Rauw Alejandro's 5th studio album, Cosa Nuestra, pays conceptual homage to Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe's 1969 classic salsa album of the same name, also drawing from the Sicilian mafia phrase 'Cosa Nostra' or "our thing." The album tells a story of Puerto Rican migration to NYC, using live instruments, salsa, merengue, and samples from the era, creating a cohesive concept album that nods to his influences.

Commercial success

• Debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Latin Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums charts.

• Reached No. 6 on the overall Billboard 200 chart, marking the third-highest charting Latin album of 2024 on that list.

• Certified Gold (Latin) by the RIAA.

Cultural impact

• Rauw Alejandro supported Cosa Nuestra with the "Cosa Nuestra Tour," a high-concept live production emphasizing the album’s cinematic narrative and salsa references.

• He performed singles "Dejame Entrar" and "Touching the Sky" from the album at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.

• Selections from Cosa Nuestra were incorporated into major Latin awards-show medleys, reinforcing the project’s linkage between classic salsa traditions and contemporary Latin pop.

Critical response

• Pitchfork noted that Cosa Nuestra pays "conceptual homage to salsa with a grandiose audiovisual proposal." Read full review

• Rolling Stone described the album as "inspired in near-equal parts by R&B and the Fania All-Stars," observing a blend of "Traditional Latin instrumentation and hazy, jazz-club sonics" with modern synthesizers. Read full review