Latin pop stars Karol G, Becky G and Tokischa have each released major albums in recent months, and all three share a distinctive musical thread: "sad perreo", a fusion of upbeat reggaeton dance rhythms with melancholic, heartbreak-driven lyrics. Tokischa released her long-awaited debut Amor & Droga, Karol G surprised fans with No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto, and Becky G put out her most unapologetic record yet, Baraja Bendita, with each artist pairing club-ready beats with introspective, emotionally raw songwriting.

Standout tracks illustrate the trend, including Tokischa's "Perreo Llorando" ("Crying While Twerking"), which she says was inspired by witnessing wealth and sadness coexist after moving to Miami in 2021, and Karol G's "Bebiendo Lágrimas" ("Drinking Tears"), which charts disillusionment with love on her latest album. Karol G told Rolling Stone the aim was to let people fully feel their emotions rather than suppress them, a sentiment the article suggests unites all three artists' approach to blending danceable reggaeno with vulnerability.