Junior H Explained

Junior H
Birth Name:Antonio Herrera Pérez
Birth Date:23 April 2001
Birth Place:Cerano, Guanajuato, Mexico
Years Active:2019–present
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Antonio Herrera Pérez (born 23 April 2001), known professionally as Junior H, is a Mexican singer-songwriter. He is considered a major artist of the corridos tumbados movement, having popularized the genre with his earlier studio albums.[1] [2]

Early life

Antonio Herrera Pérez was born on 23 April 2001, in the municipality of Cerano, Yuriria Guanajuato, Mexico.[3] At the age of 12, he and one of his friends would begin to write lyrics since they did not know how to play instruments yet. He lived his childhood in Cerano until the age of 15 when he and his family moved to the United States in 2015, in the state of Utah.[4] At the age of 17, while in high school, he worked as a cook at a local Wendy's restaurant and learned to play different instruments during his spare time, by watching videos on YouTube, including the accordion and the guitar.[5] [6]

One day, Pérez decided to upload songs he had already made on YouTube under the name "Junior H," without telling any of his friends or family.[7] Having not checked for a month on the songs he had uploaded, out of curiosity, he checked his songs on YouTube and upon seeing that his single "No Eh Cambiado" had more than 2 million views [8] and several supportive comments, he put more focus on his independent musical project.[9]

Career

2019–2020: Music career beginnings

On 2 February 2019, Herrera released his debut album Mi Vida en un Cigarro, with nine songs. Among them was his first renowned single "No He Cambiado" and other songs such as "Mi Vida en un Cigarro" and "El de la Chevy".[10] Contacted by Jimmy Humilde that same year, he joined Humilde's record label Rancho Humilde, where he met labelmate Natanael Cano, who is also a Mexican singer, with whom he collaborated on the single "Disfruto lo Malo" on his acclaimed album Corridos Tumbados, which also includes "Ella", a song that Herrera had written by himself.[11]

In 2020, Herrera released his second studio album titled Atrapado en un Sueño, which features his most recognized songs such as its title track "Atrapado en un Sueño", "Mente Positiva" and "Jueves 10". The album was positioned in the top five of the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart, marking Herrera's first chartings in any album chart.[12] Later that year, on September 2, he would release two albums that same day, Cruisin' with Junior H and Musica <3, which contain 12 songs on each album.[13] On December 18, together with Natanael Cano and Ovi, they released the album Las 3 Torres, including 16 songs which feature artists such as Snoop Dogg, Ñengo Flow and Snow Tha Product.[14]

2021–2022: Further career

On 12 February 2021, Herrera released $ad Boyz 4 Life, with 16 songs, whose lyrics talk about love and heartbreak.[15] In less than 24 hours, the album managed to position itself in the top spot of Apple Music's Latin Albums chart. Some of his recognized songs from the album are "La Bestia", "160 Gramos", "Me Consume", and a cover of Enanitos Verdes' hit single "Lamento Boliviano". On 7 February 2022, he announced and revealed the tracklist of his seventh studio album titled Mi Vida en un Cigarro 2, in reference to the name of his first album, which was officially released on February 11.[16]

Months later, Herrera announced that he was working on a new album, but it contained Latin trap songs, which would be his first and only album of that genre, said Herrera himself. In October, he revealed the release date of his album, which would be 11 November, although days later he changed it to a later date that would be the official one, 23 November of that same year. At the end of 2022, the album would be released as Contingente, which also consists of collaborations with other well-known artists such as Alemán, Big Soto, Ovi, Paloma Mami, and Snow Tha Product.[17]

2023–present: $ad Boyz 4 Life II

In January 2023, Herrera released the single "Fin de Semana" with Oscar Maydon, which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on number 86, making it both artists' first time appearing in the chart.[18] In February, Herrera collaborated with Mexican musician and singer Peso Pluma on "El Azul", which marked both artists' first collaboration together.[19] Herrera and Peso Pluma became frequent collaborators and had collaborated on "El Tsurito", "Lady Gaga,"[20] "Luna", and "Bipolar".[21] "Lady Gaga" had peaked at No. 1 on the Mexico Songs and Hot Latin Songs charts, making this Junior H's first number 1 debut on both charts.[22] On 7 July, Junior H collaborated with reggaeton artist Rauw Alejandro, on the song "Picardía", from Alejandro's album Playa Saturno.[23] In 14 September, he and norteño group Grupo Frontera, released the single "En Altavoz", from the group's debut album, El Comienzo.[24] On 6 October, Junior H released his eighth studio album $ad Boyz 4 Life II,[25] in which Herrera refers it as "more of an accident" since there were supposedly going to be featured artists in the album.[26] [27] In 3 November, Junior H and Grupo Marca Registrada released "Mafiosa", marking it both artists' second collaboration.[28] In 13 November 2023, Junior H appeared on El Alfa's album El Rey del Dembow, on the song "Aqui Ta Smoke", alongside Pop Smoke.[29]

Artistry

Junior H is known for being one of the most important figures of the corridos tumbados subgenre, along with Natanael Cano, which are also referred as trap corridos. He also incorporates elements of Latin trap and reggaeton in his music, though the singer's debut on the latter genre would be on "Picardía" with Rauw Alejandro.[23] [30] The title for his Latin trap album Contingente was chosen because he thought it would be the last time the singer created any album in those genres.[31]

The lyrics Junior H writes are about what is influential and what is devastating, usually relationships,[32] in which music with such lyrics is often referred as urban sierreño or "sad" sierreño, a genre inspired by Ariel Camacho. In the song "1004 Kilómetros", taken from the singer's album $ad Boyz 4 Life, the lyrics are about and are dedicated to Junior H's mom, who lived 1004 kilometers away from him at the time. The lyrics represent a long-distance relationship.[33]

Spanish rappers Yung Beef and C. Tangana and Mexican rapper Alemán have said that they've listened to Junior H's music. Bad Bunny once posted himself on an Instagram story listening to a Junior H song.[30]

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:25em;"
Studio album detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
US
[34]
US
Latin

[35]
MEX
Reg.

[36]
Mi Vida en un Cigarro
  • Released: 31 May 2019
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Atrapado en un Sueño
  • Released: 27 March 2020
  • Label: Rancho Humilde
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
5 2
Cruisin' with Junior H
  • Released: 2 September 2020
  • Label: Warner Music Latina, Rancho Humilde
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
10 1
Musica <3
  • Released: 2 September 2020
  • Label: Warner Music Latina, Rancho Humilde
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
3
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum (Latin)
$ad Boyz 4 Life
  • Released: 12 February 2021
  • Label: Warner Music Latina, Rancho Humilde
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
192 5 1
  • RIAA: Platinum (Latin)
Mi Vida en un Cigarro 2
  • Released: 11 February 2022
  • Label: Warner Music Latina, Rancho Humilde
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
138 4 1
  • RIAA: 3× Platinum (Latin)
Contingente
  • Released: 23 November 2022
  • Label: Warner Music Latina, Rancho Humilde
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
36
$ad Boyz 4 Life II
  • Released: 5 October 2023
  • Label: Warner Music Latina, Rancho Humilde
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
14 2 2

Collaborative albums

Title! scope="col"
Studio album details
Las 3 Torres
  • Released: 18 December 2020
  • Label: Warner Music Latina, Rancho Humilde
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
MEX
[38]
US
[39]
US
Latin

[40]
WW
[41]
"No Eh Cambiado"2019Mi Vida en un Cigarro
"Vivo a Mi Manera"
"En Mis Dedos un Gallito"Delincuencia Organizada
"El de la H"rowspan="2"
"Paso en Culiacán"
2020
"La Bestia"2021$ad Boyz 4 Life
"Disfruto Lo Malo"
24 Corridos Tumbados
"Ella"
29
"Empresa Fly Club"Mi Vida en un Cigarro 2
"Naci Para Amarte"
"12 Rifles"2022rowspan="4"
"El Hijo Mayor"21 41
"El Plumas (En Vivo)"
"Vamos Para Arriba"
32
  • RIAA: 5× Platinum (Latin)
"El Rescate"
8 18 153
  • RIAA: Gold (Latin)
Don't Stop the Magic
"Ojos Tumbados"
rowspan="11"
"El Pana"
"Loco Enamorado"
30
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum (Latin)
"Intenciones Malas"
"En Paris"
14 25
"Fin de Semana"
20234 86 10 58
"El Azul"
3 55 8 23
  • RIAA: 13× Platinum (Latin)
"Ya Corazón"
24
"Tronando Ligas"
"El Tsurito"
15 23 127
"Abcdario"
8 24 84
"Lady Gaga"
1 35 1 13Génesis
"Cuerno Mio"
rowspan="3"
"El Patrocinador"
"Bipolar"
12 60 7 86
"En Altavoz"
37 El Comienzo
"Skin de Bandida"
24 50 Distorsión
"Guerreros Aztecas"
"Y Lloro"8 79 11 77$ad Boyz 4 Life II
"Mafiosa"
rowspan="3"
"Rompe la Dompe"
4 81 12 51
"A Tu Manera"
202411 12 128
"La Durango"
5 75 2 83Éxodo
"Volver al Futuro"
3 16 69

Other charted and certified songs

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
MEX
US
US
Latin

WW
"Mente Positiva"202031 Atrapado en un Sueño
"La Vi Llorar"49 Cruisin' with Junior H
"Se Amerita"
  • AMPROFON: 2× Diamond+Gold
"Verdes Verdes"
  • RIAA: Platinum (Latin)
Las 3 Torres
"Los 4 Ases"
2021
  • RIAA: Platinum (Latin)
Retumban2
"Los Botones Azules"
17 20
  • AMPROFON: Diamond
  • RIAA: 11× Platinum (Latin)
Mi Vida en un Cigarro 2
"Dos Morritas"
202228 Nostalgia
"Mejor Acabar"
202350 Desvelado
"Luna"
5 30 5 23Génesis
"Eres"
17 Nata Montana
"Picardía"
43
  • AMPROFON: Platinum
Playa Saturno
"$ad Boyz II"13 19 169$ad Boyz 4 Life II
"Rockstar"16 26 193
"Serpiente"36
"La Cherry"31
"Miéntele"45
"Las Noches"40
"Tres Botellas"43
"Miles de Rosas"47
"Un Desperdicio"
20248 49 134
  • AMPROFON: Gold
A New Star (1993)

Guest appearances

Title! scope="col"
YearOther artist(s)Album
"Una Cheyenne 90"2019Jasiel AyonDelincuencia Organizada
"Delincuencia Organizada"Colocho y su Eminencia and Jasiel Ayon
"Meditando"Saúl Nol and Jasiel Ayon
"Pues Bien"rowspan="3"
"La M4"Corridos Tumbados
"El AK"
"Buenos Ratos"Natanael Cano
"Seca Tus Lagrimas"2020Corazon Tumbado
"Ojos de Maniaco"Legado 7Duetos Con la Clika
"Diez Segundos"Natanael CanoCorridos Tumbados, Vol. 2
"Para Andar Agusto"Natanael Cano and Juanillo Diaz
"Aqui Estoy"Nueva Era
"Dices Que Cambiado"Porte DiferenteEs Diferente
"Te Extraño"OviBuen Viaje
"Los 4 Ases (Corrido Tumbado)"2021Ovi, Natanael Cano, and Herencia de PatronesRetumban2
"El F"Natanael CanoA Mis 20
"El Terre"AlemánHuracán
"Mochila"2022Natanael CanoNataKong
"Whiskey Con Agua"Fuerza RegidaPa Que Hablen
"Aqui Ta Smoke"2023El Alfa and Pop SmokeEl Rey del Dembow
"Aquellos Botones"2024Luis R. ConriquezCorridos Bélicos, Vol. IV

Notes

Awards and nominations

Awardwidth=3%YearCategoryNominated workResult Ref.
Billboard Latin Music Awards2021Regional Mexican Artist of the YearJunior H[42]
Regional Mexican Album of the YearAtrapado En Un Sueño
2022Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, SoloJunior H[43]
Regional Mexican Album of the YearMi Vida En Un Cigarro 2
2023Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, MaleJunior H[44]
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year, Solo
Premios Tu Música Urbano2022Top Artist — Regional Mexican Urban[45]
Top Song — Regional Mexican"Los 4 Ases (Corrido Tumbado)"
2023Top Artist — Regional Mexican UrbanJunior H[46]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Junior H, el talento naciente de los corridos tumbados.. October 8, 2023. Freim TV. es.
  2. Web site: Flores . Griselda . February 9, 2021 . The New Generation of Sad Regional Mexican Acts . October 14, 2023 . Billboard.
  3. Web site: Junior H, la estrella de los corridos tumbados. Cabrera. Mario. December 3, 2023. GQ. es.
  4. Web site: ¿Quién es Junior H? El cantante de corridos tumbados que creó la tendencia más triste en TikTok con su Jueves 10. August 10, 2023. December 20, 2023. SDP Noticias. es.
  5. Web site: ¿Quién es Junior H?. December 20, 2023. Tiempo. es-MX.
  6. Web site: ¿Quién es Junior H, el cantante de los corridos tumbados que triunfa en Sonora?. September 1, 2023. December 20, 2023. El Sol de Hermosillo. es-MX.
  7. Web site: Junior H revela cómo se dio cuenta de que quería dedicarse a la música. May 27, 2023. October 8, 2023. Telemundo. es.
  8. Web site: juniorh Website.
  9. Web site: Junior H Interview: Latin Artist On The Rise. April 9, 2020. October 11, 2023. Roiz. Jessica. Billboard.
  10. Web site: Mi Vida En Un Cigarro Album by Junior H. October 8, 2023. MyMusicStream.
  11. Web site: Junior H Biography. Jurek, Thom. December 31, 2023. AllMusic.
  12. Web site: Junior H Debuts in Top Latin Albums Chart Top 5 With 'Atrapado En Un Sueño'. October 8, 2023. Bustios. Pamela. April 9, 2020. Billboard.
  13. Web site: Junior H’s ‘Cruising With Junior H’ Becomes His Second Top 10 on Top Latin Albums Chart. October 8, 2023. Bustios. Pamela. September 16, 2020. Billboard.
  14. Web site: Natanael Cano, Junior H y Ovi se unen en el nuevo álbum "Las 3 Torres". October 8, 2023. December 19, 2020. ReggaetonSinLimite. es.
  15. Web site: Junior H es el lado emotivo de los corridos tumbados. October 8, 2023. VICE. es.
  16. Web site: Junior H comienza a vivir su sueño. 2023-10-08. 2022-02-10. La Opinión. es.
  17. Web site: Junior H imparable con "Contingente" en los charts en EE. UU y México. October 8, 2023. El Mexicano. es.
  18. Web site: 8 April 2023 . Junior H & Oscar Maydon Debut on Hot 100. 25 October 2023 . Billboard.
  19. Web site: Galaviz . Michelle . April 29, 2023 . Junior H y Peso Pluma: de esto habla la parte eliminada en streaming de la canción "El azul" . November 22, 2023 . El Heraldo de México . es . 11 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230511184154/https://heraldodemexico.com.mx/espectaculos/2023/4/29/junior-peso-pluma-de-esto-habla-la-parte-eliminada-en-streaming-de-la-cancion-el-azul-501713.html . live .
  20. Web site: 2023-06-23 . 'Lady Gaga', la joya viral del nuevo disco de Peso Pluma, 'Génesis' . 2023-10-08 . Flooxer Now . es.
  21. Web site: Peso Pluma, Jasiel Nuñez, and Junior H Drop 'Bipolar'. Mier. Tomás. Rolling Stone. September 7, 2023. October 8, 2023.
  22. Web site: Bustios. Pamela . September 26, 2023. 'Lady Gaga' by Peso Pluma, Gabito Ballesteros and Junior H reach No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs. October 10, 2023 . Billboard.
  23. Web site: Rauw Alejandro & Junior H Are Collaborating & the Internet is Ablaze Over It. July 6, 2023. November 22, 2023. Villa. Lucas. Remezcla.
  24. Web site: Junior H y Grupo Frontera estrenan VIDEO de "En Altavoz". September 16, 2023. November 22, 2023. Castro. Carlos. El Sol de Hermosillo.
  25. Web site: 'Llegó la hora de llorar'; Junior H estrenará $ad Boyz 4 life II este jueves. El Siglo de Torreón. October 5, 2023. October 8, 2023. es.
  26. Web site: INTERVIEW: Junior H Talks New Album & Mexico’s Crackdown on Corridos Tumbados. October 10, 2023. October 15, 2023. Villa. Lucas. Billboard.
  27. Web site: LA ESPERA TERMINÓ: YA PUEDEN PREGUARDAR $AD BOYZ 4 LIFE II Y CHECAR CONTENIDO EXCLUSIVO EN SPOTIFY 05.10.23. September 2023. October 11, 2023. Instagram. es.
  28. Web site: New Music Friday: Listen to the biggest releases here. November 3, 2023. November 22, 2023. Trujillo. Jovita. Hola!.
  29. Web site: El Alfa Shares 'El Rey Del Dembow' Album f/ Pop Smoke, Rick Ross, Peso Pluma, More. November 13, 2023. November 22, 2023. Mahadevan. Tara. Complex.
  30. Web site: Junior H: a tumbado crooner from here and there. Pineda. Ricardo. September 8, 2022. October 11, 2023. El País.
  31. Web site: Tommy Torres & More: First Stream Latin. Flores. Griselda. Raygoza. Isabela. December 2, 2022. December 11, 2023. Billboard.
  32. Web site: Junior H Premieres New Music Video for 'Intro' Single. August 26, 2020. Villa. Lucas. October 11, 2023. Remezcla.
  33. Web site: 1004 kilómetros de Jr H, su canción romántica que pocos conocen. March 29, 2023. October 15, 2023. Calvario. Yazmin. Soy Grupero.
  34. Junior H Chart History (Billboard 200). Billboard. October 17, 2023.
  35. Web site: Junior H Chart History (Top Latin Albums). Billboard. October 17, 2023.
  36. Junior H Chart History (Regional Mexican Albums). Billboard. October 17, 2023.
  37. Web site: Gold & Platinum. RIAA. November 22, 2023.
  38. Junior H Chart History: Mexico Songs. Billboard. 10 June 2024.
  39. Junior H Chart History: Hot 100. Billboard. 20 May 2024.
  40. Junior H Chart History: Hot Latin Songs. Billboard. 10 June 2024.
  41. Junior H Chart History: Global 200. Billboard. 18 June 2024.
  42. Bad Bunny Tops 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards Finalists: Complete List. Billboard. Leila. Cobo. August 12, 2021. October 16, 2023.
  43. Bad Bunny Tops 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards Finalists: Complete List. Billboard. Griselda. Flores. August 18, 2022. October 16, 2023.
  44. Web site: Ratner-Arias . Sigal . August 24, 2023 . Peso Pluma Tops 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards Finalists: Complete List . October 16, 2023 . . en.
  45. Roiz . Jessica . Karol G Wins Big at 2022 Premios Tu Musica Urbano: Complete Winners List . . October 16, 2023 . June 23, 2022.
  46. Web site: Premios Tu Música Urbano 2023: Lista completa de ganadores. Billboard. Jessica. Roiz. June 15, 2023. October 16, 2023. es.