Global Latin House Powerhouse Hugel Teams Up With Chart-Topping Rapper Sexyy Red And Multi-Platinum DJ & Producer Gatano For “Bad Bitch”

August 21, 2026 — Fresh off the chart-topping debut of his acclaimed album Twenty One and his reign as the world’s most Shazamed artist, with the No. 1 and No. 2 most Shazamed songs globally, Latin house powerhouse HUGEL continues his momentum with a major new collaboration. Teaming up with chart-topping rapper Sexyy Red and rising artist Gatano, HUGEL unveils the infectious new single “Bad Bitch,” out August 21 via Make The Girls Dance Records. The track serves as the second single from the forthcoming special edition of Twenty One, set for release this October.

Bringing together Sexyy Red’s bold, unmistakable rap style with HUGEL’s signature Latin house sound, “Bad Bitch” delivers a fresh and unexpected fusion of hip-hop and dance. Built around playful, off-kilter production and an infectious groove, the track highlights HUGEL’s knack for creating crossover records that connect club culture with mainstream talent while continuing to expand the global footprint of Latin house.

“Bad Bitch” arrives amid a standout stretch in HUGEL’s career, following a series of milestones that have further solidified his position as one of dance music’s leading global artists. His Twenty One album debuted at No. 1 on Spotify’s Album Charts, while his latest releases, “Movin’ to the Sun” with Imael Angel and Ultra Naté and “Jamaican (Bam Bam),” with SOLTO have claimed the No. 1 and No. 2 spots among the world’s most Shazamed songs, respectively. Adding to the momentum, HUGEL was recently featured on the cover of DJ Mag’s Ibiza 2026 edition, marking another major milestone in his rapid rise as one of the most prominent names in electronic music. His ascent has also taken him to some of the world’s biggest stages, including a recent appearance alongside David Guetta during Guetta’s historic takeover of Stade de France in Paris.

Beyond his recorded output, HUGEL continues to make an impact on the global club circuit, headlining his Make The Girls Dance residency at Hï Ibiza while maintaining residencies at XS Nightclub, Encore Beach Club, and EBC at Night in Las Vegas. His growing presence across the world’s most influential dance destinations has further positioned him at the forefront of Latin house’s continued international expansion.

The new single also builds on the collaborative spirit established throughout Twenty One, with the album bringing together an expansive roster of artists including French Montana, Big Sean, Snoop Dogg, David Guetta, Tokischa, and Bryson Tiller, among others. The forthcoming deluxe edition, slated for October 16, will further expand the project with new material and collaborations, continuing HUGEL’s mission to blur the lines between dance, hip-hop, R&B, and Latin music.

With more than 41 million monthly Spotify listeners and over 1 billion streams in 2025 alone, HUGEL has become one of dance music’s most successful global exports. His ability to pair Latin house with some of the biggest names across contemporary music has helped push the sound well beyond the traditional club circuit, establishing HUGEL as a key force in shaping the genre’s next global chapter.

ABOUT HUGEL

HUGEL has become one of dance music's defining global forces, crafting rhythm-driven club records that fuse Latin House with Afro House, Mediterranean, and tribal influences. His debut album, Twenty One, recently debuted at #1 on Spotify's Top Albums Chart, while HUGEL was simultaneously recognized as the most Shazamed artist in the world, underscoring his global momentum. Through his label Make The Girls Dance Records, he has delivered multiple #1 Beatport hits, generated more than 1 billion streams in 2025 alone, and grown into one of the world's most-streamed electronic artists with over 35 million monthly Spotify listeners and a global social audience exceeding 6 million followers.

Born in Marseille, France, HUGEL began DJing on vinyl at age 16, drawing inspiration from artists including Carl Cox, Laurent Garnier, Daft Punk, Amine Edge, and David Guetta. Over the past decade, he has emerged as one of the leading architects behind the global rise of Latin House, seamlessly bridging dance music with hip-hop, R&B, and Latin music through high-profile collaborations and crossover appeal.

Following a landmark year that included a residency at Hï Ibiza, HUGEL expanded his global footprint with performances across Ibiza, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Mexico, Brazil, and Europe, alongside appearances at EDC Las Vegas, Tomorrowland, BPM Festival, UNTOLD Festival, and his Coachella debut. He also launched new residencies at Encore Beach Club and XS Nightclub in Las Vegas while releasing his debut album, Twenty One, a chart-topping project featuring collaborations with David Guetta, Snoop Dogg, Big Sean, French Montana, Tokischa, and more, further cementing his position as one of electronic music's premier crossover artists.

Beyond music, HUGEL continues expanding his cultural footprint through fashion, luxury, and lifestyle partnerships, including a collaboration with renowned Swiss watchmaker Franck Muller.

With a globally recognizable sound and an ever-expanding creative vision, HUGEL continues to push Latin House onto the world stage while redefining what a modern electronic artist can be.

ABOUT SEXYY RED

St. Louis-born rapper Sexyy Red delivers her brazenly sexual lyrics in a humorous, carefree manner. Active since the 2010s, she broke through when her 2023 single "Pound Town" went viral, prompting a remix featuring Nicki Minaj and pushing her mixtape Hood Hottest Princess into the top half of the Billboard 200. Among other cameos, she was featured on Drake's hit single "Rich Baby Daddy," and she released her third mixtape, In Sexyy We Trust, in 2024. After releasing songs with GloRilla and Gucci Mane, the Bruno Mars collaboration "Fat Juicy & Wet" appeared in 2025.

Heavily influenced by Southern rap from the 2000s, particularly Gucci Mane and Three 6 Mafia, Janae Wherry started rapping in order to write a diss song against an ex-boyfriend who cheated on her. She began releasing songs as Sexyy Red in 2018, and her first mixtape, Ghetto Superstar, appeared in 2021. "Born by the River," a 2022 single featuring Sukihana that references Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," received a degree of attention. Sexyy Red's true breakthrough came with the release of "Pound Town," a Tay Keith-produced track that originated as a studio freestyle. The song appeared in January 2023 and immediately became a TikTok favorite, receiving co-signs from several rappers and celebrities. Sexyy Red issued a song titled "Female Gucci Mane" and was featured on tracks by NLE Choppa, Gloss Up, and Kaliii. "Pound Town 2," an official remix featuring Nicki Minaj, appeared in May and was included on Hood Hottest Princess, Sexyy Red's second mixtape. The release was met with positive press as well as controversy when it arrived in June, and it reached the Billboard 200 in July. Along with SZA, Sexyy Red was featured on Drake's song "Rich Baby Daddy," which reached number 11 on the Hot 100.

The solo single "Get It Sexyy" appeared in March 2024, and in May of the same year, her third mixtape, In Sexyy We Trust, was released. The tape featured appearances from Drake, Lil Baby, and others, and again broke into the Billboard charts. Solo single "U Kno What to Do (UKWTD)" followed, and the rapper appeared on songs by GloRilla ("Whatchu Kno About Me") and Gucci Mane ("You Don't Love Me"). In 2025, Sexyy Red and Bruno Mars teamed up for "Fat Juicy & Wet," which reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. ~ TiVo Staff, Rovi

ABOUT GATANO

GATANO is the new house-focused project from Canadian DJ, producer, and songwriter Julian Dzeko, launched in March 2026. Blending house, indie dance, and electronic music, the project marks a new chapter for an artist whose career has already amassed more than 4 billion streams and multiple Platinum and Gold certifications worldwide.

GATANO recently released “Not For Nothing” with HUGEL, Roy Woods, and EPI, featured on HUGEL’s Twenty One album, which debuted at No. 1 globally on Spotify. He has also supported Black Coffee in his hometown of Toronto and continued building the project through performances across Ibiza, Europe, and North America.

With a globally established dance music career behind him, GATANO gives Dzeko the opportunity to explore a new sound and direction. Several major collaborations and releases are already planned for the remainder of 2026, positioning GATANO for a major next chapter.