First Stream Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums and videos recommended by the Billboard Latin editors. Check out this week’s picks below.

Junior H, “Nací Para Amarte” (Warner Music Latina)

Once a sad boy, always a sad boy. Junior H digs deep for an ultra personal heartbreak anthem that stays true to his sad sierreño style. The 21-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter delivers “Naci Para Amarte,” powered by melancholic melodies via an acoustic guitar that pairs perfectly with his nostalgic lyrics. “If only you knew how often I keep checking my phone. What will we do? If there’s something that should never die, baby, that should be our love,” Junior H sings in his distinguished hoarse voice. — GRISELDA FLORES

Casper Magico & Bryant Myers, “Karma” (Flow La Movie/GLAD Empire)

Produced by the late Flow La Movie, Casper Mágico and Bryant Myers join forces once again for their new single “Esclava.”
This mid-tempo urban collaboration follows a handful of collaborations between the Puerto Rican rapper who often link up for new songs and remixes. “Tell me, how do you expect me to forgive you? You failed thinking that I was not going to find out … Karma exists, baby. And one day you will be next,” Casper declares in the song. Flow, who often worked with Casper Mágico as his producer and was his manager, passed away at 38 on Wednesday (Dec. 15) in a plane crash. — INGRID FAJARDO

Carin Leon, “Como Que Me Enamoro” (Tamarindo Rekordsz)

A mix of covers (including his must-listen version of Selena’s “Si Una Vez”) and original songs, Sonora-born Carin Leon released his new album Pistiembre Todo El Año. A standout on the 22-track set, which was recorded live, is the banda track “Como Que Me Enamoro” penned by Leon and Gilbran Rosas. “This one is for all of those that are in love,” the 32-year-old chart-topping artist says at the top of the song, and there’s nothing quite like Leon’s golden-voiced delivery of a love ballad, his emotions are palpable. “I’m feeling so hopeful, they say I’m in love, and it’s true, I’m hooked, there’s no denying that.” — G.F.

Kim Loaiza & Ovy on the Drums “Ya No Somos” (Space Music)

Influencer and singer Kimberly Loaiza’s teams up with artist-producer Ovy on The Drums for a heartbreaking new single, “Ya No Somos.” The pop-urban track with thumping beats, penned by Loaiza, Ovy on The Drums, and Keytin, JD Pantoja, and Gotex, doesn’t fail to bring that nostalgic sentiment of a romance that once was while also exploring the complex emotions and overwhelming feeling that follow a breakup. “Today I drink in your honor. For what we were, and what we are no
longer, baby,” Loaiza sings in the chorus. — I.F.

Camilo, “Pesadilla” (Sony Music Latin/Hecho A Mano Music)

The ever-so chameleonic Colombian artist Camilo goes punk-pop for his new single titled “Pesadilla,” which dropped alongside a quirky music video directed by singer-songwriter Evaluna (Camilo’s wife). The Café Tacvba-esque track — which at first listen becomes one of those songs that gets stuck in your head thanks to its earworm hook (“Bye bye bye bye”) — takes inspiration from Camilo’s love for Mexican-music influences, which have always played an integral role in his sonority. In “Pesadilla,” Camilo sings about the nightmare of losing one’s partner to a rival. “But not even in my dreams you’ll take her away from me,” he declares in song. — G.F.

Leonard “Hub” Hubbard, who was the longtime bassist for The Roots, died after a long battle with cancer on Thursday (Dec. 16). He was 62.

His stepdaughter India Owens confirmed the news to The Philadelphia Inquirer, which reported that the cause of death was multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer he had first been diagnosed with in 2007, the same year he left The Roots. His wife Stephanie told Philadelphia’s ABC 6, which was the first to report the story, that Hub was hospitalized Wednesday night at Lankenau Hospital. She said that Hub was “energetic and mobile” days before, and then, suddenly things took a turn for the worse.

“It happened quickly. He didn’t suffer a lot,” she told the local outlet.

The Roots issued a statement on their socials Thursday afternoon and shared a black-and-white photo of their former member. “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we say goodbye to our brother Leonard Nelson Hubbard. May your transition bring peace to your family to your friends to your fans and all of those who loved you. Rest in Melody Hub,” the band wrote. 

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A post shared by The Roots (@theroots)

Born Leonard Nelson Hubbard in the bands’ Philadelphia roots, he joined the hip-hop ensemble in 1992, right when the group changed its name from Square Roots to The Roots, with founding members Tarik “Black Thought” Trotter, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Malik B, who died in July 2020. That same year, The Roots moved to London and released their debut album, Organix, in 1993.

Hub went on to perform with the band for 15 years and record six more studio albums with the act, from their 1995 sophomore album Do You Want More?!!!??! to Game Theory in 2006. In 2008, a year after he left the band following his diagnosis of multiple myeloma, the bassist reunited with the group at The Roots Picnic for a performance.

The seven-time Grammy nominee won his first and only Grammy Award in 2000 for best rap performance by a duo or group with “You Got Me” by The Roots, featuring Erykah Badu and Eve. The band’s hometown Philadelphia chapter of The Recording Academy awarded The Roots with the Heroes Award in 2004. The chapter’s president Donn Thompson Morelli, otherwise known as Donn T, took to Twitter to commemorate Hub.

@RecordingAcad #LeonardHubbard #Rip #TheRoots pic.twitter.com/hpbCDmxnoJ

— Donn T (@Donn_T) December 16, 2021

In 2016, Hub sued his bandmates Black Thought and Questlove and their manager Shawn Gee by claiming they failed to properly compensate him from a deal that made him co-owner of the band before his cancer diagnosis forced him to quit The Roots in 2007, just one year before The Roots became Jimmy Fallon’s in-house band on The Tonight Show. His wife told ABC 6 that the suit had not been settled.

Aside from his work with The Roots, Hub scored Bertha Bay-Sa Pan’s 2002 indie film Face and the 2006 documentary Darfur Diaries: Message From Home. 

He’s survived by his wife Stephanie, stepdaughters India and Onita Owens, and stepson Edward Owens.