Bachata is experiencing a historic moment. Two of the genre’s most influential figures —the King, Romeo Santos, and the Prince, Prince Royce— have united to release Better Late Than Never, their first joint album and one of the most unexpected and significant projects within contemporary tropical music. The record, now available on all digital platforms, represents a generational and creative convergence that until recently seemed unlikely.
Santos and Royce developed the project in complete secrecy, without previews or prior singles. The result is a collection of thirteen unreleased tracks, mostly written by Romeo Santos, with Prince Royce contributing as a songwriter on four of them. Santos also took full charge of the LP’s production, exploring new textures without straying from the emotional core that both artists have helped elevate globally.
A renewed bachata from the ground up
The album is rooted in a deeply bachata-based identity, yet confidently ventures into new sonic territories. Santos plays with traditional arrangements while incorporating elements of R&B, afrobeat and urban rhythms, expanding the genre without compromising the sentiment that defines it.
In “Dardos”, the duo experiment with a contemporary fusion of R&B, afrobeat, violins and guitars, while lyrics steeped in Dominican slang draw on astrology to narrate a relationship marked by toxicity, wounds and heartbreak.
“Jezabel” highlights the musical chemistry between the two artists through a passionate story wrapped in reggaeton beats and R&B nuances, while “Ay, San Miguel!” pays tribute to the Caribbean, including subtle nods to Puerto Rican bomba.
The album closes with “La Última Bachata”, a sonic tribute to iconic figures such as Selena Quintanilla, Michael Jackson, Jenni Rivera, Prince, Yoskar Sarante and Ruby Pérez. The track stands out for its vintage aesthetic and touches of traditional bolero.
New York as the starting point
Lyrically, Better Late Than Never moves between Spanish and English, weaving stories that allude to New York —the birthplace and cultural foundation of both artists, as well as a key epicentre of Dominican identity in the United States. Santos and Royce combine contemporary references, current slang and the poetic signature of Romeo Santos to explore themes of love, heartbreak, desire and vulnerability.
The album features just one collaboration: “Menor“, with emerging Dominican artist Dalvin La Melodía, bringing together three generations of bachata lovers in a single track.
To present this landmark project, Santos and Royce hosted an exclusive listening party on 26 November at the iconic Madison Square Garden Arena. Industry leaders, creators, media outlets and fans gathered to hear the debut of an album destined to leave a lasting mark on the genre.
Better Late Than Never is now available on all digital platforms and on the official profiles of Romeo Santos and Prince Royce.
Natti Natasha celebrates the listening party for her new album En Amargue in Madrid.
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