pesopluma
Peso Pluma (Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija, born June 15, 1999, in Guadalajara, Mexico) is the Mexican artist who broke the regional Mexican barrier into global pop. In 2023 his album Génesis debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — the first fully regional Mexican album to hit that mark. His single "Ella Baila Sola" (with Eslabon Armado) spent 25 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the No. 1 Spanish-language song of 2023. Here's how he got there, his five key singles, his role in internationalizing regional Mexican music, and why his sound is reshaping Latin music in the U.S.
From Guadalajara to No. 1: the story of Peso Pluma
Peso Pluma grew up in a middle-class family in Zapopan, Jalisco. As a kid he learned to play guitar listening to his father, who performed regional music at family gatherings. By 17 he was writing his own songs, influenced by artists like Ariel Camacho (the foundation of sad sierreño) and T3R Elemento. His first EP, Ah y Qué? (2020), went unnoticed, but his second project, Disculpa los Malos Pensamientos (2021), started to turn heads in the underground regional Mexican circuit.
The leap to global fame came with "Ella Baila Sola" (2023), a collaboration with Eslabon Armado that fuses the sound of corridos tumbados with melodic regional. The song exploded on TikTok, stayed in the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100 for months, and was the first regional Mexican track to top Spotify's global charts. Génesis, released the same year, took Peso Pluma into features with Becky G, Grupo Frontera, Junior H, and Bizarrap, crossing the line between regional Mexican and mainstream reggaetón.
The 5 best Peso Pluma singles
1. "Ella Baila Sola" (with Eslabon Armado, 2023) — the barrier-breaking anthem
"Ella Baila Sola" is, per Billboard, the most successful regional Mexican song of all time. It spent 25 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, hit No. 1 on Billboard Hot Latin Songs, and was the most-streamed Spanish-language track globally on Spotify in 2023. The lyrics, about a woman dancing alone in a bar, capture the melancholic tone of sad sierreño. The official video has 800+ million views on YouTube.
2. "TQG" (with Karol G, 2023) — the regional/reggaetón fusion
Peso Pluma's collaboration with Karol G on her Mañana Será Bonito album showed he could cross into Latin pop without losing his identity. "TQG" (which also got a version with Shakira) became a summer 2023 anthem. The song, about love and heartbreak, is a masterclass in how regional can dialogue with mainstream reggaetón.
3. "La Bebe" (with Yng Lvcas, 2023) — the crossover with Mexican rap
"La Bebe" mixed corridos tumbados with Yng Lvcas's Mexican rap, creating a new subgenre that took over TikTok. The track reached No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 — a rare feat for a bilingual regional song. The lyrics, about lust and power, capture the tone of a new generation of regional Mexican artists.
4. "Ella Baila Sola" (remix with Bad Bunny, 2023) — the coronation
The Bad Bunny remix confirmed Peso Pluma as a global artist. The remix keeps the original melody but adds Bad Bunny's energy on the verses. The song held its top 10 position on the Hot 100 for several extra weeks, cementing the alliance between regional Mexican music and Puerto Rican reggaetón.
5. "PRC" (with Natanael Cano, 2023) — the consolidation of sad sierreño
"PRC" (Puros Rolas Cabronas) is the collab with Natanael Cano, his closest artistic partner. The song, about heartbreak in the context of Sinaloan drug culture, is the one that best captures the original sad sierreño ethos. The production is minimalist — just tuba, requinto, and vocals — showing that Peso Pluma can shine without the pop packaging.
Peso Pluma by the numbers (June 2026)
- 25 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Ella Baila Sola" (a regional Mexican record)
- 50+ million monthly Spotify listeners (the #1 Mexican artist on the platform)
- 1 Latin Grammy for Song of the Year (2024, "Ella Baila Sola")
- 3 Latin Grammys in total
- 1 English-language Grammy for Best Mexican Music Performance (2024, "Ella Baila Sola")
- 1 album at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 (Génesis, 2023)
Peso Pluma's impact on regional Mexican music
Peso Pluma isn't just an artist: he's the reason regional Mexican music stopped being a niche. Before him, the genre lived in regional circuits inside Mexico and in the Mexican diaspora in California and Texas. After "Ella Baila Sola," regional Mexican is the dominant current in U.S. Latin pop: TikToks from 18-25-year-olds around the world use corridos tumbados as their soundtrack.
His influence has been controversial. The original genre (the narcocorridos of the 2000s) romanticized drug trafficking. Peso Pluma and his generation avoided explicit violent content, but his aesthetic (cowboy hats, boots, big belt buckles) is still read by some critics as a normalization of narco culture. The artist has said in interviews that his lyrics talk about "the life he knows" and don't promote violence.
For Latin music, Peso Pluma is proof that the wall between regional Mexican and global pop no longer exists. What was regional in 2010 is mainstream today.
What's next for Peso Pluma in 2026
In April 2026, Peso Pluma dropped "Bellakeo" (with Spanish artist Bad Gyal), his first new single in over a year. The track explores a crossover with Spanish electronic music, suggesting his next album may go beyond regional. The full album, with no confirmed date, will arrive late 2026 or early 2027. Fans are speculating it could include collaborations with Rosalía (the two have been flirting on social media) and new regional acts like Grupo Frontera.
Frequently asked questions about Peso Pluma
What is Peso Pluma's real name?
His real name is Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija, born June 15, 1999, in Guadalajara, Mexico. "Peso Pluma" has been his stage name since 2019; the name means "lightweight" in Mexican slang, a nod to his lean build and his Jalisco roots.
How many Grammys has Peso Pluma won?
As of 2026, Peso Pluma has won 1 English-language Grammy (Best Mexican Music Performance 2024 for "Ella Baila Sola"), 3 Latin Grammys, and 1 ASCAP award. He was the first Mexican artist to win a general-field Grammy in the regional Mexican category.
What is Peso Pluma's best song?
"Ella Baila Sola" (with Eslabon Armado, 2023) is widely considered his best single and the anthem of modern regional Mexican music. It spent 25 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the most-streamed Spanish-language song in the world in 2023. Close behind: "La Bebe" (with Yng Lvcas) and "PRC" (with Natanael Cano).
Why is Peso Pluma so popular?
Three factors: (1) authenticity — he sings in a Jalisco accent, not a neutral Spanish, and that connects with the Mexican diaspora in the U.S.; (2) cultural timing — TikTok went viral with his music among 18-25-year-olds worldwide; (3) minimalist production — Peso Pluma sings with a requinto, not synthesizers, and that sets him apart.
Does Peso Pluma sing regional Mexican music?
Yes. Peso Pluma is one of the leading voices of sad sierreño and corridos tumbados, subgenres of regional Mexican that blend tuba and requinto with melancholic lyrics. His album Génesis (2023) ranges from pure regional to fusions with reggaetón and trap.
What is Peso Pluma's net worth?
According to Forbes, Peso Pluma's estimated net worth as of 2026 is about $25 million, from music royalties, international tours (including his Éxodo tour across the U.S. and Latin America), and endorsements with brands like Calvin Klein. He's the highest-paid Mexican artist of his generation.