Culpables

"Culpables," which translates to "Guilty Ones," delves into the complex and cyclical nature of infidelity. The song's narrative centers around two individuals, each in a committed relationship, who find themselves entangled in an affair. The core message is that betrayal often begets more betrayal. Both Karol G and Anuel AA's characters in the song have been cheated on by their respective partners, and their affair is portrayed as a direct consequence of that initial heartbreak. The lyrics explore the idea of retributive infidelity, where the characters justify their actions as a way of paying back the disloyalty they experienced. The song doesn't necessarily glorify cheating but rather presents a raw and honest depiction of the emotional turmoil, passion, and rationalizations that can accompany it. It suggests that while their actions make them 'guilty,' so too are their partners who were unfaithful first. The song also touches on the idea that in such situations, people often seek out new partners not for something better, but for something more exciting or 'richer'.

The song narrates a story of mutual infidelity from the perspectives of both a man and a woman who are entangled in an affair despite each being in a committed relationship. It opens with Anuel AA acknowledging that his lover has a husband, yet he became captivated by her, and she, in turn, fell in love with him. He points out the cyclical nature of betrayal, suggesting that since her partner was unfaithful to her, her infidelity with him is a form of reciprocation. The same sentiment is echoed for his own relationship; his girlfriend was unfaithful, and now he is repaying that betrayal. The core idea is that betrayals are paid back with more betrayals, creating a cycle of deceit. Anuel's verse delves into the mindset of the unfaithful, describing a preference for winning and the thrill of being a good lover while cheating. He reflects on how infidelity leaves a permanent mark and changes one's life, noting that one is often replaced not by someone better, but by someone who offers a more thrilling or 'richer' experience. He uses vivid, sensual imagery to describe their physical encounters, emphasizing the intensity and passion of their affair.

Karol G's verse offers her perspective. She explains that she sought out the affair to forget the pain of her own partner's betrayal and to remember what it feels like to be with a passionate lover. She describes their time together as full of laughter and good times, an escape from their respective realities. Despite the undeniable physical and emotional connection they share, she makes it clear that they don't believe in love, suggesting their relationship is built on mutual desire and a shared understanding of their circumstances rather than a genuine romantic commitment. A poignant moment in her verse reveals her ex-partner now calls, missing her, but she has moved on, reinforcing the idea that someone who betrays once is likely to do it again. The recurring chorus, sung by both artists, reinforces the central theme: they are both 'culpables' or 'guilty'. It's a mutual acknowledgment of their roles in this web of infidelity. They recognize that they've fallen for each other while being with other people, and that their actions are a direct consequence of the betrayals they themselves have experienced. The song concludes with their signature ad-libs, solidifying their collaboration and the raw, unapologetic tone of the track.

The collaboration for "Culpables" came about after Anuel AA's release from prison in July 2018. Initially, there were discussions for Anuel to feature on a remix of Karol G's 2017 hit "Ahora Me Llama," but his incarceration made it impossible at the time. After his release, Anuel expressed interest in remixing her song "Pineapple," but Karol G felt it was too late and proposed creating a new song together. While Karol G was on tour, Anuel AA composed the track, originally titled "Infieles" (Infidels), and sent it to her. It was Karol G who suggested changing the title to "Culpables" (Guilty Ones). The song was written by Karol G, Anuel AA, Daniel Echavarria Oviedo (Ovy on the Drums), Chris Jedi, Juan G. Rivera Vazquez, and Luis E. Ortiz Rivera, with production handled by Chris Jedi and Gaby Music. The track was officially released on September 13, 2018, as the third single from Karol G's second studio album, "Ocean." The song's creation and subsequent music video shoot in August 2018 marked the beginning of Karol G and Anuel AA's real-life romantic relationship.

"Culpables" follows a relatively free verse structure within its verses, typical of the Latin trap genre, which prioritizes narrative flow and rhythmic cadence over strict, traditional rhyme schemes. However, it does employ instances of assonance and consonance to maintain a sense of musicality. The chorus features a more structured rhyme, with lines like "piel" rhyming with "sé" and "también" rhyming with itself, which contributes to its catchiness. The song's rhythm is defined by a slow, heavy trap beat with prominent 808s and hi-hats, creating a sensual and somewhat melancholic groove. The vocal rhythms of both Anuel AA and Karol G play off this beat, sometimes aligning directly with it and at other times offering a more syncopated, conversational flow. This interplay between the lyrical and musical rhythms helps to build the song's somber yet passionate atmosphere. The tempo is consistently slow, allowing the lyrical content and the emotional weight of the song to take center stage.

Musically, "Culpables" is a prime example of the Latin trap genre, characterized by its slow, deliberate tempo, heavy bass, and rhythmic, half-sung, half-rapped vocal delivery. The production by Chris Jedi and Gaby Music creates a dark, atmospheric backdrop that complements the song's thematic content. Lyrically, the song employs a narrative duet structure, allowing both Karol G and Anuel AA to present their individual perspectives on the shared situation, creating a conversational and balanced storytelling approach. The use of repetition in the chorus, particularly the line "Las traiciones se pagan con otra traición también," serves as a powerful hook and reinforces the central theme. Anuel AA's verse features a more aggressive, boastful tone, typical of the male-dominated trap scene, while Karol G's delivery is more melodic and emotionally nuanced, a signature aspect of her musical style. This contrast in vocal delivery enhances the dynamic of their collaboration.

"Culpables" was a significant commercial success and had a major cultural impact, largely due to it being the first collaboration between Karol G and Anuel AA, which publicly sparked rumors of their real-life romance. The song peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart. The music video, a stylish black-and-white production directed by José Emilio Sagaró, has amassed over a billion views on YouTube, making it one of both artists' most-viewed videos. The success of the song led to the "Culpables Tour" in 2019, a joint tour across Latin America featuring both artists. The track is considered a landmark in both of their careers, solidifying Anuel AA's comeback after his prison sentence and showcasing a more mature, street-style image for Karol G. It was also a pivotal track on Karol G's successful album "Ocean" and is often cited as a key song in the modern Latin trap movement. The song was nominated for Collaboration of the Year at the Premios Tu Música Urbano.

While not heavily reliant on complex metaphors, "Culpables" uses the central concept of reciprocal betrayal as its main symbolic framework. The lyrics, "Las traiciones se pagan con otra traición también" ("Betrayals are paid with another betrayal too"), functions as the song's primary thesis and a recurring motif that symbolizes a cycle of infidelity. There is also a subtle commentary on the perceived value in these illicit affairs. Anuel AA's line, "Y no te cambian por algo mejor, te cambian por algo más rico" ("And they don't change you for something better, they change you for something more 'rich'/'tasty'"), uses the word "rico" which can mean rich or tasty, metaphorically suggesting that the new person isn't necessarily a better partner, but offers a more thrilling, perhaps purely physical or momentarily satisfying, experience. The black-and-white aesthetic of the music video can be seen as symbolic, stripping away distractions to focus on the raw, stark emotions and the clear-cut, albeit morally ambiguous, situation the two characters find themselves in.

The most significant recurring phrase in "Culpables" is the line, "Las traiciones se pagan con otra traición también" ("Betrayals are paid with another betrayal too"). This phrase acts as the song's central thesis and is repeated in the chorus by both artists, emphasizing the cyclical nature of infidelity that forms the core of the narrative. Another recurring motif is the direct address to each other's partners, with lines like "Baby, tú tienes marido" ("Baby, you have a husband") and "Baby, tú tienes tu novia" ("Baby, you have your girlfriend"). This highlights the context of their forbidden relationship and their shared guilt. The repetition of these lines at the beginning of each chorus section structurally grounds the song in its central conflict. Furthermore, the ad-libs and signature phrases of both artists, such as Anuel AA's "Real Hasta La Muerte," are interspersed throughout, serving as musical motifs that brand the track as a collaboration between these two specific artists.