Argentinian rapper L-Gante, whose name plays on the word “elegante,” first broke through by merging cumbia rhythms with reggaeton energy. The 2020 single “L-GANTE RKT,” produced by Papu DJ, introduced the RKT style he developed with DT.Bilardo, reached the top of the Billboard Argentinian Chart, and quickly surpassed 200 million streams. That same partnership later yielded a guest appearance on Bizarrap’s freestyle series; their “L-Gante: BZRP Music Sessions #38,” issued in March 2021, delivered another 200 million streams with its dark, bass-driven take on Cumbia 420.
Born Elian Ángel Valenzuela in Buenos Aires in April 2000, L-Gante began making tracks in his early teens. Working alongside DT.Bilardo, he released the 2017 single “A Escondidas,” followed by the modestly successful “Uno Más Uno.” Additional early collaborations with the same producer included “Aleteo 420,” “Rich,” and “Tik Tok.” Momentum built sharply in late 2020 when “L-GANTE RKT” brought Cumbia 420 to wider audiences. Further 2021 releases—“Pistola” (with El Mas Ladrón), “Malianteo 420,” and “Titubeo” (with Homer El Mero Mero), all produced or co-produced by DT.Bilardo—each cleared 50 million streams. He ended the year with “Tinty Nasty” alongside Dillom, the “Pistola Remix” featuring Damas Gratis and El Mas Ladrón, and “Malianteo 420 (Volumen 2).”
