Drake’s ongoing language-learning journey is continuing to yield major dividends in the Latin music space. During a recent appearance on Popcast, Colombian superstar Karol G opened up about what it was like working alongside the global rap icon on their collaborative track "Ahí," shedding light on how the Canadian artist tackled the challenge of performing entirely in Spanish.
The collaboration, which landed on Karol G’s critically received studio album No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto this past August, has quickly become a defining crossover moment for both artists. Following its release, the single struck a chord with listeners worldwide, ultimately peaking at No. 44 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart while securing the top spot on the competitive Hot Latin Songs chart. Meanwhile, Karol G’s full-length LP made a strong impact of its own, reaching a peak position of No. 8 on the Billboard 200.
Behind the Scenes of "Ahí"
Speaking on Popcast, Karol G recalled her initial conversations with Drake regarding the direction of the song. Far from shying away from the linguistic challenge, the rapper—affectionately known as Drizzy or the 6 God—showed immense enthusiasm for stepping outside of his comfort zone, though he initially wondered if he should mix languages.
"I love him singing in Spanish, and he does it so good that when I presented the song to him, he was like, ‘Should I do like a verse in English or something?’" Karol G shared during the interview. "And I was like, ‘You should do it in Spanish. You sound so good in Spanish.’ [He said], ‘Come and make me do it perfectly.’"
Rather than just dropping a verse and leaving the rest to post-production, Drake leaned heavily into the collaborative recording process. Karol G detailed how she stepped into the role of a vocal coach during their studio sessions, guiding the rapper line by line as he punched in his Spanish lyrics. She noted that she paid close attention to minor phonetic details, helping him perfect the precise cadence and delivery of words like "rico."
"I tried to just play a little bit with his pronunciation," the 35-year-old artist added, reflecting warmly on the experience. "It was so much fun; he’s amazing."
A Growing Catalog of Spanish-Language Collaborations
While tackling a full performance on "Ahí" marked another milestone, this is far from the first time Drake has incorporated Spanish into his music. Over the years, the OVO Sound founder has consistently bridged the gap between hip-hop and Latin music through strategic collaborations with some of the industry’s biggest hitters.
His history of Spanish-language verses and features includes standout tracks such as Romeo Santos’ "Odio" and Bad Bunny’s massive global hit "MIA." Drake later reunited with Bad Bunny for the For All the Dogs track "Gently," and further expanded his footprint in the Latin and regional Mexican scenes by teaming up with Chino Pacas and Fuerza Regida for "Modo Capone," as well as featuring on "MEET YOUR PADRE" from his $ome $exy $ongs 4 U project.
Taking the Partnership to the Live Stage
The partnership between Karol G and Drake has also extended well beyond the recording studio, translating into memorable live performances for fans. Earlier in their promotional cycle, Drake made a surprise appearance during the Toronto stop of Karol G’s sprawling Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour.
The momentum continued when Drake joined the Colombian superstar on stage during her high-profile concert in Houston. The appearance treated concertgoers to the live performance debut of "Ahí," giving fans an electrifying rendition of the collaborative track. True to form, Drake didn’t stop at just one song; he also stuck around to perform fan favorites including "Janice STFU" and his smash hit "One Dance," much to the delight of the packed arena.
For those looking to dive deeper into the creative process behind her latest era and her collaboration with Drake, the full interview with Karol G is available across podcast platforms, with her specific reflections on working with the rapper beginning around the 51-minute mark.
