Cazzu

Rapper and singer Cazzu made a name for herself in her native Argentina with her provocative anthems of female empowerment while boosting the country’s Latin Trap scene with collaborators like Khea and Bad Bunny on the single “Loca” and on her own platinum EP, 2020′s Bonus Trap. The following year saw the release of a wide range of singles, including the platinum “Las Nenas” featuring La Duraca and others. In 2022, Cazzu released her sophomore album, the hard-hitting Nena Trampa.
Born in Ledesma, Argentina, Cazzu (aka Julieta Cazzucheli) grew up influenced by her musician father but studied cinematography and graphic design before starting out as a cumbia singer. She soon found herself gravitating toward the country’s urban scene and embraced a mix of Latin and R&B on her debut album, 2017′s Maldades. The following year, Cazzu issued a number of singles and collaborations with the likes of Negro Fino, Lowlight, and Dellafuente, grounding herself further in the trap scene. By 2019, she had fully embraced reggaetón, hip-hop, and trap with the release of her sophomore album, Error 93. The effort saw her propelled as one of the leading lights of urban music in Argentina, and she used the platform to highlight inequality and push her message of female empowerment. The following year found her teaming up with the likes of Tainy and Sean Paul on the single “Lento’ while also issuing the EP Bonus Trap. It was certified platinum by the Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers (CAPIF). She followed it with the digitally issued Una Niña Inutil, a seven-track mini-album.
In January 2021, she released the digital single “Animal” with sister Argentine guest, singer Maria Becerra. It went to number five at home. In March, she appeared alongside La Duraca, Natti Natasha, and Farina on “Las Nenas.” It went platinum in the U.S. and in Spain. She followed it just two weeks latter with the charting “Turra,” a collaboration with DJ Alan Gomez, and in June, she issued “Dime Donde” featuring Justin Quiles. “Sobre Mi Tumba” followed in August. While it didn’t chart, it’s video racked up six and a half million views. Cazzu was nominated for a Latin Grammy at the year’s ceremony in the Best New Artist category.
After closing the year with “Castigo” in November, she returned in February of 2022 with “C14torce V: Balada para un Alien.” The following month, she was part of rapper Kaleb Di Masi’s crew on the “Matatan” remix. Its video garnered more than 23 million views. In May, she issued the trap-cum-cumbia single “Jefa,” followed a week later by the hit “Maléfica” with a return guest spot by Becerra. It peaked at 20 in Argentina, but its video racked up more than 20 million views during its first month. In May, Cazzu released her sophomore full-length, Nena Trampa. The ten-song set included collaborations with De La Ghetto, Brray, Becerra, and others. ~ Rich Wilson