Nuevo Culture

Nino Augustine & Goyo Link Up in a Neon Arcade on New Single “Sexy Body”

Back in 2019, Atlanta-based Panameño Nino Augustine boldly declared Me Toca A Mi (it’s my turn), unleashing a shimmering EP loaded with lush collisions of old-school reggaeton, new school techniques and an unwavering commitment to the genre’s afro-diasporic roots. Every subsequent release has further fleshed out his prophecy. The artist echoes lockdown perreo restlessness on “Meneito,” channels the salsa gods on “Flow Lavoe” and even stepped in as co-writer on KATONTHEMUV’s explosive new single “Conmigo No.” Now, with his full-length debut Global Ninz looming on the horizon, Augustine is unveiling “Sexy Body,” a sultry, slow-burning afro-fusion bop featuring Colombian reina and Chocquibtown alum, Goyo.

 

“Sexy Body” is a classic tale of seduction framed within the pair’s natural chemistry, and a celebration of black joy with elegant production from Chocquibtown’s Slow Mike. This is Goyo’s first co-feature outside the beloved Colombian hip-hop group, and another step into the spotlight, aligned with the initiative she co-founded, Conciencia Collective—an organization of artists and media professionals working towards racial equity in the music industry. The Jimmy Usma-directed video for “Sexy Body” is a neon swirl of retro pop culture, invoking eye-catching references to graffiti art, towering Caribbean sound systems, Warhol portraits, troll dolls, discmans and a whole lot more. While shot remotely, the ambiance of the clip suggests star-crossed lovers meeting on a Friday night at the arcade, with video game cameos from Street Fighter, The Legend Of Zelda and Mario Kart, and even an arcade cabinet emblazoned with “Nino x Goyo.” Watch the video below:

“In the summer of 2019 we met in a New York studio through a mutual friend and we instantly connected,” Augustine says about the fated collaboration, via press release. At the behest of Chocquibtown, he was invited out to Colombia to work on music, where “Sexy Body” seemed to flow with ease. “We vibed over production from Slow Mike, and this Afro-fusion was the result. We all have a similar mission to represent our Afro-Latinidad in the music space. At the end of the day, what is dominating Latin charts is Black music, mostly without Black people. This music is our birthright, and we deserve our flowers.”