Peso Pluma Shines at 2023 MTV Video Music Awards
It was a night to remember for breakout sensation Peso Pluma at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). The rising star, who recently topped Spotify’s Global Songs of the Summer list, delivered a captivating performance at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Peso Pluma’s journey to stardom began in 2020, and his unique name, inspired by his birthplace in Guadalajara, holds a special significance. His path to music was paved by Mexican artists such as Ariel Camacho and Los Alegres del Barranco, and his American adventure began during his teenage years in New York and later in San Antonio, Texas.
Peso Pluma: “Peso Pluma is really a combination of everything I like, of all the cities I’ve lived in, cultures I’ve come to know. It has all helped me. When I went to the United States, I was listening to Kanye [West], Drake, Kendrick Lamar — it’s actually because of their songs that I learned to speak English. I’d come home from school and study their lyrics to try to understand the references they were making.” (Billboard, July 2023)
Let’s dive deeper into Peso Pluma’s historic VMAs debut:
What Song Did Peso Pluma Perform at the VMAs?
At the 2023 MTV VMAs, Peso Pluma wowed the crowd with his rendition of “Lady Gaga.” The performance began with an orchestral arrangement featuring violins, followed by the distinctive sounds of the bajo quinto. Donned in all-black attire, Peso Pluma delivered an electrifying performance.
What Awards Was Peso Pluma Nominated for at the 2023 MTV VMAs?
In addition to his show-stopping performance, Peso Pluma received nominations in three categories: Best New Artist, Best Latin, and VMA Song of the Summer.
Peso Pluma’s Honors Beyond the VMAs
Peso Pluma, a three-time studio album artist, has garnered significant recognition. At Premios Juventud, he secured five awards, including Artist of the Youth, Best Regional Mexican Song, Best Regional Mexican Collaboration, Best Regional Mexican Album, and New Generation – Regional Mexican.
Peso Pluma’s Love for Music
In an interview with Billboard in July, Peso Pluma shared his passion for music and his journey, stating, “Now my life is my work, and I live for this. I’m very happy to do what I love doing the most and to be able to share a message of perseverance with up-and-coming artists.”
Peso Pluma: “Sometimes, as Mexicans, we put a lot of barriers on ourselves and we lack the confidence. Today, I see that people are proud of our movement. Back then, they’d think that Mexicans couldn’t have a No. 1 song singing corridos and that regional Mexican music was only regional, not global. Today, all those barriers have been broken.”
Controversy Surrounding Peso Pluma
In the lead-up to his MTV VMAs performance, the El Paso Times reported that Peso Pluma received death threats from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in connection with his scheduled concert at Caliente Stadium in Tijuana. A banner found on a bridge in Tijuana carried a stern message: “This goes to Peso Pluma, refrain from presenting yourself on October 14 because it will be your last show due to your disrespect and loose tongue, you show up and we are going to [break you].”
Despite these threats, Peso Pluma’s concert remains scheduled to proceed, and he has yet to comment on the situation.
Stay tuned for more updates on Peso Pluma’s rising career and his impact on the music scene.