Reloj

"Reloj" is an explicit and direct song about overwhelming sexual desire and the frustration of not having enough time to act on it. The title, which translates to "Clock," serves as the central metaphor for the song. The lyrics express the singers' fantasy of what they would do with their love interest if time were not a limiting factor. Rauw Alejandro and Anuel AA describe a passionate encounter, lamenting that the hours are passing too quickly. They wish for an endless night to explore their intimacy. The song delves into themes of lust, urgency, and the longing to make a fleeting moment last forever. It's a candid expression of carnal desire, where the clock is the main antagonist preventing the fulfillment of their fantasies.

The narrative of the song unfolds as a passionate and urgent plea against the constraints of time. The protagonists, voiced by Rauw Alejandro and Anuel AA, find themselves in a moment of intense physical and emotional connection with a woman. Their overwhelming desire is constantly thwarted by the ticking of the clock, a symbol of their limited time together. They fantasize aloud about all the things they would do if only the day had more hours, if time would stop, allowing them to fully explore their mutual attraction without interruption. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a hedonistic and all-consuming encounter. Anuel AA’s verse adds a layer of raw, unapologetic street credibility, boasting about his status and how the woman left her previous partner for him, highlighting her undeniable preference. He uses aggressive yet passionate language to describe their physical intimacy, suggesting a connection that is both carnal and deeply felt. Rauw Alejandro’s smoother, more melodic contributions complement this, focusing on the sensuality of the moment and the almost agonizing longing for more. Phrases like wanting to 'eat you up all day' and wishing for time to stop recur, reinforcing the central theme. The song creates a scenario where the hotel room becomes a timeless sanctuary, a 'putero' (brothel) for 24 hours where their desires can run free. The mention of the woman moaning like an 'anime doll' and being addicted to him like a drug adds a modern, pop-culture-infused layer to their explicit desires. It’s a story of a fervent, almost desperate passion, where every second counts and the ultimate fantasy is an eternity in each other's arms.

"Reloj" was released on October 22, 2020, as the fourth single from Rauw Alejandro's debut studio album, Afrodisíaco. The song marked the third collaboration between Rauw Alejandro and Anuel AA, who were childhood friends and classmates in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Rauw mentioned that the vibe in the studio was amazing and that Anuel was very easy to work with. The track was written by a team of notable figures in the Latin urban scene, including Rauw Alejandro (Raúl Alejandro Ocasio Ruiz), Anuel AA (Emmanuel Gazmey Santiago), Nesty (Ernesto Padilla), Caleb Calloway (Héctor C. López), Yampi, Kenobi, Colla, and Eric Duars. Production was handled by Caleb Calloway and Nesty "La Mente Maestra". The song was released by Sony Music Latin and Duars Entertainment.

The song is built on a fast-paced, driving reggaeton beat, characteristic of the genre, with a tempo of 176 BPM which gives it a lively and urgent feel. The rhythmic structure is a standard 4/4 time signature, making it highly danceable. The rhyme scheme is typical for modern reggaeton, often using assonance and consonant rhymes (e.g., "castigue" with "sigue," "completo" with "tiempo") to maintain a fluid and catchy lyrical flow. The rhythmic delivery of the vocals is crucial; Rauw's melodic cadence contrasts with Anuel's more percussive and rapid-fire rap verses. This interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the underlying dembow beat creates a dynamic texture that enhances the song's energetic and passionate atmosphere.

Musically, "Reloj" is a melodic reggaeton track with prominent urban and Latin R&B influences. The song has a fast tempo of 176 BPM and is set in a 4/4 time signature, creating a danceable and energetic feel. The production, handled by Nesty and Caleb Calloway, fuses the distinct styles of both artists: Rauw Alejandro's smoother, R&B-infused vocal delivery contrasts with Anuel AA's more aggressive, trap-influenced rap style. This dynamic interplay between the two vocalists is a key stylistic feature. The harmony is based in the key of A♭ Major. Lyrically, the song employs direct, explicit language and hyperbole to emphasize the intensity of the singers' desire. The use of a conversational and narrative tone makes the story relatable within its fantasy context.

"Reloj" was a significant commercial success, solidifying Rauw Alejandro's position as a rising star in the Latin music scene. The song performed well on international charts, reaching the top 10 in several Latin American countries and peaking at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart. It also received a double platinum certification in Spain. The track was nominated for Viral Anthem at the 2021 MTV Millennial Awards and was recognized as an award-winning song at the 2023 BMI Latin Awards. The music video, directed by Gustavo Camacho, garnered immense popularity, accumulating hundreds of millions of views on YouTube. It depicts Alejandro and Anuel AA in a strip club party atmosphere, visually complementing the song's hedonistic themes. The song was also included in the setlist for Rauw Alejandro's successful Vice Versa Tour.

The most prominent symbol in the song is the reloj (clock). It represents the constraints and limitations of reality, constantly ticking away and shortening the time the lovers have together. Their desire to have more time or for the clock to stop symbolizes a wish to escape into a timeless, hedonistic fantasy where their passion can be fully explored without end. Anuel AA's lyric, "Si tú fuera' la muerte, yo me muero" ("If you were death, I would die"), is a hyperbolic metaphor expressing his all-consuming desire for the woman, willing to face the ultimate end just to be with her. This line intensifies the song's theme of desperate, passionate longing. The hotel room is portrayed as a temporary paradise or a self-contained universe where they can act out their fantasies, turning it into a 'putero 24 horas' (a 24-hour brothel), symbolizing a space free from external judgment and time's passage.

The central recurring motif is the phrase "si el reloj no diera más tiempo" ("if the clock didn't give more time") and the lament of what they would do with more time. This hook is the core of the song's chorus and reinforces its main theme of urgency and unfulfilled desire. The concept of the 'reloj' (clock) itself is a constantly repeated symbol of limitation. Additionally, the phrase "Real Hasta La Muerte" (Real Until Death), Anuel AA's signature slogan, is used to punctuate his verse, grounding his hyper-romantic proclamations in his established brand identity. The repetition of these key phrases makes the song highly memorable and encapsulates its narrative core effectively.