Becky G Talks Embracing Her Sexuality in New Album ‘Baraja Bendita’ and Defying Industry Double Standards
On her latest studio album, Baraja Bendita, Becky G steps forward with unapologetic confidence, embracing mature themes of womanhood, desire, and self-expression while calling out the persistent double standards faced by Latina artists in the music industry.
In a revealing interview with Playboy, the 29-year-old singer-songwriter (born Rebbeca Marie Gomez) opened up about the creative evolution behind her fifth studio album, released on August 14, and explained why she refuses to dilute her authentic experiences as an adult woman.
1. Challenging Double Standards in Music and Culture
Becky G addressed the societal contradictions that often police how women, particularly within Latin culture, are allowed to express their sexuality:
“Why is it that she’s a lady in the streets and a freak in the sheets, but God forbid she talk about it, you know?” Becky noted. “It was always so intriguing to me why it was so complicated for the industry and for our community to fully embrace the idea of womanhood and support it as well.”
The “Mayores” hitmaker highlighted the hypocrisy of celebrating Latina identity while simultaneously attempting to dictate how women dress, speak, and express their desires: “Like, ‘I love Latina women,’ but we don’t want them to express themselves in this way. We don’t want them to dress in this way and they can’t speak in this way.”
2. A Personal Shift Rooted in Lived Experience
Having broken into the mainstream over a decade ago with 2013’s “Becky from the Block,” the singer explained that maturing in the public eye provided her with the real-world perspective necessary to craft her latest sound:
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From Generalized to Personal: Rather than speaking broadly about femininity, Becky emphasized that the music on Baraja Bendita stems directly from her own life: “Now, I’m not just talking about women in general. This is me as a woman. This is what I’m experiencing.”
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Owning Her Story: With five studio albums under her belt, she described this era as one of complete artistic ownership and maturity.
3. Baraja Bendita: Playing the Hand You’re Dealt
The album’s title—translating to “Blessed Deck of Cards”—symbolizes Becky’s resilience and intentional approach to her career:
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Playing the Cards Right: Reflecting on the metaphor, Becky shared: “There’s that quote that says, ‘We can’t control the cards we were dealt but we can control how we play them.’ … It’s demystifying the idea of beginners’ luck and understanding that there’s nothing lucky about what’s earned.”
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Looking Back with Pride: Following her inclusion in the TIME100 Next list, Becky reflected on how far she has come from her beginnings, remarking that her present-day self and childhood self are “fist-bumping right now” as she continues to create and conquer new dreams.
With Baraja Bendita, Becky G continues to solidify her position as a bold, multifaceted voice in pop and Latin music, transforming personal growth into empowering anthems that celebrate womanhood on her own terms.