Urban music no longer moves in just one direction. Today, the soundscape of the genre travels fluidly across islands, continents, and digital platforms, continuously absorbing local dialects and regional rhythms and transforming them into massive global anthems.
This borderless evolution was a central focal point during "The New Urban Movement," a highly anticipated panel discussion featuring Spanish sensation Quevedo and Chilean rising star Kidd Voodoo. Held on Monday, October 19, during Billboard Latin Music Week 2026, the conversation drew industry insiders, creators, and fans to the Faena Theater in Miami Beach. Moderated by Billboard associate editor Jessica Roiz, the panel offered a deep dive into how contemporary artists are reshaping the global Latin music landscape while fiercely protecting their unique regional identities.
Throughout the session, both artists explored the ways in which their distinct places of origin have fundamentally shaped their artistic trajectories and sonic choices. For Quevedo, who hails from the Canary Islands, distance from traditional mainland hubs has never been a barrier; instead, it has served as a wellspring of authenticity.
"One of the things that makes us unique is where we come from," Quevedo told the audience at the Faena Theater. Growing up in the Canary Islands—an archipelago with deep, historic cultural and commercial connections to Latin America—proved essential to the development of his artistic identity. That unique geographical and cultural crossroads heavily influenced his acclaimed 2024 project Buenas Noches and his more recent 2026 urban album, El Baifo, a project that seamlessly incorporates traditional Caribbean rhythms like merengue, salsa, and other foundational Latin styles. "Talking about our own experiences makes us artists more unique," he added, emphasizing that regional storytelling is the ultimate antidote to homogenization in modern music.
Quevedo also took time to reflect on the monumental success that catapulted him onto the international stage: his blockbuster 2022 collaboration with Argentine producer Bizarrap. The track became an unstoppable cultural phenomenon, shooting to the top of Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart, the Billboard Global 200, and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, while also marking his first-ever entry on the prestigious Billboard Hot 100.
Although that career-defining milestone arrived remarkably early in his journey, Quevedo noted that the song retains an unblemished emotional resonance for him. Rather than feeling overshadowed by his own past work, he views the track with deep gratitude. "It’s the song that changed my life, and I’ll always have that affection for it," he reflected, acknowledging how it opened doors for both him and the broader Canarian music scene to enter global conversations.
While Quevedo discussed expanding from his island roots, Kidd Voodoo shared a different yet equally compelling journey of artistic metamorphosis, detailing his transition from the world of alternative rock to the upper echelons of reggaetón. For years, the Chilean artist fought to maintain a direct connection to his foundational rock roots, even dipping his toes into experimental jazz and bossa nova styles. However, the unprecedented disruptions of the global pandemic forced a creative reckoning, leading him to fully embrace the sonic possibilities of urban music.
Kidd Voodoo recalled that his earliest, most formative memories of the genre dated back to his childhood in Chile, where he listened to classic tracks by foundational reggaetón acts like Yadiel, El Incomparable, and Don Omar during family gatherings and quiet moments at home. Those early impressions lingered in the back of his mind as he navigated his early musical experiments.
"I tried reggaetón and it went well for me on the third song," Kidd Voodoo shared, recounting the turning point in his career with characteristic humility. "Then I thought, ‘Maybe I’m better at this than I think.’"
Over time, what began as an exploratory pivot evolved into a complete artistic awakening. He learned to lean into the cadence and energy of the genre, ultimately embracing reggaetón as an indispensable pillar of his modern identity. Today, looking back at his evolution from rock band stages to urban playlists, he acknowledges the profound shift with absolute clarity: "I’m nothing without reggaetón now."
Beyond individual journeys of identity and genre-crossing, the conversation at Faena Theater naturally gravitated toward the structural health of the Latin urban ecosystem, specifically highlighting the vital importance of cross-collaborations between male and female artists.
Kidd Voodoo used the platform to express deep admiration for his peers within the flourishing Chilean music scene, shouting out talented figures such as Mon Laferte, Albana Cruz, María José Quintanilla, and Sofía. He framed creative partnerships not merely as strategic marketing moves, but as a moral and cultural imperative designed to fortify the entire community against industry fragmentation.
"The positive path will always be collaboration, unity," Kidd Voodoo stated, summarizing a sentiment that resonated deeply throughout the room as industry leaders and creators looked toward the future of the movement.
As Billboard Latin Music Week 2026 continued in Miami Beach, the panel served as a powerful reminder that the true strength of contemporary urban music lies in its decentralization. From the shores of the Canary Islands to the vibrant creative hubs of Chile, artists like Quevedo and Kidd Voodoo are proving that local roots, when paired with global ambition, are the ultimate fuel for the genre’s continued expansion.
