If someone had told you in 2020 that Mexican reggaeton would be making serious waves by 2025, you'd probably have called them a liar. Yet here we are, witnessing it as an undeniable reality.

While Mexico is in the midst of a musical revolution driven by the rise of corridos tumbados, another movement has been quietly gaining momentum. Acts like El Malilla, Bellakath, and Yng Lvcas are spearheading a reggaeton renaissance, blending Mexico's distinct cultural flavor with the genre's infectious rhythms.

The new sound isn't just a carbon copy of what's coming out of Puerto Rico but is rooted more in the genre's original sound and some of the dirtiest lyrics that'd make your abuela say, "¡Ay, Dios mio!" and faint.

At the forefront of the movement is Yeri Mua — as in mwah; her real name is Yeri Cruz Varela — a beauty influencer and comedic personality turned artist. While some may look askance at the notion of another TikTok baddie turning to music, Yeri has found great success in it. She's garnered millions of streams, completed a brief U.S. tour, headlined a show in Mexico City for the first time, and closed out June with a swing through Central and South America.

She'd recently released her debut album, De Chava, when we linked up with her in the Sony Latin studios in Coconut Grove.

"There was a lot of music, a lot of ideas — just a lot of everything," Yeri tells New Times. "But the challenge was figuring out: What is the album? It's so varied; if you listen to it, you'll realize how diverse the sounds and messages are. But ultimately, I think what ties the album together is that it's for the girls, you know? It's for all the girls — the bad bitches, the sad bitches. It's for those in that stage of life where you're questioning everything: 'What's going on with my life? Where am I headed? I don't know.' But at the end of the day, it's about living in the moment."

De Chava's 15 tracks amount to 42 minutes of the bounciest, pop-centric, and raunchiest Mexican reggaeton you can imagine, dropping you smack into Yeri's world.

It also features some of the best artists in the genre, with Bellakath, Jey F, La Joaqui, Chris Tales, and more making appearances. A standout guest: California-based Mexican-American performer Snow Tha Product, who made waves with her BZRP Music Session in 2021 and turns up here to drop some bars on "Modo antidepresivo."

"I got to know her music a long time ago, but we only started connecting personally through social media," Yeri explains. "It was through those interactions that we eventually met. I remember her song distinctly — Snow played such an important role in this project because I've been heavily influenced by the United States. Even though I'm Mexican, the U.S. has had a big impact on my tastes, as I lived there for a while.

"My personality, what I listen to, what I consume — it all reflects both sides of me," Yeri goes on. "I felt like I needed to include both parts of my identity because so many people in the U.S. connect with me. It's the second country where my music is most played, where I have the most listeners and followers. That's why I thought it was essential to collaborate with an artist like Snow Tha Product. She represents Latinos living in the U.S. so well while staying deeply rooted in her culture."

Another standout on La Chava is "Avión privado," featuring El Malilla, who has become the face of the Mexican reggaeton movement, to the point where he was the first artist of the genre to perform at Coachella this year.

"That song with Malilla was quite risky, because it's a mix of sounds you might not expect," she says. "It's a blend: It's reggaeton made in Mexico, but it's different. Malilla is in a transitional phase right now, moving away from the usual sounds. He wants to be more melodic, take more risks, and try something new. In this song, we were able to combine both of our styles and tastes, creating something unique that represents us both. I think it's one of the most wonderful things I've been a part of this year."

With her unique flow and personality being presented all over the project, she linked up with one of Mexican reggaeton's finest producers in the form of Uzelito Mix, whom she let us know is one of her favorite collaborators.

You can tell when he's on the project as his sonics hit differently, coming in with some distorted synths that feel so techno at times.

"He knows my sound. We'd go into the studio and I'd say that I want a beat' De Chava'. At first he didn't know what I meant by that, but know if I tell him to give me a beat' De Chava', he knows exactly what I'm talking about."
The project has done well enough for her to play an amazing show in Mexico City at the Pepsi Center, but the question remains as to when De Chava will hit Miami.

"I'd love to have a show in Miami soon. I just finished my tour in the United States, but I didn't make it to Miami. You know, I feel like Miami has so many different Latino groups. For example, I played in Los Angeles, Texas, and New York—places with large Mexican communities. But I also want to take my time to create more music that can reach other parts of the world and resonate in places like Miami. I'm sure I'll have a show here soon."

So far, Yeri has conquered social media, so it's only a matter of time before she, along with the rest of the Mexican reggaetoneros, officially take over the reggaeton sound in the mainstream.