Yahritza y Su Esencia score their first No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, as the band’s debut single “Soy El Único” opens in the top slot on the April 9-dated ranking. The band also earns its first Billboard Hot 100 entry as the song bows at No. 20. Fifteen-year-old lead singer Yahritza marks a historic feat, becoming the youngest Latin performer to enter the all-genre tally.
“It is one of the greatest achievements in my young age and more than that, it is a reminder that we can all achieve our dreams.” Yahritza tells Billboard.
“Soy El Único” trades places on Hot Latin Songs with Becky G and Karol G’s “Mamiii,” which slides to No. 2 after it banked six consecutive weeks in charge.
The Mexican-American outfit, comprising 24-year-old Armando (or Mando) on guitar, 17-year-old bassist Jairo, and 15-year-old vocalist Yahritza, was born in Yakima, Wash., to Michoacán parents. The band’s musical career took off after Ramón Ruiz (Lumbre Music) found Yahritza’s videos on TikTok.
“Soy El Único,” the last of the ensemble’s projects, also went viral on the social network.
“This means the world to us, to be able to achieve this on our first release,” Armando Martinez, the oldest of the Martinez siblings and the group’s 12-string guitarist, adds. “It’s crazy to think but the song opened doors to much more than we could imagine. It feels great having a solid team behind us that are always there.”
The sad sireño tune earned 14 million official U.S. streams in its first tracking week, ending in March 31, according to Luminate, formerly MRC Data. The song received its official release on March 25. The high figure prompts a No. 4 start on the overall Streaming Songs chart and a No. 1 entrance on Latin Streaming Songs. On the former, it’s the highest start for a Latin act since Bad Bunny’s “Yonaguni” launched at No. 2 in June 2021.
“Soy” concurrently benefits from 3,500 downloads sold in the same tracking week, enough to yield a No. 1 debut on Latin Digital Song Sales and a No. 14 arrival on the overall Digital Song Sales tally.
“Honestly, when I wrote the song it was like putting myself in the shoes of the people I watched on TikTok who were going through sad episodes in their lives,” Yahritza muses. “I thought they could identify with what I write. For me it has always been connecting with others”
Highest Rank for a Regional Mexican Song on Hot 100: In line with its Hot Latin Songs arrival, “Soy” also debuts at No. 20 on the all-genre Hot 100 chart, the latest of the wave of regional Mexican songs that have visited the survey since May 2021. With its No. 20 debut, “Soy” becomes the highest-ranked regional Mexican title and first to reach the top 40.
Its predecessors include Gera MX and Christian Nodal’s “Botella Tras Botella” (No. 60 debut and peak, May 8, 2021); Ivan Cornejo’s “Está Dañada” (No. 61 peak, Oct. 23); and Grupo Firme’s “Ya Supérame (En Vivo Desde Culiacán, Sinaloa)” (No. 91 high, Nov. 13)
Youngest Latin Act to Hit Hot 100: At 15 years old, Yahritza becomes the youngest regional Mexican artist (groups and soloists combined) to notch an entry on the all-genre ranking. She overthrows Ivan Cornejo, who secured his first entry at 17 years old.
Back on the all-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, “Soy” is the second song to open at the summit in 2022. Two female stars, Becky G and Karol G, soared in with “Mamiii” atop the Feb. 26-dated survey.
“Wow, it’s such a privilege to follow their footsteps, especially because they are both grand women who inspire me greatly,” Yahritza adds. “I hope I get to be as big as them one day. I saw that Becky G started following me on Instagram and honestly, it feels nice.”
