Nuevo Culture

Eladio Carrión Releases Greatly-Anticipated Second Album, ‘Monarca’

Eladio Carrión is tearing into 2021 with a new album. The Puerto Rican rapper released Monarca on Friday with special guest artists such as J Balvin, Yandel, and Cazzu.

Monarca arrives a year after Carrión dropped his debut album Sauce Boyz last January. For most of the new album, he delivers more Latin trap bangers on his own. Carrión continues his slick freestyle series with “Sauce Boy Freestyle 3.” He also released the music video for the swaggering track “Progreso” where he parties in the streets.

Carrión embraces all types of rap on Monarca. After teaming up with J Balvin on last year’s “Mi Funeral,” the two artists regroup for “TATA.” Notably, the Colombian reggaetonero dabbles in drill music for the first time with Carrión, who was raised in Kansas. This is one of the best examples of Carrión flexing his flow that was shaped by the mainland U.S. and Puerto Rico.

On Monarca, Carrión limited the guest features but made them count. He collaborates with Boricua OG Yandel and Argentina’s Latin trap star Cazzu on the atmospheric “Discoteca” that fluctuates between trap and reggaetón. Another standout collaboration on the album is the twinkling trap track “Nena Buena” with rising Puerto Rican artist Lunay.

Monarca also includes Carrión’s “ELE UVE” remix with Noriel, Natanael Cano, and Ovi. All the songs were released on YouTube with animated videos. Last November, Carrión received his first Latin Grammy nomination for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Song for his breakthrough hit “Kemba Walker” featuring Bad Bunny.