In his new album, “Éxodo,” Peso Pluma reflects on his journey before and after rising to fame. The young Mexican-American Grammy winner proudly embraces his role in expanding the global reach of música Mexicana, but he also grapples with the weight of that responsibility. The album explores darker themes compared to his 2023 Billboard chart-topping debut, “Génesis.” In “Hollywood,” for instance, he sings, “I live a fast-paced lifestyle / The life of an artist / Drugs and women,” showcasing the stark realities of his life.
“‘Éxodo’ is very different from ‘Génesis,’” Peso told Variety in a video interview. “I think I’ve matured in my vocals and learned from every artist I collaborate with. I try to incorporate those lessons into my music.”
Peso Pluma enlisted a diverse range of collaborators for “Éxodo,” spanning the genre landscape. The album features Quavo rapping in Spanish on “Pa No Pensar” and Cardi B delivering verses on the trumpet-led “Put Em in the Fridge,” along with Mexican stars like Kenia Os and Natanael Cano.
“‘Hollywood’ was written by [featured artist] Estevan Plazola, who I’ve known since we were 18,” Peso explained. “The lyrics reflect our reality—how we’ve navigated fame, wealth, and achieving our childhood dreams.”
To bring “Éxodo” to life, Peso worked with producer Ernesto Fernandez, a 2023 Variety Hitmaker honoree who also produced much of “Génesis.” Their experimentation solidified the first half of “Éxodo,” which features the Mexican corrido music that established Peso’s career.
“If you’re used to hearing my Mexican songs, you’ll notice I always use tololoche,” Peso said. “In [‘Solicitado’], we replaced it with an electric bass, which true fans of these instruments will appreciate.”
These distinctive bass notes are what Peso proudly calls his “trademark sound.” He recalls, “This sound emerged while vibing in the studio with [Ernesto] as we worked on ‘Rosa Pastel’ from ‘Génesis.’ We played with different effects and created this unique sound, and from there, everyone wanted to emulate it.”
On “Ice,” Peso draws from his youth, particularly his love for WWE, incorporating a sound bite of Ric Flair. Sweet guitar melodies introduce delicately layered vocals that build to elongated high notes. It was one of the last songs added to the 24-song double LP.
“Ric Flair was a big inspiration for me growing up,” Peso said. “I admired his style and luxury. I included him in the song because it’s about that lifestyle. Everyone tries to copy it, but no matter how much they do, they’ll never be Peso Pluma.”
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