Tusa

The central meaning of "Tusa" revolves around the very specific Colombian slang term it's named after. 'Tusa' describes a state of profound heartache, spite, and lingering sadness after a romantic relationship ends. The song explores the duality of post-breakup emotions: the external performance of being over someone versus the internal reality of still being deeply affected. It tells the story of a woman who tries to mask her pain by going out with friends and projecting confidence, but is sent into a spiral of sadness when she hears "the song" that reminds her of her ex. The narrative is a journey from vulnerability and heartache to a state of empowerment and self-reclamation. While Karol G's verses depict the struggle and the lingering pain of the 'tusa,' Nicki Minaj's verse serves as a powerful declaration of having moved on, transforming the pain into strength and telling the ex-partner that he is the one who lost. Ultimately, the song is an anthem about supporting oneself through heartbreak, acknowledging the pain, but choosing to rise above it.

The narrative centers on a woman who, on the surface, appears to have moved on from a painful breakup. She's posted a new photo to her social media, projecting an image of recovery and perhaps even indifference towards her ex-partner. However, this is a fragile facade. The core of her emotional struggle is revealed when a specific song comes on—a song intrinsically linked to her past relationship. Hearing it triggers an overwhelming wave of sadness and longing, a 'tonta depresión' (a foolish depression), causing her to break down and impulsively call her ex, a mistake she instantly regrets. The story suggests she has changed her phone number to prevent him from contacting her, yet she is the one who initiates contact in a moment of weakness.

Her friends are a crucial support system, witnessing her pain and trying to help her heal. They encourage her to go out, to party ('rumba'), and to forget the man who hurt her. The lyrics describe her attempts to numb the pain by engaging with other men, a behavior she acknowledges mirrors how her ex treated her. This cyclical pattern of hurt highlights her internal conflict. She has sworn off crying for him and has adopted a tougher, 'bad girl' persona, yet the underlying heartbreak, the 'tusa', persists.

Nicki Minaj's verse enters as a powerful counter-narrative and a voice of solidified empowerment. Speaking directly to the ex-boyfriend, she dismisses him, making it clear that his former partner is now with her ('But I got a new boo'). She reframes Karol G's character's tears as a waste of emotion ('But you cried all this for nothing') and announces her transformation into a 'bad girl'. Minaj's verse acts as the voice of a supportive friend and also as the protagonist's own empowered alter ego. She uses Spanglish, blending her signature rap style with Spanish phrases, to tell the ex that the woman he hurt is no longer available to him and that he is now the one left wanting. The verse reinforces the theme of moving on, turning past sorrow into present strength and making it clear that any attempts by the ex to reconnect are futile. The story concludes not with complete resolution, but with a powerful declaration of self-worth and the ongoing, determined effort to heal and leave the heartbreak behind for good.

The creation of "Tusa" began with producer Daniel Echavarría Oviedo, known as Ovy on the Drums, and songwriter Kevyn "Keityn" Cruz. Ovy had a distinctive violin melody in his head, and in less than half an hour, he and Keityn had written the core of the song, from the pre-chorus to the chorus. Initially, the song was titled "La Canción" ("The Song") because of its central lyrical theme about a song triggering memories of an ex. The track was not originally written for a female artist; Keityn conceived it in the third person, making it suitable for any gender.

Karol G heard an early version but wasn't immediately enthused. After several months, and after J Balvin and Bad Bunny released their own hit titled "La Canción," Karol G revisited the track. She added her own rap/chant part and suggested changing the title to "Tusa," a Colombian slang word she felt perfectly captured the song's essence, even though Keityn was initially hesitant about its local, colloquial nature. The collaboration with Nicki Minaj was a long-held dream for Karol G. Karol G had sent Minaj another song first, which Minaj didn't connect with. When she sent "Tusa," Minaj loved it and responded with incredible speed. Karol G sent the track at 1 p.m., and by 8 p.m. the same day, she had received Minaj's recorded verse back. Minaj surprised Karol G by rapping several lines in Spanish and was eager to learn the Spanish chorus for the music video. The song was officially released on November 7, 2019.

The rhythmic foundation of "Tusa" is the quintessential dembow riddim characteristic of reggaeton, providing a steady, danceable pulse that contrasts with the song's melancholic theme. This creates a bittersweet feeling, allowing listeners to dance through their sadness. The tempo is moderate, suitable for both dancing ('perreo') and listening. The song is set in the key of D Major. The lyrical rhythm flows conversationally, especially in Karol G's verses, mirroring natural speech patterns. The rhyme scheme is generally simple and effective, often relying on assonance and perfect rhymes at the end of lines to enhance its catchiness, such as in the chorus: "Pero si le ponen la canción / Le da una depresión tonta / Llorando lo comienza a llamar / Pero él la dejó en buzón." This structure makes the lyrics memorable and easy to sing along to. Nicki Minaj's verse introduces a more complex, syncopated rap flow, typical of her style, which adds a layer of rhythmic diversity to the track.

"Tusa" employs several notable stylistic techniques. Musically, its most distinctive feature is the Renaissance-inspired violin intro, which sets a dramatic, almost melancholic tone before the beat drops. Producer Ovy on the Drums intentionally used this to create a unique sound that stood out from other reggaeton tracks at the time. The production itself is described as minimalist, focusing on a few key elements: violin, piano, bass, and the characteristic dembow drum pattern, which makes the vocals and melody more prominent. Lyrically, the song utilizes a bilingual and bicultural collaboration. It seamlessly integrates Karol G's Spanish verses with Nicki Minaj's English-dominant rap, which also features surprising and impactful lines in Spanish. This code-switching broadens the song's appeal and highlights the global nature of the collaboration. The narrative structure shifts from a third-person storytelling in the verses ("Hoy salió con su amiga") to a direct, first-person declaration in Minaj's rap ("Now I'm a bad girl"), creating a dynamic shift in perspective from observing the pain to embodying the empowerment. The use of specific colloquialisms like 'tusa', 'rumba', and 'perrear' grounds the song in a distinctly Colombian and broader Latin urban context.

"Tusa" became a global cultural phenomenon upon its release. It was the first song by two lead female artists to debut at number one on the US Hot Latin Songs chart and peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's success was massive, achieving over a billion streams on Spotify and becoming one of the most-watched videos on YouTube. It shattered streaming records in Mexico and topped charts in 17 countries, spending 25 consecutive weeks at number one in Argentina.

The track won numerous awards, including Song of the Year, Favorite Urban Song, and Collaboration of the Year at the 2021 Latin American Music Awards, and received two nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 21st Annual Latin Grammy Awards. Beyond the charts, "Tusa" popularized the Colombian slang word 'tusa' globally, turning it into a widespread term for a specific type of heartbreak. The song became a feminist anthem of empowerment and was ubiquitous at parties and on social media, sparking the viral "#EfectoTusa" trend. Its performance at the Latin GRAMMYs, featuring an all-female band and dancers, further cemented its status as a celebration of feminine power.

The most significant symbolic element in the song is the title itself, 'Tusa', which is not just a word but a cultural concept for a specific kind of heartbreak mixed with spite. It encapsulates the entire emotional journey of the song. The recurring line, "Pero si le ponen la canción" ("But if they play the song"), acts as a powerful metaphorical trigger. "La canción" represents any sensory input—a song, a place, a scent—that can instantly dismantle a carefully constructed facade of recovery and plunge a person back into their sorrow. This makes the song a universal symbol for the intrusive nature of memory and grief. The opulent, pink-drenched fantasy world of the music video, complete with Greek goddesses, mansions, and pegasuses, serves as a visual metaphor. This dreamlike aesthetic contrasts with the sad lyrics, symbolizing the act of putting on a brave, beautiful face and living in a self-created fantasy to cope with the harsh reality of heartbreak. It suggests that even amidst glamour and parties, the internal feeling of 'tusa' can persist.

The most prominent recurring phrase is the hook, "Pero si le ponen la canción, le da una depresión tonta." ("But if they play the song, she gets a foolish depression."). This line is the central motif of the entire song, encapsulating the core conflict of a person's emotional vulnerability being exposed by a memory trigger. Its repetition reinforces how inescapable this feeling can be. The word "Tusa" itself is a recurring motif, defining the emotional state the song explores and giving a name to the heartbreak. Another key recurring idea is the act of trying to heal through partying, encapsulated in the line "Se cura con rumba" ("She cures herself with partying"). This highlights the common coping mechanism of seeking external distractions to deal with internal pain. Finally, Nicki Minaj's declaration of being a "bad girl" serves as a motif of transformation, signaling the turning point from victim of heartbreak to an empowered individual in control of her own narrative.