Gente de Zona

Career

Gente de Zona was founded in 2000 in the Alamar neighborhood of Havana, consisting initially of Alexander Delgado and Michel Delgado. They initially performed at smaller events and parties in the Havana area, including Alamar, Regla and Guanabacoa. Two years later, they joined the Asociación Hermanos Saíz, a government-sponsored Cuban cultural organization, and signed with the Empresa Comercializadora de la Música y los Espectáculos Antonio María Romeu (Commercial Business of Music and Performances Antonio María Romeu), which allowed them to perform across the country. This same year, they became one of the first members of the Cuban Rap Agency, a government agency involved with promoting and commercializing rap on the island.

In 2005, Michel Delgado departed from the group, while rapper Jacob Forever (Yosdany Jacob Carmenates) and DJ and producer Nando Pro joined. The trio released the album Lo Mejor Que Suena Ahora in 2008. In March 2013, the members separated, with Jacob Forever embarking on a solo career supported by Nando Pro. Delgado continued the group under the Gente de Zona moniker after bringing on ex-Charanga Habanera singer Randy Malcom Martínez.

In their early years, the group's appeal was mostly limited to Cuba, with some fans in Europe, until the release of Enrique Iglesias's "Bailando" in 2014. Although work on the song began in 2009, it was several years before fellow Cuban musician and songwriter Descemer Bueno went to Cuba and recruited Gente de Zona to be part of the song. With newfound international recognition, the group subsequently released collaborations with Pitbull, Chino & Nacho, Marc Anthony and Juan Magán in the year that followed.

In 2019, Gente de Zona was initially announced as part of a Pitbull-organized New Year's Eve concert lineup Miami, but was later withdrawn due to concerns from the local community that the group was too close with the Cuban government. Then-Miami mayor, Cuban American Francis Suarez, criticized the choice of the group for the event, stating, "You have to understand that an artist who declares themselves in favor of communism or gives communism credibility is considered persona non grata. It's not about intolerance or censorship, it's about respect and recognizing the mortifying history of communism, especially in Cuba."

Two years later, in February 2021, Gente de Zona, with other Cuban artists Yotuel, Beatriz Luengo, Descemer Bueno, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Maykel Osorbo and El Funky released "Patria y Vida" paying tribute to the San Isidro Movement and criticizing the Cuban government's repression of artistic expression in the country, shortages of essential items, and management of the country's currency. The song was Gente de Zona's first politically partisan song, with Delgado later saying, "It becomes a commitment that you have with your people, who have followed you and given you everything you have today. We never knew that your talent and a song could be the weapon to hit these people hard, this government." The song was subsequently banned in Cuba, and Gente de Zona stated that they were subsequently been banned from performing concerts on the island.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Reissued albums

Compilation albums

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

References

1. (3 June 2025). "Gente de Zona celebra su 25 aniversario con un concierto en el Kaseya Center". El Nuevo Herald.
2. (5 October 2024). "Gente de Zona: el grupo de Alamar". Periódico Cubano.
3. (15 July 2015). "Beyond ‘Bailando’: Getting to Know Cuba’s Gente De Zona". Billboard.
4. (17 July 2021). "Miami Embraces Cuba Protests: ‘I Never Thought That This Day Would Come’". New York Times.
5. (4 February 2020). "Miami Sees Return to Cold War Cultural Hard Line on Cuba". Voice of America.
6. (13 July 2021). "‘Patria y Vida’ — Homeland and Life — Watchwords in Cuba’s Protests". New York Times.
7. (16 July 2021). "Gente de Zona on Cuba: ‘It is the people who are marching’". Associated Press.
8. (26 February 2021). "Death or Life: Here’s Why This Song Is Pissing Off the Cuban Government". Billboard.
9. "Lo Mejor Que Suena Ahora - Reggaeton by Gente de Zona". [[iTunes Store]] US. [[Apple Inc..
10. "A Full by Gente de Zona". [[iTunes Store]] US. [[Apple Inc..
11. "Visualízate by Gente de Zona". [[iTunes Store]] US. [[Apple Inc..
12. (February 20, 2018). "Gente de Zona recibe disco de platino en Viña del Mar, y anuncia que cantarán con Jesse & Joy".
13. "Lo Mejor Que Suena Ahora v2.0 by Gente de Zona". [[iTunes Store]] US. [[Apple Inc..
14. "Oro - Lo Nuevo y Lo Mejor by Gente de Zona". [[iTunes Store]] US. [[Apple Inc..
15. [{{BillboardURLbyName. Billboard.com]]
16. "Spanish Charts". Hung Medien.
17. "Gente de Zona Chart history – Hot Latin Songs".
18. "Gente de Zona Chart History (Latin Airplay)". [[Prometheus Global Media]].
19. "Gente de Zona Album & Song Chart History: Hot 100". [[Prometheus Global Media]].
20. "Latin Rhythm Songs by Gente de Zona". Prometheus Global Media.
21. "La Gozadera".
22. "Traidora".
23. Astronaut, Dancing. (8 October 2021). "Deorro x Gente De Zona – 'Se Vuelve Loca'".
24. "..:Certificaciones Mensuales 2014:.. - Facebook".
25. "FIMI - Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana - Certificazioni".
26. Hung, Steffen. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community".
27. "Enrique Iglesias - Bailando".
28. "Pitbull Feat. Gente de Zona - Piensas (Dile la Verdad)".
29. "Juan Magan feat Gente De Zona - He Llorado (Como Un Niño)".
30. "Premios Juventud 2016: Lista completa de ganadores".
31. (2016-10-07). "Latin American Music Awards 2016: lista de ganadores". People Espanol.
32. "17a Entrega Anual del Latin GRAMMY".