Myke Towers (real name: Michael Torres) has come a long way since he released his debut studio album El Final del Principio in 2016, a production that solely put his rap skills and underground hip-hop sound on the map. As the years went by, Towers gained international recognition, collaborating with Arcangel, Farruko, Bad Bunny, and Becky G, to name a few.
Now, he kicks off 2020 with the release of his sophomore album, Easy Money Baby, which spotlights his versatility and evolution as an artist.
“I know a lot of things now that I didn’t before,” Towers tells Billboard on why it took him nearly four years to drop a new set. “I created a movement with my fans and it was only a matter of time to give them a full album.”
Easy Money Baby, released White World Music and distributed by GLAD Empire, is home to 18 songs, including his previously-released hits “Si Se Da,” “Piensan” and “La Playa.” Though he’s primarily known for his rap music, the Puerto Rican artist took the risk to experiment with new sounds.
“The underground rap scene is what made me,” he says, explaining that only two of the tracks keep that raw hip-hop essence. “With this album, I wanted to expand and show people that I’m not only ‘that kid who raps.’” That, and the fact that he realized that he needed more commercial tracks for his live show.
“I know that people will have this album on replay,” he assures, “and I can’t wait until I add these songs to my repertoire. My concerts are going to consist of the songs that made me, the current hits, and these new tracks.”
On the cover, Towers is seen holding his newborn baby, who was born on Jan. 4, just 20 days before the release of his album. “I named it ‘Easy Money Baby’ because it’s first and foremost a tribute to my son, and because I always say that phrase when everything is going great in my life.” He concludes: “This album marks a before and after in my career.”
During a private listening session at his recording studio in Miami, Towers, who is one of Billboard’s Latin Artists to Watch in 2020, broke down his album, which draws inspiration from Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, Don Omar, and Drake.
MIB
“The first song is the intro called ‘Men in Black.’ I kick off this album with my underground essence. This song was originally going to be named after the album but it could have been misunderstood. ‘MID’ tells the story of where I'm currently in my career and how I got here, which is why it’s the most personal one on my album.”
TÚ
“This song samples Manu Chao’s ‘Me Gusta Tu.’ Why? Because it’s one of those classic songs that even if you’re not too fond of the artist or the genre, will always be part of a generation. I’m specifically attached to this song because it’s the oldest track on the album. I recorded it in 2015 and held onto it for a long time but you know, everything has its perfect timing.”
PARCERITA
“I recorded this song in Cali, Colombia with The Rudeboyz. Honestly, so many artists want to record in Colombia, because it’s become one of the headquarters of urban music. Throughout this song, you’ll hear some of the popular Colombian slang. This is one of my favorite tracks on the album.”
UNA NOCHE MÁS
“The rhythm in this song is inspired by Brazilian funk. This type of fusion is a risk but I did it to get out of my comfort zone. You know, I would say that 85 percent of the time the beat is done and I only jump on the song. There’s no rhythm that characterizes me.”
SI SE DA ft. FARRUKO
“This is the only song on my album that has a featured artist. Fifteen of the 18 songs have never-been-heard by any of my fans.” (“Si Se Da” peaked at No. 13 on the Hot Latin Songs chart dated Aug. 17, 2019.) “I knew that the song was good, but I never thought it would go so far,” he previously told Billboard.
FUGAZ
“This song is called ‘Fugaz’ because it represents how girls can sometimes be like a shooting star.”
LVCC
“LV is the initials for Louis Vuitton and CC for Chanel. The entire theme of my album has to do with ‘easy money,’ so this song is about that. It’s a song that boyfriends, husbands, or sugar daddies can dedicate to their girls.”
LA PLAYA
In April 2019, Towers dropped “La Playa,” a sensual hip-hop track about a man who loves getting kinky with his girl at the beach. In January, both Farruko and Maluma jumped on “La Playa (Remix),” debuting and peaking at No. 13 on the Latin Digital Song Sales chart dated Jan. 18, 2020.
RELACIÓN ROTA
“This song is about a relationship that came to its end because of rumors…you know, it tends to happen to a lot of couples. I would have to say that this is also one of my favorite songs on the album.”
GIRL
“This is the lead single off my album, where I recreate 50 Cent’s ‘21 Questions,’ one of my favorite songs ever. This single is also dropping with a music video. Originally, I was going to release an EP with seven songs, this was one of those songs, and each of those tracks has a video but in the end, we decided to release an album.”
VIRAL
“I like this one a lot, it was produced by Tainy. If you notice, this album talks a lot about millennials and social media. Everyone wants to become viral nowadays, so that’s how this song was born. This was also the last song that was added to the album.”
DIOSA
“‘Diosa’ is about a woman who transitions from a queen to a goddess. I believe this song will become a fan favorite. I’m also crazy to sing this one live already.”
HECHIZO
“‘Hechizo’ is about temptation…like Adam and Eve. It’s a song about how I was trapped by a girl. This one was produced by Smash David from Spain but lives here in Miami.”
PIENSAN
Before dropping his surprise album on Jan. 24, 2020, Towers blessed fans with fresh music, such as “Piensan,” released in September 2019, an infectious urban song about friends with benefits.
TIENE QUE SABER
Produced by The Rudeboyz, “Tiene Que Saber” is an upbeat R&B-meets-reggaeton track that talks about a girl who’s moved on and now has a new man.
OTRO
“This is also one of my top five tracks on the album. It’s about a couple who broke up and now they’re talking to other people. If you noticed, all of the track titles are short and that’s because nobody likes to read anymore. All of the names are simple.”
RONCA
“In addition to the intro, this second-to-last song is also an underground rap track. With this song, I’m letting my faithful fans know that I haven’t forgotten about the hood. ‘Ronca’ describes a person who’s ‘fronting’ or talking trash.”
FUNERAL
“Also one of my favorites on the album, I wanted this one to be the closing track because I feel that it will only make you want more. The melodies in this song and the other four I said were my favorites are curated for all types of people. Whether you listen to urban music or not, whether you’re an executive or a fine lady, these are the types of songs that will resonate with anyone and everyone.”
Easy Money Baby is out now. Stream it below.
