Ryan Castro, Baby Rasta & Gringo compare reggaeton hits at Latin Music Week

Ryan Castro compared hit-making notes with Baby Rasta & Gringo on Oct. 20, in a cross-generational meeting at Billboard Latin Music Week 2026. The Colombian singer sat with the Puerto Rican duo to discuss songs built years apart but aimed at the same dancefloor. The appearance was covered by Billboard. Billboard

The session was titled ‘From Cassettes to Streaming: The Evolution of a Reggaeton Hit’. It was moderated by Billboard’s Ingrid Fajardo. Castro spoke about his songs ‘Styling’ and ‘Jordan’. Baby Rasta discussed ‘Me Niegas’, while Gringo discussed ‘Mañana Sin Ti’.

For listeners, the contrast is easy to hear. One career started when fans copied and swapped tapes. The other is building in an era when a stream is counted the moment it plays.

Castro brought recent chart form to the conversation. In 2026, he scored two No. 1s within six months, a pace that keeps a new artist on radio and on tour schedules. His collaboration ‘La Villa’, with Kapo and Gangsta, led Latin Airplay, the Billboard chart that measures plays on Latin radio in the United States. The result gave the room a current example of how quickly a song can move now. Billboard

The panellists will also feature in the awards that close the week. Ryan Castro is a one-time finalist at the Billboard Latin Music Awards 2026. Baby Rasta & Gringo are one-time finalists as a duo. Peso Pluma leads the finalist list with 17 entries.

Four special honours have been confirmed for the 2026 ceremony. Cristian Castro will be honoured with the Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award. Fuerza Regida will receive the Billboard Vanguard Award. Rosalía will receive the Hall of Fame Award, while Rubén Blades will be honoured with the Billboard Icon Award.

Carmen Villalobos and Javier Poza will host the awards show. It will broadcast live on Oct. 22 via Telemundo and Peacock. The venue is the James L. Knight Center in Downtown Miami, two days after the Oct. 20 panel.

The panel took place on the second day of Billboard Latin Music Week 2026. The gathering is scheduled for Oct. 19 to 22 and is billed as returning to Faena. The wider programme includes ‘The New Mexican Music Generation’ featuring Clave Especial, a sign of how many regional styles now share the week.