While historically Athens has been known as a bastion of college and indie rock, more and more hip-hop artists are claiming the Classic City as their own. Among them is Cortez Garza who first rose to prominence as a writer of brooding folk and Americana tunes. Following the release of his 2018 album The Low Vibe, Garza was named the 2018 Singer-Songwriter of the Year by the Athens Music Awards. For a time it appeared as if the Atlanta native was ready to cement his place among Athens’ long legacy of contemporary songwriters.

Then along came Niño Brown. Spurred by his love of hip-hop, R&B, and Caribbean music, Garza first revealed his new musical alter ego when he dropped his debut single “Summer Rain” last September. The project’s infectious, genre-bending sound quickly caught on, giving Garza the confidence to further expand his musical palette. A flurry of singles and videos ensued, each one showcasing his considerable range and broadening his fanbase. In March, Niño Brown earned Best Male Hip-Hop Artist honors at the Athens Hip-Hop Awards. He is the first person of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent to claim the award and what better way to celebrate the historic win than to enshrine it in song?

With its emphatic grooves and reggaetón swagger, “Valenciaga” practically simmers with tropical heat. At its heart, it’s not an all-out party banger, but its intoxicating riddims dare you to at least not sway along. Niño’s pop-friendly vocals provide the catalyst for the track’s suave atmosphere, allowing plenty of room for Sala’s guest verse to shine, ripple, and breathe. Still, while the whole thing may feel festive, when Niño opens the cut by stating, “I want to look in your face when I make a confession,” you can’t help but feel there’s some level of emotional catharsis happening under the surface.

Shot on location at Sr. Sol in Athens, the video marks the project’s eighth in as many months. The premise is simple: the pair dance and sing within the empty restaurant while grilling tortillas and posing with a giant Modelo blowup. It’s goofy, but incredibly fun—and there’s no denying the level of satisfaction the two take in paying respect to their heritage. In fact, that’s really the whole point here, which is why Garza chose to drop the video on a day widely considered to be a celebration of Mexican-American culture. His award may mark an individual achievement, but he sees it as something far more communal.

Explaining his decision to share “Valenciaga,” Garza says: “To highlight this milestone for the Hispanic community in Athens I wanted to do something special by releasing this reggaetón inspired track on Cinco de Mayo.”

Watch/listen above.

Niño Brown’s debut album Redbone is due out this summer.

Niño Brown will perform on Fri., June 24 on the Georgia Theatre Rooftop State for AthFest alongside DJ ChiefRocka, Squalle, Molly Tu Hott, Ant da Ripper, and more. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $15-80.

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Twitter: @cortezgarza