Yovngchimi’s Dizzying Ascent to the Top of Latin Trap

Ever since Yovngchimi burst onto the stage in 2021, his breakneck ascent through the Latin trap scene has been nothing short of impressive. Within his first rookie year, the Puerto Rican rapper, 28, was already collaborating with established names like Eladio Carrión and Ñengo Flow on hits like “Glizzy Walk 2.5” and “BAPE (Remix).” In 2023, he had his best year yet, teaming up with the legendary DJ Drama for the Gangsta Grillz: Mvrda Gvng mixtape, appearing on Bad Bunny’s blockbuster return-to-trap album Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, and releasing his own debut LP, WLGS (Whole Lotta Gvng Shit).

His raw lyrics and style are what have garnered him so many fans, and made him an artist’s favorite as well. His delivery and cadence feel authentic in a way that’s difficult to fake; whether he’s rapping about cruising around the city in a Lamborghini Diablo or being blessed by Santería saints before spinning the block, he sells the storytelling in a way that can get listeners’ blood pumping. “Yovngchimi has a very particular style, because of the lingo and the vocabulary they speak in Puerto Rico,” Peso Pluma tells Rolling Stone. “It makes it very special, and he uses it perfectly.”

When he thinks about what lessons he’s taking from last year’s successes, Chimi (as he’s known to friends and fans) leans on the importance of discipline. “What I learned was that you don’t have to rush your projects,” he says. “Instead, take as much time as you need. Make sure they’re fucking great, make sure they go hard, and that they feel like they’re yours.”

Raised in the Luis Lloréns Torres public housing complex of San Juan, Chimi has been open about how he never even considered becoming a rapper until, well, he became one. He didn’t step foot inside a recording booth until well into his twenties, and he says he “didn’t have music on my mind” when he was younger. What started off as a lark has since then led to songs with French Montana and his own concert at San Juan’s Coliseo de Puerto Rico, one of the most heralded venues in Latin music. 

Going into 2024, he’s focused and ready to hit the ground running in order to continue his momentum. “You gotta keep being consistent,” he says. “You can’t stop working and get comfortable just because you think ‘I already did this’ or ‘I already recorded with this person.’ If you wanna keep a hot streak going you gotta keep being consistent and innovating — the music, the visuals, your image.” 

Chimi keeps the details of his next moves close to his chest, something he admits he’s always been precious about. “I don’t like talking too much about my future plans. I prefer surprising people,” he says. “But I can say that I have very big projects and very big [collaborations] coming. Some more mainstream music, but always also music for the streets too.”

As someone who’s hardly let a month go by in the last two years without new music dropping, it shouldn’t be too long a wait before fans start discovering what those teases are all about. That may be due to some advice he got from more established artists— after all, being wildly successful doesn’t take away the fact that he’s still green enough to receive words of wisdom from those who came before him. 

“People have given me advice about creativity and being innovative,” he says. “One that I remember clearly was that you shouldn’t feel like you need to hold back songs because they’re ‘too good.’ You gotta release it and just tell yourself you’re gonna keep making even better music as you go.”

As the new year keeps going by, Yovngchimi will no doubt continue being a major presence in Latin trap, with an eye toward expanding into the English-language market. The way he sees it, being chosen to be included as part of Rolling Stone’s Future 25 this year edges him closer to that goal.

“Even though I’m really confident about how good I am, and my team, and the work we’ve done, it’s still surprising when things like these happen because we’re still new in this game,” he says. “So, yeah, it feels dope!”