Tokischa mami, tu ‘ta caliente!

(Tokischa girl, you’re on fire!)

Dominican dembow artist Tokischa. Credit: Remezcla

If you know me you know one thing: I’m a massive fan of dembow music. And as it turns out, I’m not the only one. Considering I’ve put many of my friends on to it, some of which have never heard anything like it before, I should have known. But this past year, the genre has reached new heights, making me an even more proud Dominican.

Some of my favorite artists, like El Alfa, struck a chord with people all over the world, inspiring global [TikTok](https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPd2rpr87/ https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPd2rpr87/) dance trends and memes to go with the rising popularity of the Dominican genre. So when I caught up with friends this past summer, they were shocked to learn I didn’t know who Tokischa was. Make no mistake, once they pulled up YouTube and played the video to her song “Desacato Escolar,” I was hooked; for more reasons than one.

A very bold take on sexuality

Of course, I already loved the genre of dembow. The upbeat, fast-paced rhythm is beyond catchy and can get you hyped for any occasion. Need a boost of energy? Dembow. Feeling a little down? Dembow. Need help at the gym? Dembow. But what really attracted me to Tokischa is her confidence in entering the sexually explicit, male-dominated genre without any semblance of fear. Like any other woman who embraces and puts forth her sexuality, she isn’t just shaking up a genre of music, but her culture and society as a whole.

Tokischa’s lyrics frequently highlight sexual exploration, her bisexuality, and what to some may be an extremely alternative view of feminity. Think of Meg Thee Stallion and Cardi B’s WAP, which caused a massive uproar earlier this year…If homosexuality and female sexuality are deemed inappropriate in places like the United States, it falls under the “horrifying” category for most if not all Latinx societies, where traditional gender norms and cultural decorum are still upheld. For Tokischa to be proud and unapologetically expressive about who she is as a woman in a place where that’s literally unheard of? There’s no way I couldn’t like her. She said “I don’t like the box you gave me” and went and built her own, and if that’s not inspiring, then what is?

Barrio pride

Rosialia and Tokischa in “Linda” music video

In addition to her defiant sexuality is her overall contribution to the growth of the dembow genre. Tokischa’s star quality is undeniable, and this year it’s led to collabs with some of the biggest artists out, like Rosalia and J Balvin, with another project in partnership with Marshmello in the works.

Despite its popularity, many Dominicans and others consider dembow “ratchet” or “ghetto.” It’s deemed music of the “bajo mundo” (or underground), not only because of how salacious it is but because it finds its origins in the “barrio” or what we call “the hood.” But surprise, surprise, while many criticize dembow for this, the world at large has come to embrace it. As someone who comes from said “hood,” it’s exciting to see the creations it inspires gain popularity, especially in spite of the constant condemnation and attempts to devalue its people and their creations.

Much needed discourse

And while Tokischa is in hot water right now for her recent Perra music video with J Balvin, which featured graphic imagery many have called misogynoir, Tokischa is no stranger to controversy. In this year alone, the artist has already had to apologize to the public twice in the Dominican Republic for her use of religious imagery and the subject matter of her lyrics.

While I understand the criticism, especially surrounding misogynoir, I think her music brings to the forefront topics that need to be discussed in the Latinx community. Things like sexuality, social constructs, and especially the concept of race are often brushed aside, despite the clear implications they have on people. But artists who want to reach global acclaim especially have a responsibility to grow out of that ignorance, and in doing so, I believe it could lead to cultural impact and progression.

So I think Tokischa will learn from her mistakes, but the growing pains will not only be hers to bear. Society will have to come to terms with people who wish to stray from the old constructs and build their own paths. And I don’t know about you, but I’m here for it.