Coachella Goes 'Latinchella': J Balvin Revives Will Smith, Shakira Surprises, Peso Pluma Double Show

The first weekend of the 2024 edition of the iconic Coachella Music Festival was a historic explosion of Latino talent, featuring a record presence of artists from Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and Venezuela, as well as Hispanics from the U.S.

Led by Peso Pluma and J Balvin, the Latin music representation was powerful and impressive, starting with the corridos star, who lit up the stage on the first night with a wide setlist and a moving homage to the biggest stars in música regional mexicana, including Jenni Rivera, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, and Chalino Sánchez, among others.

Bizarrap brought Shakira on stage, who took a moment to announce her next world tour. The rebel of Mexican music Carin León shared the limelight with Venezuelan duo Mau y Ricky on Sunday night. On Saturday, Colombian reggaeton superstar Feid performed some of his biggest hits while wearing the Barcelona soccer team jersey, complete with his girlfriend Karol G's symbol, the barbed wire heart.

But that wasn't all; Mexican and Mexican American bands, like Santa Fe Klan, Son la Pera and more, drove the crowd crazy, while Dominican American rapper Ice Spice even had friend Taylor Swift in the audience. The three initial days of Coachella 2024 were iconic. The best part is that we will have a repeat next weekend.

Peso Pluma and the Mexican presence in Coachella

La Doble P ignited the main stage with unmatched dynamic energy during his one-hour set, which included chart-topping and award-winning hit songs. The king of corridos opened his set with cinematic images, making a statement about Mexican culture, addressing stereotypes, and drawing comparisons between the música Mexicana movement and rap. Film icon Morgan Freeman joined as the special guest narrator to echo sentiments about Peso's legacy in the controversial genre and the world he was born into.

"What comes is the growth — some of us grow in the light."

"We reflect the surroundings around us. We mirror the opportunity we are given. But for others, they grow in the shadows — where it's what you do that defines you."
- MORGAN FREEMAN (Coachella narration)

As the highest debut Latin artist at Coachella, Peso Pluma, draped in head-to-toe Prada, once again made history during his debut and offered fans a preview of what to expect during his upcoming USA Tour, "ÉXODO."

Peso Pluma kicked off his epic desert set, alongside eight musicians, with immense Mexican pride singing "Rubicon," which spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and is one of the fan favorites from his Grammy Award-winning album "Genesis," followed by "Rosa Pastel" and "Nueva Vida."

He continued with "Chanel" and introduced his first surprise guest of the evening, award-winning singer-songwriter Becky G. The pair first sang the track together during Becky G's Coachella set last year in which Peso was a special guest. Peso also welcomed Junior H for "El Azul," Santa Fe Klan for "No Son Klle" and, finally, Arcángel for "Peso Completo," off Peso's upcoming album, Éxodo, which arrives this summer. "Muchas gracias, Coachella," concluded Peso. "Arriba Mexico!"

The She-Wolf debuts in Coachella

In a thrilling evening session at the Sahara tent, Bizarrap, donned in his trademark hat and sunglasses, kicked off with an electrifying set reminiscent of a late-night rave. Midway through his performance, he surprised the crowd with a guest appearance by Shakira, who debuted in Coachella, howling as the She-Wolf the Colombian singer-songwriter has been embracing lately.

After an energetic performance of their second song together, "La Fuerte," Shakira excitedly announced her upcoming world tour, starting in November in California. The announcement was followed by a dynamic performance of "Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53."

Reggaeton in the dessert

Puerto Rican urban star Young Miko kicked off her set with her hit "Mona Lisa," delivering the song from atop a giant boombox, flanked by her live band. Standing confidently, her arms outstretched, she reveled in the crowd's chants. "Let's f—ing get it, ya dig?" she rallied. Her set was a blend of well-loved hits and fresh tracks from her new debut album, 'att.'. By the end of her performance, Miko left no doubt that she will be back in Coachella in the future as a headliner.

J Balvin closed the first weekend of 2024 Coachella with an epic performance that started with the Colombian reggeaton king making a ground-breaking entrance aboard a UFO. Opening with his iconic hit "Mi Gente," fans embarked on a galactic journey through his chart-topping albums and hits which included his latest song "Triple S." He was joined by Jowel & Randy and De La Ghetto, alongside beloved fan-favorites "In Da Ghetto," "Dientes," and "I Like It."

J Balvin next shocked audiences by bringing out Will Smith for an out-of-this-world rendition of the iconic hit, Grammy award-winning song "Men in Black," uniting the two as the true galaxy defenders.

The stage came alive with a larger-than-life production, featuring a giant robotic alien affectionately named Enzo—a heartfelt tribute to J Balvin's cherished late dog—and a towering inflatable alien head, immersing the audience in the extraterrestrial atmosphere. Vetements customized a special performance look for J Balvin, who also rocked his unreleased Air Jordan 3 Rios, as he led a troupe of alien dancers through the electrifying lasers and fog; transporting the crowd to a realm beyond the stars.

See Ice Space, Carin León, Mau y Ricky and more Latino artists in Coachella