Karol G
Carolina Giraldo Navarro (born 14 February 1991), known professionally as Karol G, is a Colombian singer. Considered one of the most influential reggaeton and urban pop artists,[2][3] she has received awards including a Grammy, five Latin Grammy Awards and four Billboard Music Awards. She was recognized with the Woman of the Year and Rulebreaker Award at the Billboard Women in Music, with the Spirit of Hope Award at the Billboard Latin Music Awards, and has five Guinness World Records.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Giraldo and the second or maternal family name is Navarro.
Karol G
Born and raised in Medellín, Giraldo launched her career as a teenager, appearing on the Colombian spinoff of The X Factor. She moved to New York in 2014 to learn more about the music industry and signed with Universal Music Latino. Her collaboration with Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, "Ahora Me Llama" became her breakthrough hit and was the third single for her debut album Unstoppable, released in 2017. In late 2018, her duet "Secreto" became a hit in Latin America, as she and Puerto Rican artist Anuel AA publicly confirmed their relationship via the music video.
In July 2019, she released "China" in collaboration with Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Ozuna, and J Balvin, which became her first music video with over one billion views on YouTube. In May 2019, she released the album Ocean, which served as a stylistic departure from Unstoppable, incorporating a more relaxed and less "pop" sound while incorporating reggaetón influences. Popular singles from the album include the title track (later released as a remix with Jessie Reyez). Later that year, her song "Tusa" charted internationally and was certified 28× Latin platinum by the RIAA. In 2020, Giraldo received four nominations at the Latin Grammy Awards. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and into early 2021, she would release successful songs, including some of her most famous ("Ay, Dios Mío!", "Bichota" and "Location"), in the lead-up to her third album, KG0516, which was released in spring of that year, topping the U.S. Latin albums chart.
Giraldo released her fourth album, Mañana Será Bonito, in the spring of 2023; the record was immediately recognized as the first-ever Spanish-language album (by a female artist) to debut at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200.[4] She achieved her highest-charting single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with the song "TQG", a collaboration with fellow Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, reaching the No. 7 position. In early 2024, she received her first Grammy Award, at the 66th annual ceremony, for the recently created Música Urbana Album category.
Early life[edit]
Carolina Giraldo Navarro was born on 14 February 1991 in Medellín, the youngest child of three children.[5] At age 14, she appeared on El Factor X.[5] Giraldo posted covers of songs by Alicia Keys and Lauryn Hill on YouTube, in hopes of being discovered like Justin Bieber.[6] Ultimately, she obtained her first record contract with Flamingo Records (Colombia) and Diamond Music (Puerto Rico) and chose "Karol G" as her artistic name. She performed with J Balvin at a quinceañera party soon after.[5]
Artistry[edit]
Musical style[edit]
Karol G's music has been described as predominantly reggaeton and Latin trap.[5][7][8] However, she has experimented with a variety of other genres in her work. Her album Ocean features a wide range of stylistic experimentation. She collaborated with Brazilian duo Simone & Simaria on the Spanish/Portuguese song "La Vida Continuó", which contains influences from the genre of sertanejo.[7] Karol G cites the global appeal of singers Rihanna, Beyoncé, Selena Quintanilla and Shakira as major influences in her work and the level of global recognition she hopes to achieve, with Rihanna being a "dream" collaboration.[5] Karol G has a tattoo of portraits of Rihanna and Quintanilla, along with her own face, on her right forearm.[8] Additional influences include Daddy Yankee, Maluma, Rosalía, Gloria Trevi, Backstreet Boys,[53] Christina Aguilera,[54] Ivy Queen,[55] Anahí,[56] Thalía, Spice Girls, Jerry Rivera, Bee Gees, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.[5]
Public image[edit]
Ecleen Luzmila Caraballo of Rolling Stone describes Karol G's style of dress as "feminine and sexy, yet sporty and tomboyish — but never [cutesy]".[5] Gary Suarez of Vice notes that in her music videos, "she exudes a sex positivity that reflects a powerful diva image front and center, rather than the eye candy tropes often found in urbano visuals."[7] Karol G has a large LGBT following, and the singer expressed admiration for her gay fans by explaining, "I love people who can go out into the world and be fearless...That's something I admire very much from that community. They have a beautiful energy."[55] She declined to record "Sin Pijama" with Becky G, which would become a collaboration with Natti Natasha and be a hit, because of a lyric about smoking marijuana in the song. Karol G, who does not smoke marijuana, felt that the song did not represent her true lifestyle.[8] For her album Ocean, Karol G moved away from the polished image of the Unstoppable album cover, with the artist explaining, "I did the picture with no makeup, super natural. Because that's the way I want people to listen to my music now."[7]
In 2020, Karol G's tweet about her dog's "perfect" color and citing it as an example of white and black looking beautiful together sparked controversy. She later admitted to have acted in "an ignorant way" at a time when Black Lives Matter had gripped America in 2020. Karol G also admitted to have "lost a lot of opportunities" in her interview with The Guardian.[57]
Personal life[edit]
Karol G met Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA in August 2018 on the set of the music video for their song "Culpables", a month after his release from prison.[58] In January 2019, the couple confirmed their relationship.[22] On 25 April 2019, Karol G confirmed engagement to the rapper by appearing at the Billboard Latin Music Awards wearing a diamond wedding ring.[58] On 20 April 2021, Anuel AA confirmed that he and Karol G had ended their relationship and engagement.[59] As of early 2023, Karol G has been linked to fellow Colombian singer Feid.
On 29 February 2024, Karol G, en route in her Gulfstream IV from Hollywood Burbank Airport to El Salvador International Airport for her Mañana Será Bonito Tour, made an emergency landing at Van Nuys Airport due to a report from the pilot of smoke in the cockpit. All 16 passengers onboard the plane were evacuated safely with no injuries.[60]
Studio albums
Headlining
Promotional
Co-headlining