There isn’t one specific genre that has dominated the Latin music scene this year so far. Instead, experimental-leaning projects have ruled, and that is reflected in our list of the best Latin albums from 2024’s first six months.

While highly anticipated albums like Shakira’s eclectic Las Mujeres Ya no Lloran and Peso Pluma’s dual Éxodo are of course accounted for, our list is made up of a wide-ranging group of artists (from up-and-comers to established veterans) who represent genres like reggaetón, pop, música mexicana, bachata and Brazilian funk. But even then, the albums themselves are broad-ranging within those sounds, with artists allowing themselves to get out of their comfort zone and incorporate more than one style in their respective sets — showcasing versatility from beginning to end.

Some may want to call this a comeback album — and, to be fair, it was her first LP in seven years. But Shakira never really left. As one of the most consequential Latin artists of her generation, the Colombian star’s essence is forever ingrained in culture. So when she began releasing music again in 2020, we knew we were in for a ride. Megablasts like “Te Felicito” and “Monotonía,” the first two singles off the album, previewed just where Shakira was emotionally, and how raw and honest she was willing to be about her breakup from longtime partner and father of her two children. 

Then came her Bizarrap-produced session (which ultimately gave name to this album), where she turned tears into diamonds and gave women of all generations across Latin America a new girl-power anthem. That level of bravado and confidence is sustained throughout the album, and ultimately, makes it a remarkable standout in her catalog. Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran is a testament to Shakira’s ability to capture the peaks and valleys of womanhood, making her music relatable to so many around the world. — G.F.