Puerto Rican rapper and singer Residente, formerly of Calle 13, drew a massive crowd to Mexico City on Saturday (Sept. 6), where 180,000 fans packed the Zócalo and another 400,000 joined via livestream.
One of the most powerful moments came when Residente welcomed members of the Abed family, Palestinian refugees from Gaza who arrived in Mexico in May, to the stage. The square erupted as hundreds of thousands of voices chanted, “Free Palestine!” in protest against ongoing Israeli attacks.
The concert ranks among the largest ever hosted at the Zócalo, the city’s iconic historic square. Adding to the night’s energy, Mexican singer-songwriter Silvana Estrada teamed up with Residente for a moving performance of Calle 13’s 2010 classic “Latinoamérica,” which has racked up over 238 million views on YouTube.
The show, organized by the Mexico City Ministry of Culture as part of its free public cultural programming, also saw Residente deliver standout performances of “Darle la Vuelta al Mundo,” “René,” and “This Is Not America.”
Residente launched his solo career in 2015 after more than a decade with Calle 13, the group he formed alongside his stepbrother Visitante and half-sister iLe.
Calle 13 earned three Grammy Awards, with their final project Multi_Viral achieving platinum status in Mexico. Residente later picked up a Grammy in 2018 for his self-titled solo debut.
