Bizarrap: the phenomenon of music and its long-awaited sessions 2:34

(CNN Spanish) -- Argentine producer and DJ Bizarrap was chosen as one of the 10 leaders of the next generation by TIME magazine.

On Tuesday, TIME released its 2023 list of next-generation leaders, including Bizarrap, Brazilian journalist Rene Silva, British actress Florence Pugh, South Korean K-pop group NewJeans, among others.

The American magazine considered Bizarrap on the list for its meteoric rise to popularity in the music industry.

Bizarrap, who is actually called Gonzalo Julián Conde, has more than 7 billion views on YouTube and almost 000 million listens every month on Spotify. They are monstrous figures in themselves, but they are even more so because of two things that TIME highlights: first, the Argentine artist prefers to be in the background in his productions and give prominence to the singers with whom he appears; and, second, all his success has been achieved without even having released a studio album.

What Bizarrap usually publishes are singles called "BZRP Music Sessions", which he does together with world-class artists from the Spanish-speaking world. The most recent session was the one he did with Archangel, the "BZRP Music Sessions #54", and has more than 72 million views on YouTube.

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Bizarrap scores another hit with rapper Arcángel.

"The Argentine producer and DJ is often seen in the background of his videos, with his back to the camera, with the shadows covering his eyes, giving the floor – or, rather, the microphone – to the artists he invites to the popular series of YouTube music videos that he started four years ago," says TIME.

And he adds words from Bizarrap: "What I like most is that people know my music."

"His meteoric but unconventional rise signals a shift in the industry, proving that newcomers don't have to follow a certain path to find their audience," the magazine mentions.

Who is Bizarrap?

Before all the success and fame, Bizarrap, 24, was a kid who studied marketing in college, worked for Warner Music and uploaded videos to YouTube.

His career in music began with the "combos locos", videos and mixes of cockfights in Argentina to which he added special effects.

He continued with the "remixes", mixes of well-known songs, which can still be heard on YouTube and Spotify.

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In 2018 came the "BZRP Freestyle Sessions" with different rappers and ragpickers he admired and others he met in cockfights.

In 2019, he dropped out of college and devoted himself entirely to his music. Since then, he reached the top of the world charts, was awarded with different awards and has filled stages in Europe and Latin America, according to his production company Dale Play Records.

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Bizarrap rose to worldwide fame in 2020 with BZRP Music Sessions #36, alongside Argentine singer Nathy Peluso.

Other artists who have starred in the highly anticipated BZRP Music Sessions include Paulo Londra, Nicky Jam, Duki, Nicki Nicole, Villano Antillano, Residente and Shakira.

The BZRP Music Sessions are recognized for their characteristic style: the singer in front of the microphone from different angles, and Bizarrap in the background, with his back to the camera, in front of his laptop and mixing desk.

With information from Carolina Vásquez.

BizarrapTime Magazine