In this Beats piece, Iván Cornejo speaks directly to his roots — remembering his father’s advice, the first guitar he picked up at seven, and the influence of música romántica, mariachi, and corridos in his household. He reflects on carrying forward his family’s legacy as a first-generation Mexican-American, admitting to the doubts he faced but also to the possibility he saw to reshape a genre.

That personal testimony underscores what Cornejo has already achieved: a breakout star whose debut Alma Vacía and follow-up Dañado both topped Billboard’s Regional Mexican charts, earning him awards like “Debut Artist of the Year” and “Regional Mexican Album of the Year.” With more than a billion streams and a rapidly growing global fanbase, his collaboration with Beats becomes more than endorsement — it’s a cultural statement, amplifying the voice of a new generation while honoring the traditions that shaped him.