythm Albums list, and at 136 on the Top 200. Immediately following, the pair and Flow La Movie issued “Travesuras.” The single spent more than 20 weeks on the Top Latin Songs Chart, peaking at nine, and it topped the Tropical Airplay list. In February 2021, Magico and Flow La Movie issued “Mi Favorita.” The following month, a star-studded remix of “Travesuras” registered more than 200 million digital streams. Across 2021, Magico either released, collaborated on, or was a featured guest on a new single every month of the year.
That said, following the December issue of single “Karma” (featuring Flow La Movie and Bryant Myers), Magico went silent for six months. He returned with “De Rumba” in June; its video registered more than 200 million views. In October, he issued the single “La Mini” with collaborator Young Miko. ~ Thom Jurek