After being teased for many months, Bunlo and OVO affiliate TVGUCCI’s long-awaited collab is finally out in the world. Inspired by the controversial soccer player of the same name, “Balotelli” is a multi-lingual, summer-ready bop.
Translating Balotelli’s signature “why always me” moment into Spanish, Bunlo continues on with his classic Latin trap sound, with TVGUCCI—fresh off his cameo in Drake’s “Falling Back” video—spitting bars in English and en Español with tact. The track’s energetic beat keeps you on your toes, keeping the anticipation high throughout.
“The song ‘Balotelli’ is a representation of hard work and consistency. It’s a song that people can identify themselves with, to look back at the days where you didn’t have anything and appreciate all your accomplishments and how far you’ve gotten,” explains Bunlo. “You can take the man out the hood but never take the hood out the man.”
Filmed on location at a mansion Colombia, the music video for “Balotelli” shows the two artists surrounded in paradise by champagne, beautiful women, and lots of money. “Shooting the music video in Colombia was an amazing experience, from the film crew being super professional, too connecting with TVGUCCI and his team, Bunlo muses. “We wanted to show that we live the same lifestyle anywhere in the world and that Colombia also has the luxury lifestyle.”
Bunlo was named one of our Canadian artists to watch out for in 2022, and we were even speculating about him and TVGUCCI teaming up back then.
“Since we recorded the song, TVGUCCI has shown nothing but love and respect,” Bunlo says of the collab. “We stay in constant communication not only in regards to music but life as well. A mutual friend of ours, G Notez, who works in the music industry was able to connect me with TVGUCCI and once I found out he was open to working, I sent over a reference with open verse and they loved it and were onboard from the start.”
While Bunlo’s EP Los Files 2 is set to come out this summer, TVGUCCI will be playing the inaugural Toronto run of Rolling Loud this September.
Watch the video for “Balotelli” above, and stream the track below:
