Aprender a Amar (2024) – Nathy Peluso

Aprender a Amar (Learn to love) Winner – Best Rap/Hip Hop Song (2024) at the Latin Grammy Awards

Since most of my small readership are English speakers, I hope the video below of today’s rap and hip-hop track Aprender a Amar (Learn to Love) comes with English subtitles for you as it does for me (You may have to open it separately in You Tube).

Spanish–Argentine artist Nathy Peluso is one of my favourite modern singer-songwriters for her knack for creating bold, inventive, and arresting music, paired with lyrics that are as compelling as they are biting. She’s actively reshaping the Latin music scene, blending hip-hop, bolero, cuplé, salsa, trap, and neo-soul — all delivered with theatrical flair and sharp, introspective writing that makes you think. Aprender a Amar is actually the tenth time she’s appeared here in just over a year.

Yesterday, while I was out, Aprender a Amar blasted through my earphones and I was hooked by the sound production alone. The way the beat and textures hit your ear feels like an event — it made everything I listened to earlier in the day sound second-rate. I understand Spanish well, so the play of words and phrasing against that relentless rhythm hit me even harder. I’m fascinated by it, just as I am with every track of hers I’ve featured. The song comes from Nathy’s 2024 album Grasa (Fat), which earned her three 3 Latin Grammy awards — including Best Rap/Hip-Hop Song for this very track.

Aprender a Amar isn’t just a rap banger — it’s a social statement. It holds up a mirror to us, warns where her generation is heading, and tries to course correct it. It’s bigger than it sounds on first listen. Sure, some might shrug and say, “That’s just Peluso being Peluso, mouthing off and being crass.” But under the surface there’s a whole lot more going on.

In these lyrics, Peluso pokes at the absurdity of taking politics too seriously — “Even if you add sugar to politics, it tastes like cement” — and then undercuts herself with “I’m almost a classic dumbass.” She takes aim at the pretension of the rich: You think money makes you smart? Think again, sunshine. She questions the shiny distractions of materialism, especially in her generation and in mainstream rap, where young people are pushed to be politically woke without really knowing what the hell they’re talking about — and also to idolise being filthy rich, dripping in gold chains, fancy cars, and “all ya bitches.” She calls for patience — nothing good comes from rushing, and nothing is achieved without discipline. There’s too much talk, she says, too much fakery. Plenty of laughs, plenty of “blessings” — but nobody keeps their promises. So shut up a minute, think, and above all… learn to love yourself, bitch!

The video that accompanies the single below sees Peluso sing in front of a mirror and then break the fourth wall and go directly to the viewer. The camera obeys Nathy’s movements, stirring when she pushes her and then following the rhythm of the track.

Below are English subtitles of the song:

I stay out, I stay out, but if I get into politics
I am not followed, I am not recognised
Because I always wear a little wig
I am not weak, I am not obvious
I am almost a classic dumbass
The people who have money
Stupid people have a lot of money

When the owner comes to the kitchen,
he knows I am the best kneader
I haven’t been home for a while.
What are you looking at asshole, what is the matter with you
Everything in life costs money
Costs minutes costs vaseline
Nothing good ever came from hurrying up

A lot of luxury but second rate
Mucha labia, pero se te inunda
A lot of talk but if it floods you
A lot of talk, a lot of Milanese, a lot of paco and little mayonnaise
Lots of laughter, lots of blessings, but no one keeps any promises

You have to learn to love yourself
You gotta learn to love yourself, bitch
You have to learn to love yourself
You have to learn

I wear jewelry to be in the photo
I skid my bike with the motorcycle helmet
Chapter 40 does not need a pilot
The capital fights and an earthquake is coming

Mamarracho burn yourself in the ashtray
What a pistachio, everything here is worth money
But how is 9 stupid lucas going to turn out?
Even if you add sugar to politics, it tastes like cement

We all want the revolution but who gives it a moment?
To hate you have to love, said Pity.
It’s time to go through the fever of the city