With Cosigns From Fat Joe and DJ Khaled, Boxer Edgar Berlanga Jr. Is Ready to Step Into the Music Ring
Categoria: Musica
For Entry 022 of Mic Drops and Elbow Drops, Carl Lamarre speaks with boxer Edgar Berlanga Jr. about his first song "Baby Mama," advice from Fat Joe and being ready for the music game.
Por Billboard | 24/07/2026
Brooklyn-bred boxer Edgar Berlanga Jr. is the latest athlete putting his music skills to the test, releasing his first-ever single “Baby Mama” last month. But with an upcoming showdown against Steven Butler at Madison Square Garden this Sunday (July 26), the Puerto Rican knockout artist insists his leap into the Latin market was more than a dream — it was destiny. “Bro, I’m gifted,” says an animated Berlanga after previewing unreleased music off his cell phone during a Zoom call. “Music is second nature to me. I grew up around this. I grew up around the lights, the chains and the cameras. That’s me. I love being in front of cameras. I love music. The same feeling I get when I’m in the gym is the same feeling I get when I’m in the studio making music. I feel good.” With cosigns from Fat Joe, DJ Khaled and Rick Ross, Berlanga’s latest anthem is a sugary earworm slated to soundtrack any summer function. Even in his debut visual, Berlanga never feels like he’s cosplaying a rapper. His sleek demeanor and steely bravado come naturally. “It’s second nature to me. I had a big production team,” recalls Berlanga when reflecting on shooting the visual. “I flew a girl out from L.A. that was in a music video with Gunna and a couple of big artists. I used her, and she was like, ‘This is crazy. This is your first video shoot? It looks like you’ve been doing this s–t for years.'” Before Berlanga Jr. can start thinking about platinum plaques and future Grammy speeches, however, his focus remains on Sunday’s clash with Butler, a fight he confidently predicts will end with him “catching a body.” Billboard caught up with Berlanga Jr. ahead of his forthcoming bout to discuss his love for music, the making of “Baby Mama,” performing with Fat Joe and whether he’d rather win a Grammy or become boxing’s undisputed champion. You said on Instagram, “Michael Jordan did it all. Deion Sanders didn’t limit himself to one sport.” You’ve already established yourself as one of boxing’s biggest names. How much confidence do you have that you can build that same credibility as a recording artist? It’s gonna be good. S–t, I already have 1.2 million views on YouTube with my first song out. You seen Rick Ross bopping to it in the club, DJ Khaled co-signed me, Fat Joe co-signed it. Once you have the biggest in the game co-signing it, it’s legendary, you know? I’m talented in many areas, and definitely in music. I got a lot of love for it — and I got English music, too, but right now, I wanna focus on the Spanish market. I got another record that’s brewing right now. I’m just waiting to catch this dub real quick and drop the song, man. It’s better than “Baby Mama.” This one is gonna solidify me. A lot of athletes have crossed over into music, bu