Ahora Dice

"Ahora Dice," which translates to "Now She Says," explores the complex emotions following a painful breakup, focusing on themes of denial, betrayal, and the lingering sting of a past romance. The song is a multi-perspective narrative from the viewpoints of J Balvin, Ozuna, and Arcángel, who address a former lover that now pretends she doesn't know them. The core message revolves around the contrast between a passionate, intimate past and a cold, detached present. The artists express their confusion and hurt, unable to understand how she can erase a history that was so significant. The lyrics delve into the idea that their separation was caused by external pressures and rumors, suggesting that "what people said" was more important to her than their relationship. It's a lament for a love sabotaged by outside voices and a confrontation of the ex-lover's attempt to rewrite their shared history.

The song narrates the story from the perspective of several men who are collectively addressing a former lover. The central theme is their bewilderment and pain over her sudden change of heart. She now claims not to know them, acting as if their shared past, filled with intense passion and intimacy, never happened. They reminisce about their physical and emotional connection, remembering moments when she was completely theirs. The lyrics express a deep sense of betrayal, suggesting that outside influences and gossip from other people poisoned her mind and led her to push them away. Arcángel's verse, for instance, touches on how people talking about his 'famous life' created a rift, questioning why she listened to others over what they had. He poignantly describes their past love as 'yesterday's newspaper' that she no longer wants to read.

J Balvin and Ozuna continue this narrative of hurt and disbelief. They contrast the past, where they 'killed each other' in bed with passion, to the present, where she denies their very existence. There's a recurring motif of the man being a 'ghost' that still haunts her, implying that despite her denials, she cannot escape the memory of him. They see through her facade of happiness with her new life, asserting that she is, in fact, miserable and crying with her new partner. They believe she is only pretending to be happy to save face. The lyrics highlight the stark difference between how they treated her—making her feel special, 'making her travel'—and her current state of suffering. The song is a lament and a confrontation, a refusal to let their shared history be erased by her words. It's a powerful expression of post-breakup pain, where the sting of being forgotten is sharper than the breakup itself. They feel she was swayed by gossip and now has to live with the consequences of that decision, while they are left to grapple with the memory of a love that is now publicly denied.

"Ahora Dice" was released on March 17, 2017, as a single by Puerto Rican producer Chris Jedi. The track is a significant collaboration in the Latin trap scene, featuring vocals from superstars J Balvin, Ozuna, and Arcángel. Chris Jedi is credited not only as the main artist and producer but also as one of the songwriters alongside the featured artists and other collaborators including Rafael Pina, Luis E. Ortiz, and Jean-Pierre Soto Pascual. The song was recorded in January 2017 and released by Universal Music Latino. Its creation marked a pivotal moment in the mainstream popularization of the Latin trap genre. Following its immense success, an official remix, dubbed the "Real Hasta La Muerte Remix," was released on February 11, 2018. This version expanded the collaboration to include American rappers Cardi B and Offset, as well as Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA, further bridging the gap between Latin trap and American hip-hop.

The song employs several powerful metaphors to convey its emotional weight.

• Yesteryear's Newspaper (Periódico de Ayer): Arcángel uses this metaphor to describe their past love. Like an old newspaper, it's something she has read and discarded, implying their history is now irrelevant and old news to her. This powerfully captures the feeling of being rendered obsolete in someone's life.
• The Ghost (Fantasma): The singers refer to themselves as a 'ghost that torments' her. This symbolizes the inescapable nature of their shared memories. Despite her denial, his presence lingers in her mind, haunting her thoughts and making it impossible for her to truly move on.
• Denial as a Shield: The central, recurring theme of her saying "she doesn't know me" acts as a metaphor for using denial as a defense mechanism. It's her way of coping with the breakup or the social pressure, but the artists see it as a fragile and ultimately false shield against her true feelings of unhappiness.

The dominant emotional atmosphere of "Ahora Dice" is one of melancholy, betrayal, and nostalgic pain. The somber, minor-key production immediately establishes a sorrowful mood. Lyrically, the artists convey a deep sense of hurt and confusion over being denied by a past lover. There are shifts in emotion; while the verses are steeped in a reflective sadness, they also contain moments of frustration and bitterness, particularly when they contrast their past passion with her current pretense of happiness. They accuse her of lying to herself and being unhappy in her new situation. Ozuna's and J Balvin's vocal performances, in particular, carry a palpable sense of longing and heartache, turning the track into a poignant anthem for anyone who has felt forgotten by a former partner.

"Ahora Dice" was a massive commercial success and a landmark song for the Latin trap genre. Its music video, released in March 2017, garnered over a billion views on YouTube, highlighting its immense global reach. By the end of 2017, it was listed as the sixth most-viewed music video of the year on the platform, a testament to the rising dominance of Latin music worldwide. The song peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and received multiple platinum certifications in the United States (Latin) and Spain. Its success helped solidify the careers of its featured artists and positioned Chris Jedi as a go-to hitmaker. The subsequent remix featuring Cardi B and Offset further boosted its profile, creating a significant crossover moment and demonstrating the growing synergy between the Latin and American music markets. The track is considered a staple of the Latin trap movement and remains one of the most iconic collaborations of that era.

The rhyme scheme in "Ahora Dice" is fluid and conversational, typical of Latin trap and reggaeton, often relying on assonance and consonance rather than perfect, rigid rhyme schemes. The artists employ a storytelling rap flow that prioritizes narrative clarity and emotional delivery. The rhythm of the lyrical delivery is intricately woven into the song's slow trap beat. The artists often use a syncopated flow, playing with the timing of their words against the steady pulse of the hi-hats and the deep thud of the 808 bass. This creates a laid-back, yet compelling groove. The chorus, "Ahora dice que no me conoce / No, no, no, no, no / Y si me ha visto, se supone que en el pasado fue," has a particularly memorable, rhythmic cadence that makes it the song's central hook. This interplay between the relaxed musical rhythm and the often emotionally charged lyrical rhythm is a key element of the song's appeal.

"Ahora Dice" is a quintessential example of the Latin trap genre that dominated the late 2017s. Musically, it's built on a foundation of a melancholic, bass-heavy beat characteristic of trap, with skittering hi-hats and a slow, deliberate tempo (around 116 BPM). This creates a somber yet rhythmic atmosphere that perfectly complements the lyrical themes of heartbreak and reflection. The production by Chris Jedi is clean, allowing the distinct vocal styles of each artist to shine through. The song's structure is a posse cut, where each artist (J Balvin, Ozuna, Arcángel) takes a verse to offer their perspective on the central theme, a common technique in hip-hop and reggaeton collaborations. Their vocal deliveries range from J Balvin's smooth, melodic flow to Ozuna's higher-pitched, emotive tone, and Arcángel's more direct, slightly aggressive delivery, creating a dynamic and varied listening experience. The use of Auto-Tune is present but applied stylistically to enhance the melodic contours and emotional feel, rather than for overt pitch correction.

What is the meaning of the song 'Ahora Dice'?

'Ahora Dice' translates to 'Now She Says.' The song is about the pain and confusion felt after a breakup where a former lover pretends not to know the protagonist, denying their shared intimate past, likely due to gossip and outside influences.

Who are the artists featured on 'Ahora Dice'?

The song is by producer Chris Jedi and features vocals from three major Latin music stars: J Balvin, Ozuna, and Arcángel.

When was 'Ahora Dice' released?

The original version of "Ahora Dice" was released on March 17, 2017.

What genre is 'Ahora Dice'?

"Ahora Dice" is primarily categorized as Latin trap, a subgenre of Latin hip-hop with influences from Southern hip-hop and reggaeton.

Who wrote 'Ahora Dice'?

The song was written by a team of collaborators, including the producer Chris Jedi (Carlos Enrique Ortiz Rivera) and the featured artists J Balvin (José Álvaro Osorio Balvin), Ozuna (Juan Carlos Ozuna Rosado), and Arcángel (Austin Santos), along with Rafael Pina, Luis E. Ortiz Rivera, and Jeanpierre Soto Pascual.

Is there a remix of 'Ahora Dice'?

Yes, a very popular remix titled 'Ahora Dice (Real Hasta La Muerte Remix)' was released in February 2018. It features the original artists plus Anuel AA, Cardi B, and Offset.

How many views does the 'Ahora Dice' video have?

The official music video for "Ahora Dice" has amassed over 1.3 billion views on YouTube, making it one of the most-watched Latin music videos of all time.

What does the lyric 'nuestro amor es periódico de ayer' mean?

This line, sung by Arcángel, translates to 'our love is yesterday's newspaper.' It's a metaphor meaning their relationship is old news that the ex-lover no longer cares about and has already discarded.