El Malilla Is Flying The Flag Of Reggaeton Mexa

With every stride he takes, El Malilla is making waves in history. This Mexican powerhouse has propelled the burgeoning reggaeton movement of his homeland to the center stage. Last year, he marked a milestone as the first reggaeton Mexa performer to take the stage at both Coachella and the Grammy Museum. On February 13, El Malilla expanded his growing list of accomplishments by becoming the inaugural Mexican reggaeton artist to headline the iconic Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City.

“Truly, it feels incredibly special to carry the Mexican banner with me everywhere I go,” El Malilla shares with Genius backstage at his sold-out show. “It means the world for people to see my pride in being Mexican, from playing at Coachella to now standing before 20,000 fans at the Palacio de los Deportes. I believe my contributions are deeply significant for the culture of Mexican reggaeton. We are finally gaining the recognition we deserve.”

Reggaeton has its origins in Puerto Rico and Panama, which meant most of the genre's early trailblazers hailed from the Caribbean. El Malilla, born Fernando Hernández Flores, counts Ñengo Flow, J Álvarez, Arcángel, and Gotay “El Autentiko” among his primary influences. Growing up in Valle de Chalco, a barrio (neighborhood) on the outskirts of Mexico City, he discovered the genre through pirated CDs at local markets. He became driven to bridge the gap in Mexican representation that existed at the time.