Timelezz

Jhay Cortez started out as a secret-weapon songwriter behind the scenes for Latin music’s hottest hitmakers. But now, after the breakout success of “No Me Conoce” and the enduring global dominance of his Bad Bunny team-up “DÁKITI,” the Puerto Rican artist rightfully ranks among them. While being in this coveted position might have prompted a less ambitious artist to take a relatively conservative approach to their next album, he sets out here to make *Timelezz* live up to its name. A decidedly different effort than 2019’s galvanizing full-length *Famouz*, Cortez’s follow-up pushes reggaetón and Latin trap forward from an innovative leadership position while exploring other sonic avenues for growth. On that latter point, he embraces the rapturous sounds of clubland on Tainy’s techno-fueled “Tokyo” and the Skrillex electro-house collab “En Mi Cuarto.” Still, he makes time for the traperos on “Nos Matamos” and the scorching “Kobe En LA 2.0.” His passion for perreo endures as well, evident on “Dale Como Es” and the explicit “Ropa Interior” with Kendo Kaponi. There’s an immersive epic quality to tracks like “Mi Vicio” and the Anuel AA team-up “Ley Seca,” reinforcing that we’ve scarcely scratched the surface of reggaetón’s full potential—and Cortez’s as well.