Ryan Castro Taps Shaggy, Rvssian, and Peso Pluma for New Reggae and Dancehall Album

Just by virtue of hailing from Colombia, rapper, singer, and songwriter Ryan Castro is already in elite musical company. Fellow countrymen (and women!) Karol G, Feid, and J Balvin have taken the sounds of the nation global over the past decade, in many instances bringing Castro along for the ride.

He's hopped on remixes like Karol G's "Una Noche En Medellín," rocked the stage with fellow Colombian reggaetonero Blessd, and even sung the official song for Colombia's National soccer team. Now, "El Cantante del Ghetto" is following up his 2024 debut album with Sendé, an 18-track genre-spanning project inspired by his time living in Curaçao. Through experimentation with dancehall, reggae, and reggaeton, Castro showcases the musical influences he's encountered on the island throughout his life.

"I've always visited the island — sometimes to see tourists, other times to spend time with my family," Castro tells New Times during his press run in Medellín. "[In December], I went with my team and started showing them around, sharing stories about my life there. I took them to the house where I grew up and the beach where I spent so much time working."

His team suggested Curaçao could be a fertile creative ground: "'Why don't we make an album and tell this story?' And that's how the idea came about. It was a collaborative effort with the whole team, and we dove right into it."

The process came naturally.

"Honestly, it wasn't something completely out of my comfort zone," says Castro, "because it aligns so closely with my identity — those rhythms, that flow. I've always loved creating that kind of music, even though I haven't done it much in the past. It's the style I enjoy, outside of reggaeton and the other things I usually do."

There is one outlier, though: the SOG-produced and Peso Pluma-assisted "Un Trio," another reggaeton banger from the dream team behind "Quema" and fan favorite "Mala." Though the song is sonically more in line with his past work than the rest of Sendé, Castro says he just couldn't pass up another collaboration with these proven collaborators.

"Working with Peso Pluma is always great — he brings so much energy," says Castro. "And with SOG, every time we collaborate, we create something different and exciting. I wanted to include reggaeton on the album because it's such a big part of who I am and what Ryan Castro represents. Having this track on the album, especially with Peso Pluma, who is like a brother to me, is something truly special."

To tap into a different sound, Castro enlisted the help of Rvssian, the Jamaican producer who got his start working with artists like Vybz Kartel and has since transitioned into working with reggaeton acts like Rauw Alejandro and Bad Bunny. Castro says the collaboration allowed him to connect with his musical roots and also led to one of the most impressive collaborations on the project, with Shaggy.

"Rvssian came to Medellín. We got together and made a few songs," Castro remembers. "For one of those songs, I told Rvssian that I wanted Shaggy on it. He reached out to Shaggy and made it happen. We recorded the song, and Rvssian even coordinated with Shaggy to make the video. Rvssian has always brought great energy to our collaborations. Shaggy heard my part in Spanish and really liked it, so we were able to create something amazing together."

The new album isn't Castro's first foray into reggae and dancehall. In 2022, he collaborated with DJ Maff and Kafu Banton on the track "Criminal." Maff, known for producing hits like Alejandro's "Khé?," Karol G's "Gatúbela," and Elena Rose's "Caracas en el 2000," reunites with Castro on Sendé.

"He's my guy — I have a great relationship with him beyond music," says Castro. "We're good friends who support each other's work. He's got several tracks showcasing that signature dance sound, which is his specialty. Naturally, I had to include him on this album."

With a tracklist featuring the likes of Blaiz Fayah, Tribal Kush, Konshens, Dongo, and Shaggy, was anything left on the cutting room floor?

Apparently, dancehall icon Popcaan failed to make the cut — his verse didn't make it in time for the album's deadline. Still, Castro assures the track is safely in the vault and will be released eventually. He also teases a collaboration with Gyptian and several other dancehall and reggae artists. It seems Castro's new flow isn't just a passing phase — it's a fresh sound he's adding to his arsenal.