Justin Morales

Born in Cuernavaca’s La Gunilla neighborhood, Justin Morales grew up steeped in music from the moment speech emerged. The Mexican singer, songwriter, and guitarist picked up his grandfather’s instrument at ten and, by thirteen, was earning money performing at local gatherings. Before turning sixteen he began uploading original demos and clips to social media, laying the groundwork for a career that fuses time-honored corridos and rancheras with present-day urban realities shaped by his hometown’s ranking among Mexico’s most violent cities.

Signed to the Rancho Humilde roster as a proponent of the “corridos tumbados” style, Morales issued his debut lyric video, “Desde Morro,” on his own JK Entertainment imprint in late 2020. The track spread rapidly through word of mouth, accumulating tens of millions of views. Impressed by the gritty yet poetic quality of the lyrics, the emotional weight of the vocals, and the trance-like guitar lines—all composed in minor keys—label head Jimmy Humilde offered him a contract.

The partnership accelerated Morales’s visibility. He joined Dan Sanchez on the January 2021 single “Carencias de la Infancia,” and the label reissued “Desde Morro” in April with expanded distribution. Momentum built quickly: May brought the singles and videos “Llenas Las Cuentas,” featuring Oscar Maydon, and “LaGunilla Mi Barrio,” alongside the three-song Live Session, Vol. 1. June saw the arrival of “No Creian.” Early October delivered the eight-track Líricas de Oro EP, which debuted on streaming charts and contained Morales’s own rendition of “Carencias de la Infancia” with Sanchez and Humilde, plus a fresh take on “Llenas Las Cuentas” that added Maydon, Sanchez, and Natanael Cano. Additional collaborations included “El Cuadro” with Sanchez and “Sapo 777” alongside Los Gemelos de Sinaloa. Within weeks of its initial release, “Desde Morro” surpassed 100 million views and approached 200 million streams.