Farina

Urban Latin singer/songwriter Farina is the first artist to record reggaeton in her native Colombia. After Shakira, she was the second Colombian artist signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label. Since her 2005 appearance on The X-Factor, she has delivered a signature meld of cumbia, reggaeton, and dancehall on dozens of singles including “Soñar No Cuesta Nada” (remix feat. Jowell & Randy), “Pum Pum” (feat. Nengo Flow), and “Si Ellos Supieran” (feat. Bryant Myers). In addition to her own dancefloor and beach jams, Farina is also an in-demand collaborator and featured guest because of her unique rapping style and distinct, reedy, expressive alto instrument. She has made almost as many guest appearances as she has singles. She collaborated with Pipe Calderon on 2009′s “Vas an Extrañarme,” with Wyclef Jean on “Hendrix Spanglish Remix” (along with Bryant Myers & Anonimus) and his hit “Party Started.” In 2017, her video for the single “Mejor Que Yo” garnered more than 58 million views. Her song “Perras Como Tú” (feat. Tokischa) was chosen as the single for the soundtrack to the feature film Miss Bala in 2019. In 2021, she and Arcangel issued the chart hit “La Boca,” and she guested on Maluma’s “Asi Asi.” “El Vibe,” with reggae crooner Sean Paul, hit airplay lists across Latin America. In March 2024 “Dora,” her collaboration with rapper El Alfa, rang up dance play in the Americas and Western Europe. Born in Medellin, Colombia in 1986, Farina Pao Paucar Franco began her professional musical career as a contestant on The X-Factor in 2005, and the following year she released her debut record, Yo Soy Farina, which was heavily indebted to her biggest influence, dancehall. In 2011 she embarked on a career in acting, starring in the Colombian television series Tres Milagros, in which she played the character Milagros “Nikita” Cruz. Her acting debut was honored at the TV y Novelas Awards in Colombia, where she was nominated in the Best Actress and Revelation of the Year categories. She released her sophomore record, Del Odio al Amor, in 2012. It featured 12 songs composed by Farina and produced by DJ Lago. “Pongan Atención” was released as a single and became a hit, raising her profile further. In 2013, she received the Best Colombian Artist Award at the Mi Gente TV Awards. In 2017, Farina signed to rapper Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label and began work on her third record, Mejor Que Yo, with production help from Wyclef Jean. Because of her contributions to Wyclef’s singles, and her own dancefloor hits, Jean nominated her for the Artist of Tomorrow at the Grammy Awards. She was the only Latina nominated. Two years later, Farina delivered five charting singles, including “Fariana” (feat. Blueface), “Perras Como Tú” (feat. Tokischa), “Como una Kardashian” and “Asi Asi” (both featuring Maluma). The latter peaked at 41 on the Latin Airplay Chart, and its video rang up more than 100 million views. When the pandemic hit, Farina was busy and managed to stay that way. 2020′s collaborative and star-studded “Dale Cintura (Kuliki)” showcased her in the company of Steve Aoki, Kiko El Crazy, and Tono Rosario and racked up more than 10 million spins. She joined Leslie Shaw and Thalia on the streaming smash “Estoy Soltera” and, alongside Sofia Reyes, contributed to Tinie Tempah’s streaming hit “Whoppa.” Just before the year ended, Farina scored her own charting single, “A Fuego.” In February 2021, Farina and Arcangel released “La Boca.” Registering more than 100 million streams, it spent three weeks on the Latin airplay chart. In March, she and Cazzu joined Natti Natasha on the club anthem “La Nenas; it was followed in April by FlowRes, a six-track mini-album collab with Arcangel, exploring trap, cumbia, reggaeton, and funk. 2022′s “Flow Calle” and “Fiesta” (the latter with Ryan Castro) made the DJ charts. In October she joined La Insuperable and Yailin las Mas Viral on the remix of “Soy Mama,” that registered on dancefloors in South America, Miami, and New York City. In 2023 she issued the solo “No Money No,” followed almost immediately with “El Vibe,” a minor radio hit in collaboration with reggae singer Sean Paul. November’s “Demasters Presenta: Tamos Claros” featured her up front with DeMasters and Rafa Pabon. Farina kicked off 2024 a scorching tech house version of her “La Torta” and followed two weeks later with the pop ballad “La Ultima Copa.” In March, she and El Alfa issued “Dora,” a reggaeton burner that returned Farina to the DJ and streaming charts. ~ Bekki Bemrose