Rauw Alejandro and Romeo Santos Debut Collaboration ‘Khé?’ Rising to No. 1

NEW YORK, NY — Friends for years, Rauw Alejandro and Romeo Santos have finally joined forces with their new song “Khé?” The track has achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first No. 1 for either artist on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart since 2023. This collaboration, infused with romantic and danceable elements, is part of Rauw’s latest album, “Cosa Nostra,” and marks his fourth entry on the chart.

Initially, “Khé?” was not intended to be included in Rauw’s album. Rauw shared with Billboard during an exclusive interview that the song was originally crafted for his 2021 album “Vice Versa.” “I was preparing a song for Romeo and I went to the studio to work with [producer] Mr. Naisgai and Elena Rose, who wrote the chorus,” he explained while rehearsing for his upcoming arena tour, starting April 5 in Seattle.

As Rauw described the creative process, he said, “We were looking for that Romeo flow to facilitate a collaboration. That’s when the chorus ‘Se nota tanto, que me está matando’ came up. I’ve been doing bachata since Day 1 because I’m a bachatero. When I showed it to Romeo, he loved it.”

Despite Santos’s enthusiasm for the track, he was preoccupied with other commitments at the time. Rauw, however, never lost faith in the song, choosing to save it for a special moment. When the recording of “Cosa Nostra” began, Rauw reached out to Santos again and suggested they revisit the song. Santos then remarked, “Remember that song we did years ago? That’s the hit.”

The two musicians faced scheduling challenges but overcame them by collaborating via Zoom. Santos contributed to the production, adding an African kizomba beat into the tropical and reggaetón hybrid of the track. “Romeo loves kizomba, and I was spending a lot of time in jazz clubs and speakeasies in New York, so we added a touch of New York jazz,” Rauw stated.

Eventually, the two reunited in New York City to film the music video, showcasing both artists in a nostalgic black-and-white homage to old Broadway. The video features dynamic scenes of the duo dancing in the halls of an old cinema and in the subway.

<p“It’s some of my best visual work, and I can’t wait to sing it live,” Rauw expressed excitedly. He added, “I’m one of those people who believes God’s time is perfect. Artists have their calendars, and I always understood that from the beginning of my career. Collaborations require many elements to align for them to be successful. But Romeo and I have always maintained a wonderful relationship, often engaging in long phone conversations.”

Rauw concluded by emphasizing his admiration for Santos, stating, “He doesn’t record with many people, only with the top. I feel honored to record with Romeo, the legend.”