Hecho en Medellin by Blessd – New Album Review

Bursting onto the urbano scene earlier this year with the remix of “Impossible” with Maluma, Blessd is one of the newest acts in Latin music. His debut album Hecho En Medellin (Made in Medellin) is here. With 10 tracks, there’s a lot to enjoy here.

Blessd is obviously proud of his Colombian roots. Among my favorite tracks are “Medallo”, “Quien TV”, “Puñeta”, and “Hace Tiempo”. “Medallo” is probably my overall favorite if I had to choose. On a broader note, there’s an attention to Colombian music history in this album. Colombian artists have always been proud of their roots and Blessd is a good example of that pride. The Colombian pride emanates through the entire album. “Medallo” is a great example of this kind of pride, incorporating Justin Quiles and Lenny Tavarez.

Also of note on Hecho En Medellin are the collaborations with artists and producers like Lyanno, KEVVO, and the RudeBoyz. What I appreciate is that Blessd doesn’t just rely on this collabs to pull him across.

Of the songs that don’t live up to their fullest potential are “Otro Dia”, “Envidia”, and “Siempre”. These songs aren’t unlistenable but they aren’t of the same high quality as the rest of the album. There is potential buried in these songs. “Envidia” specifically had a lot of potential to be one of the best songs on the album but it doesn’t land the execution.

Final Thoughts

Blessd’s debut album is a strong release. Blessd shows that the future of urban music goes through Colombia. Among the 10 songs, there are plenty of enjoyable tracks that are worth coming back to time and time again. The attention to Colombian music history while pushing it incrementally forward is impressive. Some songs don’t live up to their full potential but on the whole, it’s an enjoyable project worth the listen.

7.3/10

For the rest of this week’s New Music Friday releases, click here.