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Since 2019, Gonzalo Julián Conde, better known as Argentine producer and DJ Bizarrap, has turned his home studio into the hottest room in Latin music. The premise is simple: Biza invites an artist into a dark, no-frills space to write and record a new song in one day. He handles the beat, his guest works on the lyrics, and the final product is uploaded to YouTube, where the videos typically rack up hundreds of millions of views.
Born out of El Quinto Escalón, Argentina’s premiere rap-battle competition, the project was initially a way to give some of the country’s top freestylers the same production value as studio rappers. Over the years, Biza retooled the format, expanding his collaborations beyond freestylers to include other Latin artists, while still maintaining the spontaneity of the original recordings. Since the runaway success of his 2020 session with then-rising rapper Nathy Peluso, they have turned into major events. Last year, Shakira’s scorched-earth send-off to her ex catapulted the producer to an even higher level of fame, with the song topping charts and breaking world records.
Biza sessions combine the pressure of El Quinto’s battles with the intimacy of one of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts — they often work because they’re varied and unpredictable. Though that impromptu nature can lead to flops, very few are objectively bad, and the producer’s wide-ranging tastes guarantee there’s a session for everyone. With so many eyes on BZRP, we ranked all 58 music sessions (he’s listed 59, but it appears he skipped No. 42) according to how well the artist and Biza meshed, overall lyricism, and the track’s production value.
58. Dillom (2019)
A repetitive hook and the rapper’s high-pitched whine make for one of Biza’s most grating sessions.
57. Ca7riel (2019)
Between Biza’s stealthy trap beat and Ca7riel’s theatrical delivery, it doesn’t sound like they’re on the same page. The intermittent hawk screeches aren’t helping.
56. Zanto (2019)
Zanto’s use of auto-tune leaves this one feeling flat.
55. Pekeño 77 (2019)
Pekeño’s session barely tracks — aside from a memorable one-liner (“En mi casa, mi abuela vendía crack”).
54. Ecko (2019)
Ecko’s freestyle is a representation of what these recordings first set out to capture: an artist spitting braggadocio lyrics over a simple beat. But his accompanying music session doesn’t feature the same passion or wit, and it’s filled with clichéd references.
53. Don Patricio (2020)
Don Patricio’s delivery is too laid back to pop.
52. Lucho SSJ (2020)
Lucho SSJ is a capable lyricist, but hearing such a youthful-sounding rapper drone about smoking and burning through money is a little off-putting.
51. Trueno (2019)
Trueno’s delivery is so passive and phoned-in that his lyrics all blur together.
50. Big Soto (2020)
The Venezuelan rapper’s speed is typically impressive, but it takes too long to build momentum here.
49. Kódigo (2018)
The artist who started it all. In 2018, Kódigo was on the ascent in Argentina’s budding rap scene when Biza first pitched him the idea of recording a freestyle session. The resulting video racked up 12 million views, attracting the attention of future collaborators like Trueno and Polimá Westcoast. But when Kódigo returned to Biza’s studio a year later for a music session, the same off-the-cuff energy that made their first recording a sensation was missing.
48. Bejo (2020)
Bejo’s constantly evolving flow keeps you guessing while Biza matches him beat for beat with a slick guitar track. Bonus points for Bejo using a baby-doll hand to hold his joint.
47. Kinder Malo (2019)
The Spanish trap artist is the only guest to record back-to-back Biza sessions. The second sees Biza crafting a menacing beat for an assertive Malo to stomp all over. But it’s dragged down by the first, thanks to Kinder’s indifferent lyrics (“Si yo hago lo que quiero, dime y qué / Si malgasto todo el dinero, dime y qué”).
46. DrefQuila (2019)
A tightly polished trap song with an earworm of a refrain. The only reason it’s not ranked higher is because Biza didn’t use one of his own beats.
45. Louta (2019)
It’s fun stumbling onto a pop-punk track in a sea of hip-hop and Latin trap collaborations.
44. Asan (2020)
One of Biza’s poppier sessions. It might not be deep — lyrics about wanting to be a millionaire on the cover of magazines is standard fare for an up-and-coming trap star — but it’s enjoyable.
43. Anuel AA (2021)
Anticipation for an Anuel session was high after his manager teased one in an interview. When it finally arrived it felt like a let down. The chorus is memorable, but the verses are lazy (and courted controversy).
42. Polimá Westcoast (2019)
Polimá’s already respectable session sees him purposely stumble at the end of the bridge (“Espera, Biza. Me quedé sin letra… Ahora sí”). But his charisma makes the moment feel spontaneous, as he slides right back into the hook.
41. Paco Amoroso (2019)
Known for his experimental trap sound, Paco Amoroso was only the third artist to jump in the studio for a music session. Hearing him rap over a lo-fi beat is an early indicator of just how varied this project could be.
40. John C (2019)
Biza’s strategic beat drops make this session feel like a tennis match. The producer builds on each tongue-twisting John C verse by adding thumping 808s, ramping up the momentum.
39. Frijo (2019)
This session is 90 percent hook; at least it’s a catchy one.
38. Kiddo Toto (2019)
These sessions aren’t just a showcase of witty lyricism, they’re an opportunity to get a feel for an artist’s personality and style. Some step into the studio with cool confidence or a cocky attitude. Others, like Kiddo Toto, show up ready to give a full performance. The Argentine rapper’s physicality really adds to this session, as he practically acts out his lyrics (understandable for a rapper who’s had roles on Narcos: Mexico, Fanático, and El Angel).
37. Khea (2020)
A well-produced heartbreak track that benefits from Khea’s lovesick, occasionally melodramatic verses. I just wished his vocals matched the intensity of the lyrics.
36. C.R.O (2020)
For one of Biza’s most-viewed sessions, this track is surprisingly understated. The jangly guitar beat sneaks up on you, and while C.R.O builds it into a solid chorus, his pronunciation can veer into cursive singing.
35. Mesita (2019)
Biza and Mesita are in sync right off the bat, with a confident trap song that steadily builds into an energized dance. Mesita’s hook is heavily auto-tuned, but his delivery has the spark and enthusiasm missing from Zanto’s session.
34. Lalo Ebratt (2020)
This session is as chaotic as you’d expect from someone who rolled up to the studio in a neon T-shirt, matching bucket hat, and green Care Bear backpack.
33. MHD (2021)
You need to be fluent in French to truly appreciate MHD’s references (“Hard to catch, I’m Nicolas Pépé”), but the Afro-trap artist’s momentum is infectious.
32. Seven Kayne (2020)
An earnest display of lyricism from Kayne, who offers up some sharply crafted lines (“Qué merezco, no estoy discutiendo, jamás lo haría”).
31. Ysy A (2021)
This sounds like a straight-up party, powered by Biza’s synth horns. And Ysy gets a lot of mileage out of his clever (and very horny) wordplay (“Yo no soy Rusia ni Oxford, mi amor, pero igual te quiero vacunar”).
30. Blunted Vato (2019)
One of those sessions that only stands out on repeat listens. That bass-y hook will stick with you.
29. Dani (2020)
The Argentine trapero never lets up, bragging about his “cinematic flow” before launching into a fast-paced verse he makes look easy.
28. Cazzu (2020)
The beat sounds like it came out of a haunted music box, and it syncs perfectly with Cazzu’s playful, unbothered delivery.
27. Rauw Alejandro (2023)
As Biza’s sessions have grown into a global phenomenon, the producer’s had to navigate a tug-of-war between the purists who think it should remain a space for showcasing rising talent and fans who want to see what the biggest names in Latin music can do. This entry from superstar Rauw Alejandro is unabashedly fun and feels like it would be right at home on his Playa Saturno album.
26. Zaramay (2020)
Over an unassuming, mid-tempo beat, Zaramay makes a case for the promise of Latin boom bap, a subgenre of ’80s and ’90s rap, reggaeton, and trap.
25. Peso Pluma (2023)
It was only a matter of time before Peso Pluma, the brightest star of regional Mexican music, made an appearance in Biza’s studio. The producer adapts perfectly to Pluma’s signature style, crafting a quality corrido tumbado where he sets out to prove to a former flame just how far he’s come since she left.
24. Milo J (2023)
The youngest artist yet in a Biza session, the then-16-year-old rapper sounds like a veteran, delivering a radio-ready chorus in his deep baritone.
23. Young Miko (2024)
Miko had been manifesting this session for two years, referencing the idea of heading to Biza’s studio in her 2022 track “Bi.” When the time finally came, she made the most of it. This one is the best of both worlds: Miko’s trap kitty beat and breezy island flow with Biza’s electronic synth accents.
22. Chucky73 (2021)
The Dominican rapper kicks off his session at an 11, producing quick, dexterous rhymes without breaking a sweat.
21. Bhavi (2019)
In Biza’s first official “Music Session,” Bhavi isn’t performing for anyone. He raps with his eyes closed, smoothly dipping in and out of different flows.
20. Natanael Cano (2024)
A special two-track release, the first half of this session operates under the traditional setup, with Cano in Biza’s studio, stepping up to the plate with his “Frank Sinatra flow.” Chapter two is a full-on music video that kicks off with a fiery guitar melody as Cano and Biza enter the frame on horseback. While Peso Pluma is the most recent face of corridos tumbados, Cano is one of its pioneers, and this song showcases his mastery of the storytelling genre thanks to a bitter sendoff to an ex: “No te sientas la mejor, fuiste una más del montón.”
19. Tiago PZK (2021)
A reggaeton smash. Tiagao even celebrates older Biza sessions, shouting out Lit Killah, who recorded a freestyle in 2019, while folding in a reference to Nathy Peluso’s work with the line “Si no lo tiene natural, yo le pago el plastic.”
18. Neutro Shorty (2020)
The Venezuelan rapper kicks off his session complaining about people who can’t handle the pressure. Biza follows his lead with a beat that’s bouncy and sly.
17. Duki (2022)
To celebrate his milestone 50th session, Biza returned to his roots, collaborating with one of the pioneering voices in Argentina’s Latin trap scene. It’s a full-circle moment for Duki as well, rapping about the pressures he faced while reflecting on how much he’s already accomplished.
16. L-Gante (2021)
Biza’s combination of trap and cumbia along with L-Gante’s slightly off-kilter cadence makes for an unexpected but exciting session. This one will keep you on your toes.
15. Homer El Mero Mero (2020)
This is the cinematic flow Dani was rapping about. Biza sets El Mero Mero up with a steady trap beat that samples a choir — it’s dramatic, and stirring, and the rapper runs away with it, telling a story of temptation and triumph.
14. Nicki Nicole (2019)
One of the first BZRP sessions to feature an actual vocalist, this song put the then-little known talent and her distinctive blend of trap, reggaeton, and R&B on the map.
13. Eladio Carrión (2021)
The first Puerto Rican rapper to record a session, Carrión came ready to represent, stacking it with clever lyrical references (“Soy de la H, no la de Travis / Yo tengo la salsa, flow Héctor Lavoe”).
12. Morad (2021)
A perfect fusion of Latin and Afro trap, this collaboration with the Spanish Moroccan rapper sounds seamless — a high-energy, high-impact song about coming from nothing.
11. Paulo Londra (2022)
Who doesn’t love a good comeback story? After a two-year hiatus from music, fans had been fiending for the return of Argentinian rapper Paulo Londra. (Biza initially held their long-awaited collaboration hostage, asking his followers for 23 million comments before its release; he reached his goal in less than 24 hours.) The session made good on the hype, with Londra rapping over celebratory trumpets.
10. Arcángel (2023)
This feels like a victory lap for Arcángel and Biza following “Bottas,” their 2022 track with Duki. Over a menacing synth track, Arcángel compares the singularity of his talents on a mic to Maradona’s on the field.
9. Alemán (2019)
The Mexican-born Alemán is a student of ’90s American hip-hop, incorporating Tupac’s gritty aggression and Biggie’s more measured, melodic approach to create his own unique sound. He’s on a roll here until he abruptly halts the session, faking like he’s lost control of the beat, only to bounce right back, locked in to his next verse.
8. Quevedo (2022)
Earning Biza and Quevedo their first respective “Hot 100” entries, this trap-pop session felt like a club-ready hit the second it dropped.
7. PtaZeta (2021)
Before releasing her debut album, the Canary Islands rapper came to Biza’s studio and ran the show, chewing up a dembow beat and spitting out another effortless, rapid-fire delivery.
6. Nicky Jam (2021)
The self-proclaimed “king of flow” didn’t come to Biza’s studio to prove anything. If his lyrics don’t make it obvious enough, the Puerto Rican icon knows exactly where he stands in the industry, and he’s comfortable flexing his prowess in two languages.
5. Residente (2022)
An absolute marathon of a session, Residente crafts a multiple-chapter narrative over nearly nine minutes. Biza knows who the main attraction is, so his understated beat gives the Puerto Rican rapper the floor to address a number of ruthless grievances (including many digs at J Balvin). Residente’s approach may have sparked headlines, but it’s an impassioned manifesto against what he believes is wrong with the Latin music industry.
4. Shakira (2023)
Who knows what a Shakira x Bizarrap collaboration might’ve sounded like had the Colombian superstar not been in the midst of a very public (and very messy) separation from her longtime partner, Gerard Piqué. Shakira is merciless here, lining up reference after reference to her ex and his new girlfriend and incorporating references to her own massively successful career. Biza even throws in a production nod to Shakira’s 2017 song “Me Enamoré,” which was about falling in love with Piqué. The refreshing risk for the singer paid off, with the song becoming a global sensation and landing the duo four Guinness World Records, including “Fastest Latin track to reach 100 million views on YouTube.” It also catapulted Shakira into a new era of her career, setting the stage for her latest album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran.
3. Nathy Peluso (2020)
Biza’s career-making session. Peluso’s music explores a wide variety of genres, and on this track hip-hop fits her like a glove. Her unapologetic lyrics and IDGAF delivery over Biza’s futuristic beats make for the perfect storm. It also gave us one of the most standout hooks from a BZRP session: “I’m a nasty girl, fantastic / Este culo es natural, no plastic.”
2. Snow Tha Product (2021)
As Snow Tha Product says in this Latin Grammy-nominated session, she is tired of rappers who can’t rap, and stars who only shine because they’ve stolen someone else’s style. Her delivery is ice cold, and she moves between English and Spanish at a breakneck pace: “Cause ya llegó la mexicana / La mera mera, la nena que todo’ pensaban nada was ever gon’ happen / And they wanted a bitch to fall off, but ta-dah / Pop back up, esto no se acaba.” Biza deftly keeps up, slowly working over the beat until the final 30 seconds transform into a hypnotic rave song.
1. Villano Antillano (2022)
A master class performance. Over roughly three minutes, Villano delivers some of the most densely packed verses in a Biza session, performing with the effortless confidence of someone who just popped by to record during their lunch break. In one 30-second run, she sprinkles in nods to Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral, Life of Pi, Bratz dolls, Jennifer Aniston, and the Castlevania series — all as Biza keeps switching up the beat. In case the heat coming off of her was getting to you, Villano whips out a folding fan to cool things off. Knowing these sessions had a habit of turning newer artists into overnight sensations, Villano clearly understood the assignment. Within 30 days of its release, the rapper’s monthly listeners on Spotify went from 430,000 to more than 6 million.
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By Cat Cardenas , 2024-04-05 19:33:20
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