Forget about ‘Despacito’, Beyoncé’s ‘Mi Gente’ with its African dance rhythm is now number one

“Mi Gente” finally reached the top spot for
the week through October 5 in the track’s
new version starring Beyonce, who sings
partially in Spanish in her first music since
giving birth to twins in June. Beyonce’s Spanish-language remix of “Mi
Gente” for hurricane relief opened
Wednesday on top of the US Latin song chart,
finally dethroning the global mega-hit
“Despacito.” “Mi Gente,” which Colombian reggaeton
star J Balvin created from the African dance
rhythms of French DJ Willy William, had
lingered for 11 weeks at number two on the
Billboard Latin song chart underneath the
colossus of “Despacito.” “Mi Gente” finally reached the top spot for
the week through October 5 in the track’s
new version starring Beyonce, who sings
partially in Spanish in her first music since
giving birth to twins in June

Beyonce said that all proceeds of the remix of
“Mi Gente,” which means “My People,”
would support victims of the trio of powerful
hurricanes that have ravaged the Caribbean
and southern United States. “Despacito” — led by Puerto Rican star
Luis Fonsi with rapper Daddy Yankee, and
later with a contribution by Justin Bieber —
spent 35 weeks on top of the chart. It was the second longest reign ever, trailing
Enrique Iglesias’ “Bailando” which
topped the chart for 41 weeks. “Despacito” earlier also made history by
tying the record for most weeks at number
one of the mainstream Hot 100 chart of all
songs in the United States, ruling for 16
weeks. “Mi Gente” jumped to number three on the
Hot 100 with Beyonce, but breakout rap star
Cardi B held firm at number one with
“Bodak Yellow.”