Arriving at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, you could feel the excitement before even entering the venue.
Crowds of young fans in pink attire flooded the arena last month to catch rising Puerto Rican star Omar Courtz. His newest album, Primera Musa, blasted from nearby cars and throughout the surrounding streets.
Simply put, Omar Courtz is having a moment. It all kicked off with Primera Musa, a project he meticulously developed with producer KarBeatz. The album merges silky R&B vibes with the energetic pulse of reggaeton. It’s also distinctly sensual, featuring tracks like “Una Noti” and “Luces de Colores,” packed with witty pickup lines and smooth romantic language. The album broke into the Billboard 200, which likely explains what followed.
Earlier this year, Courtz scored a spot on Bad Bunny’s newest release, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. Alongside emerging Latin trap artist Dei V, Courtz features on the banger “VeLDÁ”—easily one of the standout dance tracks on the politically charged album. The collaboration came together swiftly, with Benito approaching him directly with the concept.
“[Bad Bunny] reached out back in December and presented the idea to us,” Courtz said. “He already had the vision mapped out—he’s a genius like that.”
In many ways, the track highlights Courtz’s talents—his natural ability to combine rich R&B textures with reggaeton’s infectious rhythms. This stems partly from his diverse influences. He grew up listening to various artists, from reggaeton icons Zion y Lennox and Arcángel, who brought soulful elements to their 2000s music, to Drake and Tory Lanez, who channeled their emotions into moody, melodic contemporary R&B.
Courtz particularly admires Drake’s classic Take Care, the album where the rapper evolved beyond his cool Toronto sound to embrace global influences. “That album was a game-changer for me,” Courtz said. “Everyone wanted to sing and vibe differently because of it.”
Courtz initially planned for just two nights at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, but made a last-minute decision to add a third show. It turned out to be the right call. Bad Bunny himself made a surprise appearance to perform “VeLDÁ.”
With his Primera Musa U.S. tour now rolling, Courtz is determined to deliver memorable performances. “I want people to feel something when they leave my show,” he said. “I want them to remember moments and connect emotionally, just like I did when I watched my favorite artists perform.”
