Qué chimba: Colombian hitmaker Feid talks HARD Summer, teases new music

by

Last Saturday, during the 2025 HARD Summer event held at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, the typical EDM-dominated festival atmosphere was disrupted by the introduction of hardcore reggaeton beats. The main stage became the epicenter of this change, hosting Colombian sensation Feid. This star managed to bring together ravers and passionate fans of perreo in an unforgettable twerking extravaganza.

Known for his unique green attire, the 32-year-old artist, musician, and rapper has made it into the top 10 most-streamed artists worldwide on Spotify. With performances at events like the Governors Ball in New York and Lollapalooza in Paris under his belt, Feid – also fondly called Ferxxo by his fans – recently marked a significant milestone as HARD Summer’s inaugural Latin headliner.

In simple terms, he expressed that such instances are exceptionally significant for Latino culture and reggaeton, the music genre he sings. Sitting in a luxurious Airbnb in Beverly Hills, with his parents swimming nearby, he shared his feelings. To share the stage with artists like Kaytranada and Busta Rhymes, who also represent a vast Latino community, is a unique honor for him. Performing on the main stage at this festival and increasing its visibility is nothing short of fantastic.

Despite appearing to have reached the pinnacle of success relatively recently, Feid’s journey to the top spans more than a decade. Originally born Salomón Villada Hoyos in Medellín, Colombia, he began his career as a songwriter within his hometown’s vibrant reggaeton scene. Feid played a significant role in bringing J Balvin and Medellín into the spotlight by collaborating on the 2015 hit “Ginza,” which paved the way for other Colombian artists such as Maluma and Karol G to flourish.

Instead of primarily drawing inspiration from reggaeton’s origins in Puerto Rico like most of his contemporaries, he chose to incorporate his own Medellín-rooted slang and style into a more distinctive form of perreo. Following the launch of his 2020 album “Ferxxo (Vol 1: M.O.R),” Feid popularized the Colombian term of affection “mor,” which gained global recognition. Subsequently, he has become a one-of-a-kind and invigorating presence in reggaeton with his hit LP from 2022 titled “Feliz Cumpleaños Ferxxo Te Pirateamos El Álbum.

Feid expressed that infusing his culture into everything sparks people’s curiosity about its meaning and usage. He feels “extremely cool” when expressing his origin, roots, and upbringing through his music, and he takes great pride in openly stating that he is a paisa and Colombian.

During the ongoing voting phase, Assistant Editor Suzy Exposito and Contributing Writer Ernesto Lechner share their forecasts with us.

In November of last year, he clinched his first Latin Grammy for his 2023 collaboration “Perro Negro” alongside Bad Bunny. This was followed by his first Grammy nomination in 2025 for his 2023 EP “Ferxxocalipsis”. In June, Feid shared the self-produced and mixed album “Ferxxo Vol X: Sagrado”, a work of experimentation. His relationship with Karol G is thriving, and their hit summer song, “Verano Rosa” from her latest album “Tropicoqueta”, has been a massive success.

During his hour-long performance at HARD Summer last Saturday, those tracks were among those played, along with popular numbers like the cheerful “Feliz Cumpleaños Ferxxo” and the collaboration with ATL Jacob, “Luna”. Feid also showcased his past partnerships in hip-hop and R&B with DJ Premier, Blxst, Majid Jordan, and Ty Dolla $ign. However, he earned his biggest rap endorsement when Snoop Dogg unexpectedly joined him on stage and performed “Drop It Like It’s Hot”.

Yesterday, I had a chat with Feid just prior to an impressive event. During our conversation, we discussed his recent album and future endeavors in the realm of music and Marvel comic books. For your convenience, this interview has been revised and abridged for better understanding.

How would you describe this latest chapter in your music career?

As a movie connoisseur, I find myself thriving in an era where I can indulge in my passions and creative pursuits without restraint. Sometimes, I let my artistic instincts guide me, crafting pieces that may not appeal to everyone but hold deep meaning for me. Other times, I focus on creating content that resonates with the masses. However, this new album is a testament to those who have supported my journey from the start – a unique and exceptional offering just for them.

What was it like to independently produce your latest album, “Ferxxo Vol X: Sagrado”?

At the beginning, I found it incredibly challenging and contemplated quitting several times. I confided in my loved ones, expressing my dissatisfaction with what I was creating: “I’m not happy with it; it doesn’t sound right.” Eventually, I made some changes, got back on track, and the results were fantastic. The process of releasing this album gave me a sense of vulnerability and authenticity; there were no touch-ups or edits from other producers, no alterations to my voice, and no A&R involved. It was as if I posted an unfiltered selfie on Instagram.

Over the past few years, I’ve left some beats unfinished and music unmixed. This album serves as a personal challenge to complete what I started but didn’t before. My aim for this year was exactly that – to break free from any constraints and just create. It brings me joy knowing that there were no rules in making this album.

×

In November, you received your first Latin Grammy for the best reggaeton performance of “Perro Negro” in collaboration with Bad Bunny. Can you describe what you were feeling at that very moment?

In a surprising turn of events, I couldn’t believe it when I didn’t win the Grammy for “Luna.” I thought to myself, “What on earth, if I didn’t win for ‘Luna,’ how will we win for ‘Perro Negro’?” The competition was fierce that night, with all the artists and songs in the category being fantastic. Winning caught me off guard. I feel incredibly grateful to Bad Bunny for giving me the chance to collaborate on that song with him. I immediately sent him a message expressing my joy at winning my first Grammy alongside him. Since 2019, I’ve been nominated and performed at the Latin Grammys, so winning was truly an incredible experience. During my acceptance speech, I was incredibly nervous. I even had a piece of paper from two years ago with what I would say if I won a Grammy, but I didn’t end up saying anything that was written on it. [Laughs] That moment was really exciting!

This is definitely the summer of “Verano Rosa.” How did that song come together with Karol G?

In 2023, we initially recorded the song, but we made numerous adjustments to its tone. Our goal was to ensure that Karol’s voice sounded distinctively Karol-like, while mine retained a Ferxxo-esque quality. Originally, I was singing at a very low pitch, and she was at a higher one. However, as I took singing lessons, my register slightly increased.

As a passionate film buff, I was thrilled when Karol said, “Let’s include this song in my album. It would be truly groovy to release since our teams resonate strongly with us on it.” So, we headed back to the studio, experimenting with various tones until we were both satisfied. Working with her is always a treat, as she has a clear vision and knows exactly how to execute it. To top it off, having her as my partner in this venture makes it even more beautiful – it’s a gift and a blessing to collaborate with family.

What did you think when Karol G did your signature “whoa” ad-lib in the song?

That’s superbly harmonious! We exchanged verses in our song – the ones I penned are the ones she sings, and vice versa. She nailed my “whoa” parts perfectly, creating a beautiful melody together. I’m immensely proud of Karol’s voice. We’ve walked through each other’s journeys – she’s been with me every step of the way, just as I’ve been there for her. I feel incredibly fortunate to have her as my partner, collaborator, and friend.

×

Have you happened to catch any recent sightings of you working together with The Kid Laroi and Cypress Hill at a studio? Could you share some insights on what transpired during those sessions?

In my creative journey, I’m exploring ways to broaden my musical style, particularly by delving into reggaeton. Now, I ponder how I can blend this with Kid Laroi’s pop and R&B sound, or find a place within Cypress Hill’s realm of rap and hip-hop. Each collaboration offers me invaluable lessons. Working with artists like Cypress Hill was an exchange of ideas, listening to their insights and presenting my rap tracks from the album for feedback. These collaborations should be released soon.

You’ve recently teased a new song called “Se Lo Juro.” Will that song lead to another album?

I absolutely adore the song ‘Se Lo Juro’! It’s going to feature in my upcoming venture. Almost everything is set for launch, but it likely won’t be my traditional December release since that’s quite a ways off. I can hardly wait until then! [Laughs.] Right now, I’m really immersed in exploring the roots of reggaeton and what initially drew me to this genre.

In the Marvel Universe, where “The Green Man” is part of the storyline, what exciting developments might we find when the second issue of the comic arrives later this year?

I’ve always dreamt of being part of the Marvel universe, as one of the X-Men, and I plan to join them at some point in the future. My story unfolds within that world, with the second issue coming out in December (or possibly earlier). You can expect to discover more about my life through metaphorical means.

Read More

2025-08-06 21:01