Aquí Yo Mando

"Aquí Yo Mando" (American Spanish: [aˈki ʝo mãn̪.do]; transl. "Here I Command")[1] is a song by Colombian-American singer Kali Uchis and American rapper Rico Nasty released on August 7, 2020 as the lead single from Uchis' second studio album, Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞.[2] Being her first release since To Feel Alive (2020), the song is about sex and is performed primarily in Spanish.[3]

"Aquí Yo Mando"
Single by Kali Uchis and Rico Nasty
from the album Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞
Language
  • Spanish
  • English
ReleasedAugust 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)
Recorded2019-2020
Genre
Length2:22
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Kali Uchis
  • Rico Nasty
  • Servando Primera
  • Tainy
  • Jon Leone
  • RVNES
  • Cris Chil
  • Albert Hype
Producer(s)
  • Albert Hype
  • Jon Leone
  • RVNES
  • Tainy
Kali Uchis singles chronology
"Solita"
(2019)		 "Aquí Yo Mando"
(2020)		 "La Luz"
(2020)
Rico Nasty singles chronology
"Popstar"
(2020)		 "Aquí Yo Mando"
(2020)		 "iPhone"
(2020)

Background and release

A snippet of the song was first previewed in an episode of the HBO series Insecure in May 2020.[4][5] Uchis originally announced on the single on August 2, writing that it would feature Argentinian singer Cazzu as well as Rico Nasty.[6] However, she later scrapped the former's appearance and re-announced the single's release on August 6, this time with just Rico Nasty.[7] In August 2020, Kali Uchis and Rico Nasty were interviewed by Genius for the publications "Verified" series, where the duo both explained the meaning behind the song's lyrics.[8]

Critical reception

Tom Breihan of Stereogum described "Aquí Yo Mando" as "a slick, shiny pop song with production from urbano masterminds Tainy, Albert Hype, and Jon Leone" and wrote, "Where Kali Uchis often floats over tracks, she comes off intense on this one. Rico is in her sing-rap mode, switching back and forth between Spanish and English."[3] Elias Leight of Rolling Stone wrote that through the song, Uchis "embraces the brute-force 808s and chattering hi-hats of trap", and noted that her namedrop of Romeo Santos is "an obvious standout".[9] Francesca Hodges of The Daily Californian described the song as "a bold, assertive demonstration of domination" and noted that "empowering sentiments permeate the track, challenging ideas of what it means to exude strong female energy."[10]

Music video

A video for the song was first teased alongside the single's re-announcement on August 6, 2020, indicating its imminent release for the following day.[11] The music video, directed by Phillipa Price, was premiered on August 10, 2020.[12]

Summing up the plot of the video, Sajae Elder of The Fader wrote, "the pair [are] on a weapons-filled rampage, dropping bodies in underground parking lots and filming each other along the way"[13] The duo's hairstyles in the video were designed and created by Iggy Rosales and Preston Wada.[14] Praising the music video, Francesca Hodges of The Daily Californian wrote, "A partnership of shoulder-padded suits and avant-garde-sculpted hair peppers the video, Uchis and Nasty creating a luxe landscape of vanity and power with the words and visuals," and noted that when the two "bring out their stiletto heels and brass knuckles for a music video, you already know the song means business."[10] Alex Peters of Dazed also summarized the events in the music video, writing that "Uchis and Nasty cast as a pair of crime-fighting assassins taking on corrupt FBI agents while sporting the most incredible out-of-this-world hair. Think Bonnie and Clyde if they were cyborgs who grew up in Whoville."[14]

References
  1. Schatz, Lake (August 7, 2020). "Kali Uchis and Rico Nasty take control on new song "Aquí Yo Mando"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  2. Betancourt, Bianca (August 10, 2020). "Kali Uchis and Rico Nasty Release a Grunge Glam Music Video for their Collab "Aquí Yo Mando"". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  3. Breihan, Tom (August 7, 2020). "Kali Uchis & Rico Nasty – "Aquí Yo Mando"". Stereogum. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  4. Kali Uchis Updates [@LaUnicaUpdates] (May 25, 2020). "snippet of kali's new song 🦋 #InsecureHBO" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. "Insecure HBO". Spotify. Spotify [official account]. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  6. Langford, Jackson (August 7, 2020). "Kali Uchis teams up with Rico Nasty on new track 'Aqui Yo Mando'". NME. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020. ¡mores! Aug 05 les traigo un regalito @riconasty @cazzuoficial ( o˘◡˘o )
  7. Bloom, Madison (August 7, 2020). "Kali Uchis Enlists Rico Nasty for New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 14, 2020. An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed Cazzu as a collaborator on "Aquí Yo Mando."
  8. Gebreyes, Rahel (August 26, 2020). "Kali Uchis & Rico Nasty Break Down The Meaning Of "Aquí Yo Mando"". Genius. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  9. Leight, Elias (August 7, 2020). "Rico Nasty Joins Kali Uchis on Thundering, Bilingual 'Aquí Yo Mando'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  10. Hodges, Francesca (August 19, 2020). "'Aquí Yo Mando' is empowering Kali Uchis, Rico Nasty collaboration". The Daily Californian. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  11. KALI UCHIS [@KALIUCHIS] (August 6, 2020). "TOMORROW//MAÑANA ✿ ✿ ✿ @Rico_nastyy" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. "Kali Uchis and Rico Nasty Share New Music Video for "Aquí Yo Mando"". HYPEBEAST. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  13. Elder, Sajae (August 10, 2020). "Kali Uchis and Rico Nasty go on a rampage in the video for "Aquí Yo Mando"". The Fader. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  14. Peters, Alex (August 12, 2020). "Behind-the-scenes of Kali Uchis and Rico Nasty's 'Aquí Yo Mando' hair looks". Dazed. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
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